Interested in suggestions for keeping spiders
Hello all,
I find a lot of wolf spiders in my house and typically catch and release them into the leaf litter along our little backyard forest tree line. I've often wondered what it would be like to keep them for a few weeks in an enclosure to observe and enjoy their beauty. I have never pursued this because I know nothing about keeping spiders and don't want to accidentally hurt them, simply because I think it would be neat to keep them on occasion.
Could you offer some resources for:
- finding appropriate enclosures (adequate size, air holes, etc)
- appropriate "housing" needs (do they need dirt, light, etc)
- feeding schedules
Is it even ethical or appropriate to keep spiders for some time and then release them back into the wild? Are they able to re-acclimate to the wild if they are kept in captivity for some time? What is the appropriate amount of time to keep a spider, and can they live a good life if they are kept?
Bonus photo of a cutie I found just half an hour ago. :)
Thank you for any advice!
Posted Apr 9, 2026, 9:12 PM UTC