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How to keep spiders as pets
Spiders can make fascinating pets. Here are a few steps to get you started keeping spiders.
Step 1: Catching
Spiders are all around us, indoors and out, so they’re not hard to find. Some species can bite and a few are venomous. Learn about dangerous spiders in your area before heading out. It’s easy to safely catch a spider by using a small jar. Gently coax it into the jar using the lid. Spiders will eat each other, so keep only one per jar.
Step 2: Preparing a cage
Large spiders do well in the inexpensive plastic terrariums available from pet stores. Smaller ones can be kept in jars or plastic containers if air holes are drilled into the lid or sides. Be sure the holes are small enough to prevent escape.
Potting soil makes good cover for the cage bottom. Sticks, dead leaves or artificial plants provide structure for hiding, climbing and webbing.
Step 3: Water
Depending on the size of the spider, anything from a plastic bottle cap to a small bowl can serve as a water dish. Spiders also drink water sprayed on webbing, but you should never allow the cage to become damp.
Step 4: Feeding
Offer insect prey once or twice a week. Crickets are available from pet shops, or you can collect insects outdoors if no insecticides have been sprayed in the area.
Step 5: Observing
Watch your spider and take notes on its behavior. You won’t believe what happens in the spider’s web until you’ve visited it yourself!
PREFERRED PETS
Not all spiders do well in captivity. Active hunters are usually easier to keep than web builders. Here are a few that make good pets.
Tarantulas: Some species exceed 10 inches in legspan. They’re by far the most popular pet spiders and can be bought in pet stores.
Wolf Spiders: Some can be more than three inches in legspan. Large specimens do best in terrariums with lots of floor space.
Jumping Spiders: Although small and rarely exceeding half an inch, their jumping ability is amazing. Many species are brightly colored and can easily be kept in jars.
Fishing Spiders: In captivity, these large spiders appreciate vertically arranged pieces of bark for climbing. They’re very fast, so use caution when capturing them.
Grass Spiders: These spiders build funnel-shaped webs in grass, bushes and on buildings. In captivity, they will build extensive webs inside their cage.
Read 75 comments about “How to keep spiders as pets”
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Comment page: « 8 7 6 5 4 3 [2] 1 »
June 28th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
will mom mad the keep kyle try spider web catch bug mom mean
never that grow spider yard 5 feet mom that bite keep try
June 25th, 2007 at 1:12 am
I just squash ‘em
June 10th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
what about the little spiders on the corners at home?
June 10th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Neat! Thanks for the help. This is just the thing I can do for my Environmental Science prerequisites.
June 8th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Your article on Spiders was so fun that I wanted to thank you for it. It was really great and it really told me a lot about some spiders. My favorite one was the Kutai Earth Tiger spider. I like the way it makes a burrow and waits for its prey. Well, I can’t wait for your next Boy’s Life Issue.
June 6th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Sweat tips. I hope my mom gets me a spider
May 28th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
very god facts but what if your spider dies what should you do with it?
May 26th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
hey cool facts!
May 25th, 2007 at 11:37 am
What about black widows?
May 25th, 2007 at 10:13 am
You have cool facts,now I have a pet spider his name is aragon. P.S spiders are my most favorite thing ever!