As pets go, they are low-maintenance. No muss, no fuss, nice and quiet, and even a bit furry. So, how about snuggling up with a giant, non-biting tarantula?
A farm in Chile exports the palm-sized creatures to Asia, Europe and the US for sale as exotic household companions.
They go for US$25 each plus shipping, and need to be fed just once a week, preferably live cockroaches or worms. And they live a long time - up to 25 years in the case of females.
"Not everyone can keep a dog or cat. Tarantulas are cheaper and do not need as much attention. What's more, the world has changed and what with technology and cable television, people are learning about this kind of exotic animal and want one for their home," said Juan Gonzalez, a vet at the farm.
The farm is owned by Juan Pablo Orellana, an agronomist who gathers and raises these Chilean rose-hair tarantula.
Orellana's farm in Batuco exports about 30,000 of them a year. They travel in boxes with holes in them and a certificate that could be seen as a pedigree.