A YATE man whose childhood fascination with tarantulas developed into a passion for all things creepy-crawly now lives alongside more than 1,500 minibeasts from around the world.
Aaron Phoenix, whose day job is a house removal specialist, runs a social media channel called House of 1,000 Inverts, which has thousands of followers on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok.
He shares videos with information and care tips for people interested in invertebrates and channel and also helps people who are afraid of spiders, hosting educational talks, participating in birthday parties and other events.
‘There’s really nothing to fear’
Aaron said: “Arachnophobia is one of the most common fears, yet these creatures are truly amazing, and there’s really nothing to fear. So far, I’ve assisted around 60 people in overcoming their fear of spiders.”
Aaron first kept spiders as a teenager, having been fascinated with tarantulas as a child.
He said: “It truly flourished about five years ago, after receiving a bipolar diagnosis.”
Aaron’s doctor recommended he find a hobby to focus on and he decided to revisit his interest in spiders, buying a juvenile Mexican red knee tarantula he named Alissa after the lead singer of one of his favourite bands, Swedish death metal group Arch Enemy.
He said: “I quickly grew attached to her, documenting her life through photos and discovering a deep enjoyment in this new pursuit that surpassed any previous hobbies.
“This passion led me to create an Instagram page to share my photos. The joy I found in this endeavour motivated me to start a YouTube channel, where I could share my knowledge and create care videos on various tarantula species.”
Aaron then began breeding tarantulas, and sells them to fellow enthusiasts.
Today, he has around 1,500 ‘creatures’ from around the world, including spiders, centipedes, mantids, millipedes and scorpions. The largest have leg spans reaching 11 to 12 inches (30cm).
Aaron said: “While this may seem like a lot, breeding can yield egg sacs containing anywhere from 20 to a few hundred, sometimes even over a thousand, depending on the species.”
Aaron says his partner doesn’t like spiders but “lets me crack on” with the hobby.
‘Never lost one’
He says he has never lost a tarantula, adding: “I’ve had a few make a dash up my arm! I always keep a catch cup handy for such moments.”
Aaron has rescued over 200 tarantulas from people who no longer want them, or which have been abandoned.
He hopes to continue “to educate and inspire others about these incredible creatures,” adding: “I plan to keep expanding my website and YouTube channel and keep sharing my passion, and maybe one day open up a shop.”