About tarantulas

Tarantula is the common name for a group of hairy and often very large spiders belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Tarantulas hunt prey in both trees and on the ground. They mainly eat insects and other arthropods, using ambush as their primary method. The biggest tarantulas can kill animals as large as lizards, mice, or birds.

Most tarantulas are harmless to humans, and some species are popular in the exotic pet trade while others are eaten as food. These spiders are found in tropical and desert regions around the world.

In Africa, Theraphosids are frequently referred to as "baboon spiders". Asian forms are known as "earth tigers" or "bird spiders". Australians refer to their species as "barking spiders", "whistling spiders", or "bird spiders". People in other parts of the world also apply the general name "mygales" to Theraphosid spiders.

Info from Wikipedia

Some common species

These species are often seen in captivity and are considered good pets.

Brazilian Black (Grammastola pulchra)
Chaco Golden Knee (Grammastola aureostriatum)
Chilean Rose Hair (Grammastola rosea)
Costa Rican Zebra (Aphonopelma seemani)
Honduran Curly Hair (Grammastola albopilosum)
Mexican Blonde (Aphonopelma chalcodes)
Mexican Red Knee (Brachypelma smithi)
Mexican Red Leg (Brachypelma emilia)

 

Links

Tarantulas.com - for tarantula keepers.
Birdspiders.com - lots of photos
How To Pick A Pet Tarantula - WikiHow article