A spider is not like a cat or a dog that makes you feel warm and fuzzy just by holding and petting. They are part of the insect family and do not like to be handled. But spiders can hold a wealth of knowledge and are very low maintenance.
Some of the reasons you might think about raising a spider are:
- Spiders are very clean and quiet
- Spiders require very little space
- A pet spider requires little care
- A spider is very inexpensive to keep
- A spider does not get lonely because they are not social creatures
- Spiders of all different varieties are easy to find and catch
Each different spider, or Arachnid, can offer lessons about their particular species. Do they build a web? What are their physical characteristics and their history? What is their favorite food and how do they go about capturing?
Raising, studying and learning from spiders around your property and locality can be a rewarding and fascinating opportunity to see how the spider is actually our friend. Unlike the rumors you may have heard, spiders do not stalk and kill humans and very few species actually carry a deadly amount of venom.
Some examples of common spiders to begin with are wolf spiders, ground spiders or the crab spider. A small plastic or glass jar with tiny air holes will suffice but do not group spiders together. They may feel threatened in their space and kill out of fear.
Create a habitat that they will feel welcome in. Dirt and grass on the floor, maybe a stick or two for climbing. Try a variety of food such as flies, beetles or ants to see what your insect has a taste for.
Keep a magnifying glass close by so you can sit and examine your new pet. The more we know about our neighbors and those around us, the more comfortable we become. Spiders are here to stay and we would certainly miss them if they were gone.
