Man gets 120 tarantulas after being told to ‘get a hobby’ following bipolar diagnosis

A man lives with 120 pet tarantulas which have even their own bedroom - after doctors told him to ‘get a hobby’ following a bipolar diagnosis.

Aaron Phoenix, 34, took a rather unusual approach when a therapist instructed him to adopt a new hobby to aid his mental health.

Instead of starting a sport or craft, Aaron, from Yate, opted to become a spider dad - to 120 tarantulas.

They have an entire room to themselves in his house, and he dedicates all his spare time to looking after his eight-legged furry friends.

In fact, he says getting his ever-growing collection of tarantulas has done wonders for his mental health - and sitting in the room with them is his ‘happy place’.

Aaron, a house removal contractor, said: “They’re my passion, obsession, whatever you want to call it.

“The doctor told me a hobby would focus my mind - it was true, I find them fascinating.

“I could sit and watch them for hours - they’ve had an incredible effect on me and I’ll never give up owning tarantulas now.

“People’s reactions when I tell them are fantastic - they can’t believe it!

“Although I do think tarantulas are misunderstood - there’s no need for such a fear.

“I can’t expect everyone to see them the way I do, but I wish people would open their minds to these beautiful creatures.”

Aaron went through his childhood drawn to tarantulas - and said he fell in love with them from the moment he got his first one as a teen.

But he found himself in some tough times and at one point, even had to give up his beloved pet.

Now older, and living with partner Jo, 45, and her two daughters Dannon, 18, and Lillie, 14, his love for tarantulas never dwindled.

Last summer, following a diagnosis of bipolar disorder alongside a diagnosis of depression a year earlier, therapists suggested a way to help Aaron’s mental health would be to “get a hobby”.

But rather than take up a sport, or some kind of craft, Aaron decided to re-kindle his passion for the eight-legged creatures, and purchased a few tarantulas.

He said: “As a child I was fascinated by spiders and bugs, so it was only natural for me.

“When the therapist asked if there was any activity I enjoy that that might help take my mind off things, it came to me straight away.

“At the beginning, my partner and the kids were a bit freaked out, but they saw the positive effect it had on me immediately and became supportive.”

Since summer of 2021, he has collected 120 tarantulas, alongside five other spiders, three scorpions, three praying mantises and a centipede.

They all live in separate enclosures in his spare room - known as his happy place - where he spends almost all his free time.

He hopes that one day, people will ‘open their minds’ to the creatures.

He said: “To me, they’re beautiful creatures - they’re just so misunderstood.”