Do you remember our pet tarantula "Harry" that we kept for a while in San Luis Obispo (1980)? We had no idea before living there that they were endemic to the area. We found one in the wild, not too far from our home. So, being the curious people that we are, we went back home, got a glass gallon pickle jug, and went back to capture the critter. He (arbitrary sex determination) was easily caught, and we triumphantly brought him home. We tried various items to make him comfortable...dried leaves, some twigs, a few rocks, and then began the search for what he would eat. We tried lettuce, rice, hard boiled eggs, various bugs the kids could find in the yard, but nothing really seemed to float his boat. Then we put a small piece of cantaloupe into his glass home, and the effect was startling. Harry's eyes seemed to bug out, he ran across the ground (they are surprisingly fast), arched his head back and then buried his whole face in the succulent ripe melon. We took that as a yes, and kept him well supplied. Harry was a fascinating bug, and in the gallon jar we could get a really close look at him in complete safety. All the kids were very interested, but none of us were much inclined to take him out and get better acquainted. They brought their friends in for viewings and were the toast of the neighborhood for the time. After a week or so, we took the gallon jar back to where we had found him and "set Harry free". He slowly walked away, seemingly unperturbed by his alien abduction experience, but I'm afraid he had a sad life after that, fruitlessly trying to get the other tarantulas to believe his otherworldly experience.