Some people may shudder at the idea of having a Pet Spider; however there are many people who enjoy raising spiders as pets. Spiders may be suitable as pets given the right living conditions.
Before you get a pet spider you need to be sure that you are able to adequately care for one. Spiders require precise temperature, humidity, lighting, habitat and nutritional requirements depending on the species of spider you have. It is very important to keep a pet spider in a closed container, as they can slip through small crevices. Keep the container sealed, but allow for proper air-flow.
There are many types of spiders, such as tarantulas and wolf spiders that make excellent exotic pets, as they are quite interesting to observe them while burrowing, climbing or weaving a web.
Movies such as Charlotte's Web, Arachnophobia, Lord of the Rings, and Spider-Man have brought a renewed interest in spiders as pets. The movie Arachnophobia, about the fear of spiders, did not decrease the interest in Tarantulas as pets.
Fast Facts:
- Spiders are clean and quiet
- Spiders require little living space
- Spiders less expensive to raise than traditional pets
- Biggest spider in the world: Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula
- Smallest spider in the world: Mygalomorph Spider
- Most venomous spiders: Black Widow & Brown Recluse
- Nearly all spiders are venomous to some degree
- Not all spiders do well in captivity
- Most spiders have a short lifespan compared to traditional pets
- Dropping a Tarantula can cause abdomen to rupture, and certain death
- Keep cats from spiders
- Some States may prohibit ownership of spiders
