How to Keep Spiders as Pets
Spiders can make fascinating pets. Here are a few steps to get you started keeping spiders.
Step 1: Catch a spider
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: Prepare 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.
LEARN MORE: Click here to see photos of a spider expert’s seven favorite spiders
its nocturnal, do not keep two in close proximity, they can be in the same container but at a good distance from one another
please help me I live in Lancaster californa and I am thinking about getting a pet tarartula and I did some research and it said they eat small mice and lizard’s and I don’t have the heart to give them that do they half to have that? if so is there som thing else that I can give him and not give him that? and I have a five gallon fish tank and I use to have a fish in it and I have a very strong and very smart cat who when I would go to sleep he would get into it can I use that top and just duck tape the lid? or use some thing else? and do you guy’s know where I can buy one around here? can I give him raw meat like pork chop steak ham burger meat?
I hve a tarantula hw would I knw wat else I should feed it n I dnt knw if its a girl or boy? Helpppp I do give it flys almost everyday…
Tarantulas only need a few crickets every few weeks. They could go for a while without eating, but they do need water available every day.
I cought a yellow spider yesterday and I dont know what it is it has black eyes blacktips on its feet and black fangs if any of you could help me out that would be awsome
Sounds like a Writer Spider to me.
Caught a desert recluse
I don’t think thats a good idea they have more punch packs than a rattle snake!
well i just found 2 little spiders one of them is brown and it is short and has long legs i know it isnt a daddylong leggs though i found it in my driveway it is very fast and another one that is small and gray and jumps what are they called??
Jumping time
brown recluse is first one
there are other brown spiders with shorter bodies and long legs. even some crab spiders and orb spiders. a brown recluse will have a “fiddle” shape on its back.
well actualy all recluse spiders are very dangerous with one bite baby or adult can kill you
I just caught a grass spider and a small spider that was in my bathroom. I know the name, but it is very complicated to spell. They both are behaving in there habitats.
i live in england and wondered what spiders i could catch in winter could you list types and tell me if they are web makers ect
house spiders come ouyt all year round and are verry common in england, but are also verry teritorial. i should know i have some.
i have jumping spider
I have found a spider in my house, can’t tell what kind it is, it is small ish about the size of a 1p coin, have no clue how to look after it?! Help please?!