How to Rear Spiders

So your new neighbors want to introduce you to their family pet, but "Rover" turns out to be a pet spider instead of a spaniel. No, your new neighbors are not a 1960s sitcom family with vampire parents, wolfman boys or disembodied crawling hands. In fact, your new neighbors are quite normal; they are among thousands who own pet spiders.

Things You'll Need

  • Medium or large jar (for small spiders)
  • Plastic bug cage (for small spiders)
  • Terrarium (for tarantulas)
  • Spray water bottle
  • Substrate/sterilized potting soil (for tarantulas)
  • Twigs (for small spiders)
  • Small log (for tarantulas)
  • Cotton ball
  • Bottle cap
  • Shallow water dish (for tarantulas)
  • Heating pad (for tarantulas)
  • Thermometer
  • Gut loaded crickets (for tarantulas)
  • Flies (for small spiders)
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Instructions

  1. The House Spider

    • 1

      Search areas around the yard or in the garage where spiders are normally found. Trap the spider inside a jar or lid-covered dish, using rubber gloves for protection.

    • 2
      Take your spider for a walk, but keep an eye on it.

      Create a habitat in a quart-sized canning jar or a plastic bug cage. Cover the bottom of the jar with potting soil. Add a small, thin twig that fits in the jar when the lid is closed.

    • 3
      Lightly misting the spider's web is another way to give it water.

      Place a damp cotton ball in a bottle cap and put it at the bottom of the jar.

    • 4

      Place your spider into the habitat.

    • 5

      Deposit one or two live flies into the habitat.

    Tarantulas and Other Exotic Spiders

    • 6
      Not exactly cuddly, but these furry little critters can make wonderful pets.

      Visit a local pet store if you are looking for something more exotic, like a tarantula.

    • 7
      Some pet tarantulas provide companionship for as long as 20 years.

      Create a habitat by using a terrarium or a dry aquarium. Place a 1/2-inch layer of substrate (or sterilized potting soil) over the entire bottom of the habitat.

    • 8

      Place a medium-sized lid one-third full of water at the bottom of the terrarium.

    • 9
      Most tarantulas are accustomed to warmer, milder climates.

      Secure a heating pad on one corner of the terranium, along the outside bottom of the glass. Maintain the temperature at 70 to 80 degrees.

    • 10
      Gut-loaded insects are an essential part of keeping your tarantula healthy.

      Place your tarantula into the terrarium.

    • 11

      Deposit two or three gut-loaded crickets into the habitat.