If you’re thinking of getting a pet spider, it’s important to understand what you’re getting yourself into. While you may assume that a spider kept in captivity would be a low-maintenance pet that doesn’t need daily walks, these exotic pets still have specific care and environmental requirements. Understanding and meeting these needs is essential for supporting their welfare, keeping them healthy, and helping them thrive in captivity. 

What type of spider makes an ideal pet? 

Tarantulas are the most common type of spider kept in the UK, with a wide range of species suitable for beginner, intermediate and experienced keepers. If this is your first time getting a pet spider, opt for one of these (more) beginner species:  

  • Chilean rose hair (Grammostola rosea/porteri) 
  • Curly hair (Tliltocatl albopilosus) 
  • Mexican red knee (Brachypelma hamorii/smithi) 
  • Mexican red rump (B. vagans) 
  • Pink zebra beauty (Eupalaestrus campestratus) 
  • Brazilian black (Grammostola pulchra) 

When buying your first pet spider, it’s important to source them from a reputable and trusted provider. If you’re unsure about where to purchase your spider, consider speaking to an exotic vet for advice on responsible sourcing and choosing a healthy animal. 

What makes the perfect enclosure? 

The ideal enclosure should provide your spider with a safe, secure environment that allows it to express its natural behaviour. The size and design should be tailored to the species, as terrestrial, burrowing, and arboreal tarantulas have different needs. Terrestrial species need plenty of floor space but relatively low height to reduce the risk of injury from falls, while arboreal species benefit from a taller enclosure with vertical surfaces such as cork bark to climb. Whilst providing suitable structures for climbing can encourage natural behaviours, it’s important to balance this with safety. An ideal substrate for an enclosure would be coconut coir, while cedar and pine-based substrates should be avoided.  

The enclosure should also have a secure, well-ventilated lid to prevent escapes, alongside at least one snug hiding place where your tarantula can retreat and feel secure. This could be as simple as an upturned plant pot. A room temperature of 21–26°C is suitable for most species, but be sure to check the humidity requirements of your particular species. Good ventilation is also essential, particularly when humidity levels are higher, to help prevent excess moisture. Unlike some other exotic pets, such as reptiles, spiders do not require specialist UVB lighting or heat lamps. In fact, they are best kept away from intense or direct light, and should be positioned somewhere quiet. 

How should pet spiders be fed? 

Tarantulas are carnivores, so they should be fed an appropriate diet of live, captive-bred insects, such as crickets, mealworms, king worms, silkworms, dubia roaches, or horn worms. Feeding frequency will vary depending on the tarantula’s age and size, with young tarantulas generally requiring food around three times a week, while adults may only need feeding every 7–14 days. A rule of thumb for how much to feed your spider is that the prey should be equal to the length of their abdomen. It is also recommended that any uneaten prey is removed after 24 hours.  

When providing water, a shallow, low-sided water dish is best to minimise the risk of drowning, particularly if the spider accidentally falls into the dish. 

What sort of enrichment do they need? 

Enriching your tarantula is less about interacting with it or ‘playing’. In fact, tarantulas generally benefit from minimal handling, if any. Perhaps the most important aspect of enrichment is giving your tarantula the freedom to choose when it hides, explores, climbs or retreats, rather than relying on handling as a form of interaction. So, if you’re looking for a pet to cuddle or play with, a spider may not be the best choice. 

Some of the ways you can encourage them to exhibit their natural behaviours include: 

  • Hides and shelters – Cork bark or hollow logs  
  • Substrate for natural behaviours – Providing an appropriate substrate allows burrowing species to dig and hide 
  • Climbing opportunities – Arboreal species can benefit from vertical structures such as cork bark and sturdy branches 
  • Web-building opportunities – Providing suitable structures can encourage natural web-building behaviour 
  • Environmental variety – A naturalistic enclosure with appropriate décor can provide opportunities for exploration and movement 

Do pet spiders need a companion? 

Tarantulas are solitary animals, so they should always be housed individually. Cohabiting tarantulas is not recommended, as they are territorial and may become stressed or cannibalise one another. 

What lifestyle is compatible with keeping a pet spider? 

Did you know that female tarantulas can live for up to 30 years? With this in mind, owning a pet spider is a long-term commitment, so it’s important to consider your future plans and whether they could affect your ability to provide appropriate care throughout your spider’s lifetime. 

Whilst your adult spider may not need to be fed every day, it’s important to check on them regularly to monitor for any signs of illness, stress or changes in behaviour. Tarantulas are generally not recommended as pets for young children, who may mishandle them or inadvertently cause stress or injury. This is particularly important when keeping more venomous species, which require experienced handling and care. Similarly, other pets, such as cats and dogs, can pose a potential threat to your spider and may cause unnecessary stress. It’s therefore important to keep the enclosure somewhere secure and away from other pets. 

It’s also worth considering how much space a suitable enclosure will take up in your home. Depending on the species and its specific requirements, a sufficiently sized enclosure can occupy a significant amount of indoor living space. Be sure to consider your own living arrangements and available space before committing to a pet spider. 

Do pet spiders need a specialist vet? 

Whilst you can take spiders to a small animal vet, it’s worth researching where your nearest exotic vet is based. Exotic vets typically have additional qualifications in exotic species, as well as experience caring for a wide range of less conventional pets. 

Although spiders may be companion animals, their needs and physiology differ significantly from those of dogs, cats and rabbits, which are more commonly seen by small animal vets. Exotic vets are more likely to have the specialist knowledge, medication and equipment needed to examine, treat and, where necessary, perform procedures on exotic species, resources that a general small animal practice may not have access to. 

What health issues are commonly seen in pet tarantulas? 

Inadequate environmental conditions are a common cause of stress in captive spiders. Some of the signs of stress include:  

  • Persistent pacing 
  • Repeated hair-flicking 
  • Refusal to hide 
  • Sustained elevated posture 

Stress can predispose spiders to further illness and disease, so it’s important to be aware of the signs of potential health problems. Some of the conditions to look out for include: 

  • Dehydration 
  • Trauma 
  • Incomplete moult 
  • Parasite issues 
  • Dyskinetic syndrome 
  • Nutritional imbalances 

For signs of stress, disease, or a change in behaviour, review your spider’s husbandry and environmental conditions, including light, humidity, temperature, and disturbances. If problems persist, or you notice any concerning changes in your spider’s health or behaviour, seek specialist veterinary assistance as soon as possible. 

Conclusion 

Despite their minimal feeding and handling requirements, keeping a pet spider still requires careful consideration to provide the right environment and support their health and welfare. Setting up a suitable habitat can involve a significant amount of thought and expense, but once established, the day-to-day care of a pet tarantula is generally much less demanding than that of a dog or cat. However, this doesn’t mean their needs should be overlooked. Thorough research is essential to ensure your spider’s enclosure, diet and environment are tailored to its specific species, helping to maximise their health, welfare and quality of life.