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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.

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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

13 Comments on How to Keep Spiders as Pets

  1. Would this spider be a good pet it is nonvenomous it is a yellow and black garden spider it is a female

  2. Thanks that help me so much

  3. I caught a Hobo Spider with a legspan slightly larger than a poker chip. I’m keeping him in a glass coffee jar that I have layered with sediment, a hollow peanut shell, a peice of bark that I soaked in water just, and a couple of twigs. He can’t jump, and has a hard time climbing glass. Hobo Spiders are known to be very fast, but this giant is very slow and non aggressive. I even tried to provoke him with a pencil and and he had nothing to prove. He is: Brobo.

  4. Wow that’s cool I had a tarantula but sadly she died I keep hobo spider as pets it’s awesome but I am getting a new tarantula soon I don’t know when

  5. I wish I didn’t kill that fishing spider on my bike seat.

  6. I found a flat brown spider has only 7 legs brown and white stripes what spider is it

  7. Cool i’ll try it I had a money spider that unforunatly died in sleep :'( It was a good friend its would never harm u at all it would just build webs and ate nats….
    Im going to try and get a wolf spider!

  8. Have noticed a large spider who appears once in a while from my fire….usually get rid of these creatures.. .what is keeping him alive behind there?

    • 8legLycanthrope // March 11, 2017 at 5:25 am // Reply

      Just got mine it’s a Carolina wolf spider biggest wolf spider there is very very active only about half an inch but is already taking down 1 inch crickets like a pro

  9. bleh bleh bleh // June 3, 2016 at 3:49 pm // Reply

    Thanks i will try it!!!

  10. I think it is a colonus Hesperus.

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