When most people hear the word ‘spider,’ they don’t think of a friendly pet.
However, many spiders make excellent beginner pets. They are often cheaper, easier to care for, and just as interesting as any reptile.
There are hundreds of types of pet spiders that thrive in captivity.
Some build webs; some hunt prey; some can be kept in a 1-gallon tank; and others need over 20 gallons. With so much diversity, it is not hard to find a great beginner species for anyone.
Continue on to learn the best pet spiders for beginners, their care, appearance and more.
10 Best Pet Spiders
Spiders are one of the most underrated pets.
These misunderstood invertebrates provide a unique opportunity to learn about a fascinating group of diverse animals.
Here is our list of the top 10 best pet species that you can keep in your home.
| Species | Appearance | Size | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Widow | Shiny, black body with red hourglass marking and long legs | 1.5 inches | 1 – 3 years |
| Chilean Rose Tarantula | Furry, pink body with thick legs | 3.5 – 5 inches | 5 – 25 years |
| Crab Spider | White or yellow body, small head and crablike legs | 0.15 – 0.3 inches | 1 – 1.5 years |
| Curly Hair Tarantula | Curly, white fur and black body | 5.5 – 8 inches | 9 – 20 years |
| Fishing Spider | Long legs, brown and tan striped body with large fangs | 3 – 4 inches | 1 – 2 years |
| Huntsman Spider | Long legs and tan body with short hair | 3.5 – 12 inches | 2 years |
| Jumping Spider | Small, furry and very large eyes | 0.1 – 0.75 inches | 1 – 2 years |
| Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula | Black body with pink or red knee joints | 5 – 6 inches | 5 – 30 years |
| Orb Weaver | Bright yellow and black body with orange legs | 0.25 – 1 inch | 1 year |
| Wolf Spider | Long, hairy legs and large fangs | 0.5 – 2.5 inches | 1 – 3 years |
1. Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders are considered the best beginner spiders. These little arachnids are quite small, short-lived, and are known for their surprisingly adorable appearance.
These arthropods have a unique appearance that sets them apart from other species. They have very large eyes, big heads, and small, fuzzy legs. Many people find them to be the cutest of all spiders, both in their appearance and behavior.
Jumping species also have excellent vision and often turn to look at things. This unique behavior makes them more engaging and fun to interact with.
Another fun behavior to watch is their hunting technique.
Jumping species are active predators, unlike web-building species. They use their powerful legs to spring onto prey after tracking it down with their sharp eyes. Though small, they often tackle and eat large invertebrates like flies, beetles, and other arthropods.
There are over 6,000 species of jumping spider across the world.
Many can be found outside in gardens, so the chances are that you will be able to find one in your own backyard.
Jumping spider pets are friendly and low maintenance. They don’t need extra heating or lighting, though they appreciate being misted once each week. Thanks to their small size, they only need a 1 or 2 gallon tank. Finally, they only need to be fed fruit flies, houseflies, or 2-week-old crickets 3 times each week.
2. Wolf Spider
The wolf spider is named for its fierce personality and prominent fangs. These invertebrates have the classic spider appearance with long, hairy legs, eight eyes and large fangs.
These arachnids are large and robust, though their size varies considerably between members of their family. The largest species is the Carolina which can have a body length of more than one inch. Other types of wolf species barely reach 0.4 inches. Typically, females grow larger and live longer than males.
Like jumping species, wolf spiders do not build webs.
The wolf is a nocturnal predator that camouflages itself in grass or leaf litter. They will pounce on passing insects that they spot with their keen eyesight. Since they rely on camouflage to hunt they have drab colors consisting mainly of browns and blacks.
Wolf species are more skittish and not as friendly as jumping species. They are prone to flee from any large, moving object (like your hand).
Keeping a wolf spider is simple and only requires a 5-gallon tank.
These pets like to have places to hide during the day, so include live plants, flat rocks, or pieces of bark in the enclosure with a 2-inch layer of soil and leaf litter. Mist the tank twice each week, just enough for droplets to form on the sides and substrate.
Wolf spider pets make a great way to learn about caring for spiders. However, before you find one to keep, be aware that this is a secretive, solitary species and you may not see your new pet very often.
3. Chilean Rose Tarantula
Tarantulas are popular pet spiders because of their impressive size and wide availability from breeders. Though they may look scary, many tarantulas are friendly, calm, reserved and unwilling to bite.
The Chilean rose is an excellent example of a friendly tarantula.
As a result it is one of the best friendly spiders for beginners to start with.
Chilean rose tarantulas have a legspan that reaches over 5 inches in large individuals, usually females. Their bodies are black or brown and covered in soft, orange and pink hairs.
Caring for a Chilean rose is relatively simple, though their size means they require more space and substrate than a smaller spider. A large adult will need a 15-gallon glass tank with 2-3 inches of loose substrate like coconut fiber or organic topsoil.
These tarantulas need low humidity and warm temperatures in their tank as they are desert dwellers.
The Chilean rose tarantula lives in the arid, rocky grasslands of Chile and Argentina. They dig burrows between rocks and plant roots to escape from the hot, dry climate that occurs in the South American summer.
Like wolf species, these arachnids are sit-and-wait hunters that ambush passing prey from their burrows. However their prey includes small mammals and reptiles as they grow to over 5 times the size of wolf species!
When threatened the Chilean rose will flick bristles at their attackers. These hairs cause irritation and discomfort, especially if a hair lodges in an eye. However, Chilean roses are often docile, slow-moving and nonaggressive.
4. Huntsman Spider
The huntsman spider family is well known for including the largest spider in the world, the giant huntsman (Heteropoda maxima). This giant species has a legspan that can reach 11.8 inches across!
Their size gives them an advantage when tackling large prey, which they subdue with a venomous bite. Their venom is not thought to be deadly to humans, but a bite is quite painful. These formidable hunters chase down anything they can catch, including locusts, mice, lizards, and flies.
We do not recommend keeping giant huntsman spiders as pets, but there are many other species that are smaller, more docile and easy to care for.
Most huntsman species only grow to 5 inches and are easier to keep as pets.
The flat huntsman (Delena cancerides) is a shy, social species found in colonies of up to 300 individuals. This is one of the few types of pet spiders that can live with others.
If you want a large, nocturnal species with a slimmer look than a tarantula, a huntsman spider pet may be perfect.
These arachnids tend to rest on vertical surfaces, so line one side of the tank with cardboard, tree bark, or corkboard to give them a surface to grip. To keep them happy and healthy give them plenty of hiding spaces in their enclosure.
5. Orb Weaver
There are several types of orb weavers, but the largest in North America is the golden silk (Trichonephila clavipes). These ornate, black and yellow spiders have long, thin legs and a rectangular abdomen.
Other common orb weavers include:
- Yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia)
- Furrow orb (Larinioides cornutus)
Orbs are commonly found in backyards across many countries and can be identified by their unique webs.
These large, colorful and friendly spiders build beautiful, circular webs lined with sticky silk to catch nocturnal insects. During the day they hide in nearby cracks and crevices. Once the sun sets they can be found sitting in the center of their webs.
The biggest appeal of orb weavers is their intricate webs, which are as eye-catching as the spiders themselves. These beginner spiders don’t require much in terms of care and are perfect for owners with plenty of room who want an impressive, peaceful species.
If you want a web-building pet, then you should get an orb weaver.
Keeping pet orb weavers requires a very large tank, at least 45-gallons. Though this seems excessive for a single adult, large species like the golden silk can build webs of up to 3 feet across. Without enough space to build a web they will starve.
It is fascinating to watch the behavior of orb weavers, especially during feeding time and when they build their webs.
6. Curly Hair Tarantula
This large, fuzzy tarantula is native to the tropical forest floors of Costa Rica, but has been widely bred by private collectors. This species is considered one of the best pet tarantulas for new owners because of its docile, shy temperament.
Their shy nature means they typically do not mind being handled gently.
These friendly spiders are a perfect choice for new owners who want to try caring for a tarantula.
Curly Hair Tarantulas are covered in long, blonde hairs that curl inwards. Their fuzziness gives them both their name and a cute and cuddly appearance not found in other beginner spiders. They are an average-sized species that reach 5.5 to 6 inches.
Curly hair tarantulas are not an active species and prefer to spend most of their time sitting in their favorite spot in the tank. This natural behavior stems from their hunting instinct.
In the wild, these spiders are ambush predators that lie in wait for passing animals.
Keeping this tarantula is simple and requires a basic 10-gallon tank setup with a coconut or potting soil substrate and a few hiding places. This species does not climb, but may create burrows under their substrate.
Any beginner should be aware that all tarantulas are capable of biting if startled. Some individuals will also be more defensive than others. Their venom is not harmful to humans and their bites are generally comparable to a mild bee sting.
7. Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula
The Mexican red-knee (Brachypelma smithi) is perhaps the most famous type of tarantula. They are widely bred and are one of the most common tarantulas to find at pet stores. They also have a unique color pattern that makes them one of the most interesting-looking species you can find.
Owners love Mexican red-knee tarantulas for their unique appearance and relaxed temperament.
They are calm and easy to keep. They can become accustomed to handling and can even become comfortable with climbing around on your hands. In fact, the Mexican red-knee is frequently used in movies because of its iconic look and ease of handling!
Like the curly hair, this species is reluctant to bite and would rather escape to their burrow.
Mexican red-knees have a black body and legs that have bright red or pink hues. Their abdomens are covered in golden-brown hairs that give them a shiny, bronze appearance.
These spiders typically grow to 6 inches and need a 20-gallon tank with a thick layer of substrate for burrowing.
In the wild Mexican red-knees live in rocky crevices near cacti and other spiny plants along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Like most tarantulas, they are solitary, ambush hunters that catch invertebrates, mice, and amphibians.
8. Black Widow
Black widows are the most recognizable spiders on our list, and for good reason. These spiders have slender legs and a glossy black abdomen with distinctive red or orange hourglass markings. Females are larger than males, reaching 1.5 inches long and have bolder hourglass markings.
These spiders are eye-catching and are especially appealing to owners who want a low-maintenance pet that still draws attention. In fact this species is so hardy and undemanding that it is one of the best pet spiders for beginners.
Black Widows need so little care that you will rarely need to move or interact with your pet at all.
A single adult can be kept in a 5-gallon tank with minimal décor and no extra lighting or heating.
Provided they are given the occasional insect and enough space to build a web, they will thrive in nearly any setup. Their disorganized, cobwebby webs have extremely strong silk that entangles anything that walks into it.
Black widows are a venomous species native to the southern states of the United States. Because they are venomous, black widows should never be handled. If you have to move your pet, gently corral it into a cup with a lid and air holes.
Though keeping a venomous animal in your home always comes with risk, black widows make fascinating and beautiful pets for careful owners.
However, they should never be kept in a house with pets or children. A bite from this species is quite painful and can be serious in young children and animals.
9. Fishing Spider
Fishing species require more work than other pet spiders, but are still a rewarding pet to keep. Their large size, wide availability, and unique lifestyle make them an attractive one-of-a-kind arthropod.
These spiders are unique in that they prefer to live close to water. They can often be collected from local ponds, streams and swamps. Some may also enter garages, storage sheds and other cool, dark places.
After wolf species, fishing arachnids are the largest, non-web-building species in North America.
The dark fishing (Dolomedes tenebrosus) can reach a leg span of over 3 inches. They are patterned with dark brown, black and tan bands that keep them hidden among mud and leaves. Like other species that actively hunt, they have large, curving fangs for holding prey.
Fishing species can live happily in a 10-gallon tank with live plants and a deep dish of water that is wider than their leg span.
To catch prey, fishing spiders will dive into ponds and eat minnows, aquatic invertebrates and tadpoles! Though they hunt all sorts of vertebrates and invertebrates in the wild, pet species should be fed crickets, mealworms, or dubia cockroaches twice a week.
Fishing pets may bite in defense, so make sure to handle one carefully or not at all. Though they are not venomous, their substantial fangs make their bite comparable to a bee sting.
10. Crab Spider
Crab spiders are one of the most unique and beautiful types of spider you can keep as a pet.
There are over 170 species within the family, making them incredibly diverse.
These spiders have delicate yellow, white and peach colors with intricate patterns. Their colors allow them to camouflage among flowers, where they hide and wait to capture prey. These arachnids are ambushers, not web-builders.
Crab species are named for their ability to run sideways and the crablike way in which they hold their front legs.
Unlike their namesake, however, they remain tiny as adults. A fully grown adult will have a maximum length between 0.15 to 0.3 inches, depending on the species.
Crab species need a tank setup that closely matches their natural environment. You will need to include live plants, preferably ones similar to their yellow, white and peach colors.
Aside from the need for live plants, they are undemanding and excellent pets.
Their small size and skittish nature mean that they are not good pets to handle, but their charming colors and delicate appearance make them one of the most unique species.
What Is The Best Spider For A Pet?
Tarantulas are one of the most commonly kept pet spiders, but there are over 40,000 species of spiders.
Not all 40,000 make good pets though.
If you are new to keeping spiders, we recommend you give the adorable jumping species a try. These little arachnids are not only the most friendly spider on our list, but are also one of the most entertaining.
Most pet spiders are not like other exotic pets (bearded dragons) and cannot show affection to their owners. In most cases they will always see you as a large, scary predator. However, jumping species can be an exception.
Jumping species come in many different bright colors and patterns, which makes them unique.
You can also easily find a jumping species in your own backyard. Unlike reptiles, wild individuals often do very well in captivity. All it takes to keep a jumping spider happy is a 1-gallon ventilated enclosure, weekly crickets and an occasional misting.
If you are just looking for a beautiful pet to display, then a black widow is a good choice. As long as you take the necessary precautions that come with owning a venomous species, you will find a black widow easy to care for.
FAQs
How Much Is A Pet Spider?
Prices vary from free to over $100. Common pet species like wolf, orb weavers, and jumping spiders can be collected from the wild and kept as pets. Many of these species can even be found in your own backyard, no matter where you live.
More exotic species like tarantulas are bred and sold as pets. Popular types of tarantulas (like curly hair, Chilean rose, Mexican red-knee, and pink toe) are cheaper. Rarer varieties (like the Goliath bird-eater), can sell for up to $150.
How Do I Keep A Pet Spider?
Spiders are not demanding pets in terms of their care and habitat. In general you can keep one in a glass tank or simple plastic container with air holes. Just make sure the tank is large enough and you have the right temperatures and humidity.
All spiders are predators and need to be fed live insect prey. You should feed one based on its hunting method. Some species are active hunters that seek out and chase down prey, while others construct webs and wait for their food to come to them.
Where Can I Buy A Pet Spider?
Spiders are often sold alongside reptiles, amphibians and other exotic pets.
Online sellers and breeders usually have a wider selection of species for sale and can ship long distances. Reptile conventions are another place to find spiders.
Venomous species like black widows are not found in most pet stores, but can occasionally be found at large conventions such as ReptiCon.
Certain spider species do not need to be bought at all. Jumping, wolf and fishing spiders have a wide range across North America and are common in backyards, gardens and parks. This means that you can collect one from your own backyard!
