Q&A for How to Keep Spiders As Pets

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  • Question
    Can I use an empty clean fish tank to keep spiders in?
    Community Answer
    It would depend on the size of the feeding holes in the lid, and the size of the spider that you want to keep in the tank. Make sure the holes are smaller than the spiders, and it may work.
  • Question
    How can I make sure the spider doesn't escape?
    Community Answer
    Put holes in the jar that are smaller than the spider, and seal the lid. This will allow the spider to breathe while still keeping it contained
  • Question
    How often do I need to feed it?
    Community Answer
    Once every two day. Don't be alarmed if she does not eat sometimes. She could be getting ready to molt.
  • Question
    Where can I find food for my spider?
    Community Answer
    You can either catch insects yourself, or you can buy them at a pet store. Do not use ladybirds as they are poisonous to spiders
  • Question
    Should I keep the jar in or out of the sun?
    Community Answer
    It should be in an area where it will get sun for a few hours, but not too much. Direct sunlight for too long in glass containers or jars can cook your spider. I think it varies for different spiders, but I think that they all need around the same amount.
  • Question
    Can I feed my tarantula ants?
    Community Answer
    They can be used as a treat for your tarantula, but they will need additional food for a complete diet.
  • Question
    How can I get a spider (that is a good kind for a pet)?
    Community Answer
    Tarantulas are the most common, but you would have to buy them. House spiders are an easier, cheap option.
  • Question
    Is the spider I caught venomous? It is grey or brownish grey under the belly, and white, brown and black on its legs.
    Community Answer
    You may have caught a cellar spider, common in Australia. But please do more in-depth research to be sure what you have, as an incorrect identification can be very dangerous.
  • Question
    How should I set up my jar for a web hunting spider?
    Community Answer
    You're going to need a big jar as huntsman spiders are one of the biggest spiders there are. Make sure it has plenty of room.
  • Question
    How do I poke a hole in the lid if my spider is small (about 1cm/1/3inch)?
    Rocket 5000
    Community Answer
    You need to get a very small drill bit. I found one that was about half a cm.
  • Question
    I have a small jumping spider. All of the insects I have caught for him are either too fast or too big. What should I feed my spider?
    Community Answer
    You can feed them anything from small caterpillars to very small beetles.
  • Question
    What will happen if the spider drowns in the water?
    Community Answer
    Then you'll have a dead spider. That seems fairly obvious. Don't put a big bowl of water in the tank.
  • Question
    How do you catch the spider?
    Community Answer
    Look in cracks and slits from the garage, in forks or hollows in trees and on the sides of a web (you can poke the web to encourage a spider to come forth).
  • Question
    How can I identify if a spider is a male or female?
    Community Answer
    You can check their sizes; female significantly is larger than the male. Coloration can also tell you if it's a male or a female, as male spiders tend to be more brightly colored than female spiders.
  • Question
    What is a spider-friendly cleaner I can use to clean its glass cage?
    Community Answer
    Using soap and water is your best bet if you don't want to take the chance of making your spider ill (or killing it). I've found that dish soap and warm water works best.
  • Question
    Are common house spiders deadly?
    Community Answer
    The common house spider is not deadly. Yet, the brown recluse spider, found in many American homes, is poisonous and should not be kept as a pet.
  • Question
    Can I keep a spider that I found as a pet?
    Community Answer
    It depends on what sort of spider you caught; some spiders are poisonous and should not be kept as pets. Do some research to find out exactly what species of spider you caught. If the spider is not poisonous, you can keep it as a pet. If the spider is poisonous, you should release it outside.
  • Question
    How can I keep my spider in a good habitat?
    Community Answer
    Place spiders in a container with a lot of hiding spots, and place it in a stable and warm area.
  • Question
    I have a male grass spider, what should I feed him? He won't eat crickets.
    Community Answer
    Feed it mealworms, which also provide water, and can be found at a pet store.
  • Question
    How do I identify a spider in a picture?
    Community Answer
    If the picture is from Google, you can drag and drop the image onto a laptop to search for a matching image. Or you can describe the spider on Google search and see if anything comes up.
  • Question
    Is a window a good spot for a daddy long legs?
    Community Answer
    No, daddy long legs prefer darker corners.
  • Question
    Why isn't my wolf spider eating?
    Community Answer
    It might be in pre-molt or it might not be that hungry; they can go a long time without eating.
  • Question
    If I find a wild spider outside and keep it in a jar, will I need to catch food for it?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you will either have to buy it or catch it yourself.
  • Question
    If I find spider eggs in the ground and I want to keep them, what do I do to care for them?
    Community Answer
    You can put the egg sac in a jar with a bag secured to the top of a jar with a rubber band. Use a pin to poke holes in the bag for breathing (very small holes so the babies can't escape).
  • Question
    Why would one of my house spiders eat another one?
    Community Answer
    Some spiders will eat other spiders depending on their size and type.
  • Question
    I found a brown recluse and it has webbing stuck on its leg. How do I safely get the webbing off so I can take the spider outside?
    Community Answer
    Due to the danger of this species, I would recommend just capturing it with a jar and releasing it. It can probably get the webbing off by itself.
  • Question
    How do I take care of a wolf spider?
    Community Answer
    Wolf spiders like the dark, so place them in a corner that doesn't get as much light (alternatively set them on the window sill and just put shade in the container). Put twigs in a vortex/tent formation, and it will make a web by itself. Feed it regularly but not too often (a mealworm every few days or once a week is good). Depending on what you feed them, you may/may not have to drip water down the side occasionally (mealworms provide enough water).
  • Question
    What should I do if my spider doesn't like the habitat I made them?
    Community Answer
    That's easy: just create a new habitat! Some spiders like to hide in small homemade caves, holes in the ground, and trees, so try to design a habitat that includes one or more of those things. If you have a spider that likes holes in the ground, put a lot of substrate, soil, or sand in the habitat.
  • Question
    Do they eat dead flies?
    Community Answer
    No, because spiders are used to killing their own food. You need to give it something that is alive, such as crickets.
  • Question
    Can I keep a brown recluse that I caught?
    Community Answer
    I would never recommend keeping venomous spiders -- especially a recluse.
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