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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 98 comments about “How to keep spiders as pets”
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Comment page: « 10 [9] 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 »
If you enjoy disapproving looks from those around you, then this trick is for you!
August 9th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
wat i read help me alot ,i even got a spider. the spider i got is beatiful.
thanks alot. : )
August 7th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
My mom loves spiders, but she just won’t have them in her house. I tried to convince her that the tank I was gonna use was made completely of plastic and is truly un-escapable (which it is ofcourse) but she wont let it past her. What should I do besides totally give it up, because that won’t happen…
August 4th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
I wonder if daddy longlegs are good pets.
August 1st, 2008 at 8:44 pm
well i lovespiders. but my parents hate them. what do i do to talk them into it
August 1st, 2008 at 3:25 pm
me and my friend just caught a jumping spider and a black spider and made a habitat for them. we were wondering what to feed them.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
i got bit while feeding my spider
July 29th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Hi I’m Joanna and want to study bugs when I’m older so i’ll take all of you’re advice.
July 29th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I love bugs but I have had arachnaphobia.Now that I an getting a pet grass spider that will be a thing of the past!
July 25th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
my name is tommie i am 7 years old and I colect tuns of spiders. can you help me catch fast spiders Thank you
July 14th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
that sounds awesome we have to try that