Many people have grown up reading about Wilbur the pig and how Charlotte, a friendly barn spider, saves him from the slaughterhouse. Charlotte’s Web is written by one of the most critically acclaimed children’s story writers of all time, E.B.White, the same writer behind another classic, Stuart Little.
In the novel, Charlotte saves Wilbur by spinning a web that says something wonderful about Wilbur. Wilbur becomes famous and even wins a prize at the county fair. The book was eventually adapted into a movie in 2006 staring Dakota Fanning and Julia Roberts, who voices Charlotte the spider.
Barn spiders are brown and yellow spiders that have striped legs. They also have a marking found on the underside of their large abdomens which is usually two small white marks inside a black circle. However, the colors of their markings could vary from one spider to another. These spiders commonly reach an inch to three quarters of an inch in size, and like most orb-weaving spiders, they do not stay in one web for a long time. They take their webs down and spin a new one every night, recycling what they can from their old web. Barn spiders are nocturnal, so they hide during the day and hunt for food during the night. They usually just say in the center of their webs and wait until insects get trapped in them.
Barn spiders do not really like other barn spiders. If two barn spiders come into close contact, they become violent. They can live in one structure, but with a given distance. These spiders are known to be seen in wooden structures and rafters such as farms, sheds and barns. They are also commonly seen in boat houses near lakes. They prefer to stay in cool and dark areas that likely have a lot of small insects that they can prey on.
When talking about exotic pets, insects and arachnids are among the most often mentioned, with spiders generally at the top of most “most exotic pets” lists.
Often kept in enclosures, insects and spiders are relatively easy to keep as pets, not demanding when it comes to space, generally not all that picky when it comes to food, as well as not necessarily needy when regular baths or frequent clean up is being talked about.
Insects and spiders also don’t require that much interaction or attention from owners, unlike cats or dogs. In fact, they’re known to generally fair better without any socialization at all.
But pet insects and spiders also have their own list of particulars, a roster which pet lovers have to think long and hard about before going on an impulse and bringing them home.
Here are some exotic pet facts worth knowing about, before getting your first pet insect or arachnid.
Finding the Right One
For those looking in to keep insects or spiders as pets, specialty pet shops often suggest a “start small” approach, recommending insect or spider species which are less dangerous and/or not so temperamental to keep.
Ant farms are often suggested, especially for kids, given how easy they are to maintain. An escaped colony, though, is a home safety risk, which means that owners have to make sure ants don’t break out from enclosures.
Stick and/or leaf insects are also often recommended, though these require degrees of delicacy with their care. The hissing cockroach is also popular as an “entry level” exotic pet, given that they are pretty docile and large enough for an owner to handle.
Certain types of tarantulas are also often suggested, like the Costa Rican Zebra, the Mexican Redleg and the Chilean rose. These arachnids are venomous, but their venom-factor is somewhat similar to the venom of bees.
If one is not all that keen in keeping a venomous pet, it’d be best not to do so.
Background Information Before Getting One
It pays to do some fact checking before settling on a particular pet insect or spider.
For one, verify with your local agencies’ regulations regarding the legality of owning a particular insect or spider.
Also, gain specifics and particulars related to the care and keeping of insects or spiders, particularly with their feeding. Some tarantulas, for example, require feeding procedures akin to their natural environments. These could be tricky to feed. Though hissing cockroaches are generally easy to feed, stick and leaf insects are more picky with what’s in their diets.
Some insight related to the lifespan of a pet would also be necessary. Certain tarantulas, for example, live as long as 20 years, with females living longer than males
Bottom line, though the basics related to the care of insects and spiders are pets are quite easy to fulfill, in no way does this mean that they're not as “high maintenance” as having dogs or cats in the house.
So? Will you still be getting that tarantula just because it's so cool to have?
