Did you know that some people keep tarantulas as pets? These fascinating creatures might seem scary, but many are surprisingly gentle and low-maintenance. Choosing a pet spider is a big decision! You want a companion that fits your lifestyle and that you can care for properly. Many potential owners worry about handling, feeding, or finding the right habitat for their eight-legged friend.
This guide will clear up those worries. We will explore the best beginner-friendly spider species. You will learn exactly what each type needs to thrive in your home. Stop guessing about temperature and humidity levels. By the end of this post, you will have the clear knowledge to confidently select and care for your very own pet spider.
Top Pet Spiders Recommendations
- Distinctive Appearance: This plush spider features a rich black body with subtle gray accents on its legs, expressive eyes, and a unique round shape that captures its lifelike charm.
- Superior Material: Crafted from high-quality PP cotton, this plush toy is soft to the touch and easy to clean using mild soap and water.
- Practical Packaging: Each set includes a magnetic plush toy and a metal sheet. The sheet can be placed inside clothing, allowing the spider’s magnetic underside to securely attach for hands-free, interactive fun.
- Compact and Lightweight: Measuring approximately 6 inches and weighing just 0.23 pounds, this plush shoulder companion is portable and designed with detailed 3D elements for added visual appeal.
- RC Tarantula: Skitter around and spook friends and family with a giant remote control spider (batteries included).
- Features: Easy-to-use remote, moving legs, and light-up LED eyes.
- Manoeuvrable: The RC spider moves quickly and does an awesome 360° spin.
- Fun Fact: Real tarantulas are big and scary-looking (and hairy), but are generally harmless to humans.
- 【Acrylic Reptile Terrarium】Our small reptile cage measures 7.87" x 4.72" x 4.33", perfect size for kinds of baby reptiles or other small animals, providing sufficient room for reptiles pets to move around.
- 【360 Degree View】Our large breeding tank is all-round transparent, it's convenient to observe your slithery friends in the box and feed them in time. The top is clam-shell design, easy to open and close.
- 【Easy to Install】Tear off the protective film on the surface at first and the acrylic tarantula enclosure requires a simple installation , the rubber bands do well in holding everything together. It's also easy to disassemble when not use for saving storage space.
- 【Perfect Design】This reptile breeding box tarantula enclosure is designed with ventilation holes on the two sides, providing the reptiles with fresh air. And the locking handle keeps your pet safe.
- 3 toys for 3 times the fun
- Loud Squeaker in each toy
- Each Toy approx: Green Spider: 4.5" h x 6.5" w Purple Spider: 4.5" h x 6.5" w Black Spider: 4.5" h x 6.5" w
- Great for fetch and play
- OUR spider prank box LOOKS GOOD!Material: Natural Wood.Safety Guaranteed: No-toxic Material, no sharp, and sturdy structure，Best prank gift box for Prankster and adults. Have fun and enjoy safety!
- Our spider box prank gift box has a neat awesome deceiving appearance and big enough, so this spider prank box can be used for Christmas gift box for candy, scare magic trick gift box for money cash gift card, random useful things for person who has everything, and many other small gifts like ring can fit inside the surprise gift box.
- FUNNY Christmas DAY GAG GIFT BOX & PRANK BOX TOYS: Tired of Ordinary Gifts? Be Creative in Your Gift! - This spider box prank gift box would be great for funny gag gifts for wife, mom and other women, christmas gag gifts for adults Prankster teens. Great gags & practical joke toys, white elephant gift ideas, white elephant gift exchange ideas, and it will be a big hit at the white elephant party!
- Perfect for Parties or Anytime! Easy to Use! Just hand the box to someone and they will naturally want to slide the top open to see what is inside. When they do.Out jumps a creepy wiggly rubber spider!Note: the harmless prank can make our life funnier, but please keep away from the elderly or people with cardiovascular diseases!
- 【Realistic Spider Design】The electric spider toy is so realistic with simulation shape, vivid color, and eight movable legs.
- 【Pets Teasing Toy】The spider is high simulation and it can vibrate and crawl. Your pets (like cats, dogs) will struggle to play with it in fear and excitement. It is an ideal toy for teasing your pets.
- 【Prank Toys for Kids and Adults】It can scare your friends, family members or even yourself. It can also be a prank toy & gifts for April Fool's Day, Halloween, Christmas, birthday, etc.
- 【Vibration and Crawling】Just remove the plastic insulation sheet and turn on the switch. The spider will vibrate and crawl randomly and quickly. Notice: It can on crawl on flat and smooth surface.
- 【Realistic Spiders】 Playset includes Giant Whiteknee and Tarantula. Each spider toy figures is designed with bright colors, exquisite workmanship and details, the uniquely molded textures and richly painted details bring the plastic spiders to life. These toy spider figurines is finely hand painted and sculpted by experts which ensures authenticity. The realistic insect toy figures are worth to be collected.
- 【High Quality】These animal toy figurine are made of high quality plastic, phthalate and lead free, thoroughly safety tested with ASTM, CPSIA, EN71, RoHS approval. Natural appearance and color, good quality and durable to deal with lots of play
- 【Funny Prank Props】 These toy spider figures are ideal prank props for April fool's day and Halloween parties, or just for your kids' playtime. A unique and lifelike replica of spider that will add a touch of authenticity to any Halloween or garden display. You can put the fake spiders on the floor or table, hide them in the grass, the drawer or put them in a gift box to make a trick!
- 【Wide Range of Uses】 These animal toys are great addition for kids and adults who loves to make a trick on their friends or colleagues. They are suitable for landscape scenes, educational toy, spider decorations, wild animal themed cake toppers, costume party, decorative props, party favors, bag fillers and etc
- Dunbarn, Edward (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 106 Pages - 11/05/2019 (Publication Date) - Zoodoo Publishing (Publisher)
Choosing Your Eight-Legged Friend: A Pet Spider Buying Guide
Thinking about welcoming a spider into your home? Pet spiders are fascinating, low-maintenance companions. This guide helps you pick the right one and the right gear. We focus on making smart choices for both you and your new arachnid pal.
Key Features to Look For in a Pet Spider
When buying a spider, look closely at a few important features. These signs tell you if the spider is healthy and suitable for a beginner or an expert.
Health Indicators
- Active Movement: A healthy spider moves smoothly and quickly when disturbed. Lethargic or slow spiders might be sick.
- Good Body Shape: Check its abdomen (the back part). It should look plump, not shriveled or flat. A shriveled abdomen often means dehydration or starvation.
- Intact Legs: Ensure all legs are present and look strong. Missing legs can happen, but many missing legs suggest poor care previously.
Species Suitability
Different spiders need different care. Beginners should start with docile, hardy species like the Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula. Expert keepers might choose fast, defensive, or medically significant species like the Ornamental Tarantula.
Important Materials for Spider Housing
The enclosure, or habitat, is crucial. You need the right materials to keep your spider safe and happy.
Enclosure Materials
- Clear Acrylic or Glass: These materials let you see your spider clearly. Glass tanks work well for larger species. Plastic or acrylic containers are lighter and often cheaper for smaller spiders.
- Secure Lid: Spiders are escape artists! The lid must lock tightly. Mesh lids are okay for ventilation but ensure the holes are too small for the spider to squeeze through.
- Substrate: This is the bedding at the bottom. Coconut fiber (coir) or peat moss are excellent choices. They hold moisture well, which many spiders need. Avoid wood shavings like pine or cedar, as they can release harmful fumes.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of your spider and its setup directly affects its lifespan and happiness.
Factors That Improve Quality
- Proper Humidity and Temperature: Research your specific spider’s needs. Some need dry air; others need high humidity. Heating mats placed *outside* the enclosure can help maintain warmth if your room is too cold.
- Hiding Spots: Every spider needs a place to feel safe. Cork bark, half coconut shells, or commercially made hides improve the spider’s sense of security.
- Consistent Feeding Schedule: Providing appropriately sized, gut-loaded feeder insects (like crickets or roaches) on a regular schedule ensures good nutrition.
Factors That Reduce Quality (Things to Avoid)
- Overwatering: Too much moisture breeds mold and bacteria, which harms spiders. Always allow the substrate to dry out slightly between waterings.
- Rough Handling: Spiders are display pets, not cuddle pets. Rough handling often results in dropped spiders or defensive kicks/bites.
- Wrong Sizing: A small spider in a huge tank feels exposed and stressed. A large spider in a small tank will struggle to find food and water.
User Experience and Use Cases
What is it like owning a pet spider? The experience varies widely based on the spider type and your expectations.
Beginner Experience (Docile Tarantulas)
For most first-time owners, the experience is hands-off observation. You watch them molt (shed their skin), eat, and rearrange their homes. They offer quiet, fascinating entertainment. Setup is usually simple: a small tank, substrate, water dish, and a hide.
Advanced Experience (Fast or Arboreal Species)
Owners of arboreal (tree-dwelling) spiders or very fast species focus more on habitat design—providing climbing branches and monitoring vertical space. These spiders require faster reflexes when feeding or cleaning because they move quickly.
Pet Spider Buying Guide FAQs
Q: How often do I need to feed my pet spider?
A: Most adult tarantulas eat once every one to two weeks. Spiderlings (babies) eat more often, maybe two or three times a week. Always remove uneaten food promptly.
Q: Do all pet spiders bite?
A: Yes, all spiders can bite, but most pet tarantulas bite only if severely provoked or handled roughly. Some species also flick irritating hairs (urticating hairs) as a defense instead of biting.
Q: What is the most important thing for a spider’s water dish?
A: The water dish must always have fresh water. For large spiders, the dish should be shallow so they cannot drown. For small spiders, you can moisten a small piece of cotton ball instead of using a dish.
Q: How long do pet spiders live?
A: Lifespans vary greatly. Female tarantulas can live for 15 to 30 years, depending on the species. Male tarantulas usually live much shorter lives, often only a few years after reaching maturity.
Q: Should I buy a spider that is already an adult?
A: Beginners often benefit from buying a spiderling or juvenile. Adults are more established, but they cost more, and you miss out on watching them grow.
Q: What is molting, and what should I do when it happens?
A: Molting is when the spider sheds its old skin to grow larger. During this time, the spider is very vulnerable. Do not feed it or try to handle it. Leave it completely alone until its new exoskeleton hardens, which can take several days or weeks.
Q: Are special lights needed for pet spiders?
A: No. Spiders do not need special UV or heat lamps like reptiles do. Room temperature light is usually sufficient. Too much light can stress them out, as most are nocturnal.
Q: Where is the best place to buy a pet spider?
A: Purchase spiders from reputable local pet stores that specialize in exotics or from established online breeders. This ensures you get a healthy spider with known lineage.
Q: Can I keep two spiders in the same tank?
A: Absolutely not. Almost all spiders are solitary creatures. Keeping them together will result in one spider eating the other. They must live alone.
Q: What if my spider escapes?
A: Stay calm. Spiders usually hide in dark, quiet places close to the ground, like under furniture or behind baseboards. Turn off the central vacuum and use a flashlight to search. A piece of cardboard can help gently guide it back into a container.
Hi, I’m Mallory Crusta, the heart and mind behind LovelyPetSpot.com.. As a passionate pet enthusiast, I created this space to share my experiences, expertise, and love for all things pets. Whether it’s helpful tips, heartfelt stories, or advice for pet parents, my mission is to make the journey of caring for your furry, feathery, or scaly friends as joyful and fulfilling as possible. Join me in celebrating the incredible bond we share with our animal companions!