Just like dogs, tarantulas come in a variety of colors, sizes and demeanors. Just like dogs, they often have devoted (some might say obsessed) owners who prefer to think of themselves as caretakers. And just like dogs have the Westminster Dog Show, tarantulas have a hotly contested annual competition.

This week, the British Tarantula Society (yes it exists, here's how you can join) held its 29th annual exhibition, the biggest tarantula event in the world. How they managed to have 28 of these previously without us noticing, I really don't know. This event sounds amazing – there were something like 30,000 tarantulas there. Just close your eyes and think about that for a minute! I bet you didn't even last 10 seconds with that image in your head.

While tens of thousands of these big spiders all in one place may be terrifying, individually they are quite beautiful. They have lots of different looks, and they live all over the planet, on the ground and in trees.

Entrants to this year's spider competition were divided into eight categories and spent the day in clear containers being ogled by the 1,200 or so visitors and inspected by a panel of judges. The Best in Show, a beautiful Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula, walked away with a trophy (or, at least its proud owner did) and a glamor shot on the society's membership cards.

"It was unanimous amongst the four judges that this one was the Best In Show," judge and chairman of the British Tarantula Society, Peter Kirk said in an email to WIRED.

Inspired attendees could also buy their own tarantulas and other awesome bugs like scorpions and stick insects from around 40 vendors. But they could not, under any circumstances, handle a tarantula or any other invertebrate while at the show. The penalty: immediate expulsion. Tarantulas look fierce, but they are actually somewhat fragile and can be fatally injured if dropped.

For more about the show, read this entertaining report from National Geographic.