Advantages and Disadvantages of Spiders as a Pet

Spiders can be great pets for people who are ready to care for them. They are not ideal pets for small children as some spiders are poisonous and can be potentially harmful if they escape from their cage. There are many advantages as well as disadvantages to owning a pet spider. It's up to you to decide if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

  1. Choosing a Spider

    • Finding a spider to keep as a pet is an advantage as it's not a difficult task. Take a jar and look around outdoors; it's likely that you will stumble across more than one candidate. However, some spiders are very poisonous, so take care when choosing one from the wild. Visit a pet store to find a spider that is deemed an acceptable pet. Though some of the pet store spider options are poisonous, most aren't deadly.

    Care

    • A disadvantage to caring for a spider is that the task is not as easy as you might think. Research the kind of spider that you want as a pet. Buy a small terrarium for its habitat. Fill the floor of the terrarium with soil. Place rocks and twigs in the container for the flooring. Try to provide the spider with a makeshift cave as spiders like a place to hide sometimes. Pay attention to the special needs of your spider as some need specific light and temperatures to survive.

    Traits

    • If you are looking for a pet to interact with, spiders are not recommended as they aren't affectionate creatures. Spiders can go for a lifetime without physical contact from you and be just fine, unlike a dog or a cat. On the flip side, spiders are low maintenance. They don't need hours of daily attention, so you are free to go about your busy life.

    Captivity

    • Another disadvantage that a pet spider may potentially pose is that spiders don't all survive in captivity. This is more likely to be an issue if you find a random spider outdoors as opposed to buying one from a pet store. An advantage to having a pet spider in captivity is that you get to watch a spider up close and personal. Study the intricate webs that your spider creates virtually overnight.