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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 »
November 19th, 2007 at 11:38 am
what shud u feed em on
November 16th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Hey, I want to keep some spiders! Just tell me the best place to find spiders then tell me the best store to find some really good spider homes! (Thanks, Natitonic, for the tip!) Oh, and, rattie? Here’s how you spell cockroaches: cockroaches.
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:18 am
i got a little tiny wolf spider and dont know how to feed it becuz how little it is.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:06 am
Hey I have captured alot of spiders scorpions and insects but have no place to put them………………….so what should I do???
October 10th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
My pet wolf spider has an egg sack what do I do!
September 28th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Hey, I really want to keep a House Spider as a pet. I have a terrarium and everything, But I must admit, I’m at a loss on how to feed it. These spiders are large, but nowhere near a tarantula.. What can I feed it?
September 25th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
I use to keep wolf spiders and cokroches(spelling?) In a ten gallon tank.
September 20th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
What do you think about a writing / garden spider? I seem to have these around but you mentioned that web makers may not make good captive pets.
September 15th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
jumping spiders are my fav. tip: you can get spiders at farms,broken down houses, and any other place that is smelly or is by a forest!
September 7th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
prety cool. spider man fans (like me) might also like this