Pets

Pet spider risks are an important consideration before you decide to keep a spider as a pet. Though they are extremely gentle creatures, which require very little maintenance and care, spiders are not exactly a conventional choice for a cuddly pet. An affinity for the animals is a must for anyone considering spiders as potential pets, after which learning about pet spider risks is equally important. But before you start thinking of ‘Earth Vs the Spider’, pet spider risks are really not that dramatic, and can be easily averted by simple precautions.

To begin with, almost all spiders are venomous, but in varying degrees, which means they have varying amounts of impact on humans, if they are bitten. Yes, some spider species do bite. Apart from the potency of the venom, there other factors which play a role on the impact of the bite, such as severity of bite, quantity of venom, the place where you were bitten and some others. It is best to read up on the venom potency of your desired spider species, and the steps to take to avoid being injured.

Now apart from the bite, some species of spiders, such as the tarantula, also have what are known as urticating hair, which means, hair which causes irritation and slight swelling when in contact with skin. Spiders often flick hair on potential threats, which means you, when they feel threatened. If the hair comes in contact with the eye, it could cause serious damage to vision, so this is a pet spider risk you need to be very careful about.

Some other pet spider risks include the fact that most spiders love to climb, and if you have introduced a lot of plants and other large items into the pet spider habitat, they could escape when you open their container during feeding or cleaning. This is definitely not a good thing, as an escaped spider could be a threat to your family, other pets or even your neighbors, especially if it is of a highly venomous variety.

While handling your pet spider, do not expect an encouraging response, as most spiders are shy and do not like being handled by humans. Most importantly, do not try to introduce your spider to your pet cat or dog, as this could lead to unfortunate consequences. A major pet spider risk is that if your spider gets ill, it could be risky for you or your other pets and treatment might be difficult as not many vets are experts on treating spiders.

Apart from all this, you can only keep one spider in a container as they are extremely predatory, and will not tolerate the presence of another spider. So discuss all these points with your family, and make sure everyone is aware of the risks involved, before making a decision. But on the whole, spiders make great pets, and none of the pet spider risks can change that.