How to Care for a Banana Spider

Banana spiders, genus Phoneutria, make strictly ̶0;look only̶1; pets. They are highly venomous and have skittish natures, making unnecessary handling a risky business. The best-known species, the Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria fera), ranks as one of the most dangerous in the world. Even experienced arachnid enthusiasts should exercise caution around these spiders. If you are new to pet spiders, a much better choice is the golden silk orb weaver, Nephila clavipes, which looks similar to members of genus Phoneutria -- and is also sometimes referred to as a "banana spider" -- but is much less dangerous. Since all spiders are venomous to some degree, it is still best to exercise caution with your spider, whatever its genus.

Things You'll Need

  • Work gloves
  • Long-sleeved top
  • 10- or 20-gallon tank
  • Potting compost
  • Plant mister
  • Shallow dish
  • Thermometer
  • Hygrometer
  • Reptile heat mat
  • Cork bark
  • Large twig
  • Live insects
  • Plastic tub
  • Sheet of cardboard
  • Cleaning cloths
  • Dish-washing liquid
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on thick work gloves and a thick long-sleeved top before doing anything with a banana spider.

    • 2

      Create a suitable habitat in a basic 10-gallon tank for a Brazilian wandering spider or a 20-gallon or larger, tall tank for a golden orb weaver, which needs space to make a web. Lay a couple of inches of chemical-free potting compost in the tank and dampen it slightly with a plant mister. Add a piece of cork bark as a hiding place and a large twig for climbing and web building. Include a shallow dish, such as a jar lid, for water.

    • 3

      Monitor the temperature and humidity of the tank, which should be 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 percent, respectively. Place a heat mat under one end of the tank to raise the temperature if necessary. Increase the humidity by misting.

    • 4

      Introduce the spider to the tank. Don̵7;t handle it, even with gloves. Instead, release it from the container it came in by putting the container in the tank and removing the lid. Put the lid on the tank and let the spider emerge in its own time.

    • 5

      Feed a Brazilian wandering spider one to three times a week on large insects such as crickets and roaches. Golden silk orb weavers may eat crickets but also like insects they can trap in a web, such as flies. Judge how much to feed and how often by how much the spider eats.

    • 6

      Change the water daily.

    • 7

      Clean the tank 2 or 3 times a year. First, remove the spider with the aid of a plastic tub and sheet of cardboard. Then, discard the substrate and accessories. After that, wipe the tank with hot water and dish-washing liquid, rinse it thoroughly, dry the tank and add new substrate and accessories before replacing the spider.