Five Reasons Brown Recluse Spiders Should Not Be Kept as Pets

The brown recluse spider, along with the black widow spider, are the two most feared spiders in the United States. The reason for this is because they are the only truly dangerous spiders in our borders. Still, people do decide to keep these venomous critters as pets on occasion. Despite plenty of advice to the contrary, some people think that a brown recluse spider as a pet is a good idea. Here are five really good reasons to never keep brown recluse spiders for pets.

Bite Danger for Humans

The brown recluse is venomous to humans, and can leave some serious wounds. Though fatalities are rare in a brown recluse bite, they can make you extremely sick. The bites can lead to necrosis around the bite site, and amputations have even been required in extreme bite cases. Some people do not even have a reaction upon being bitten, but others react horribly. Young children and the elderly, as well as people in poor health are the most at risk groups when it comes to a brown recluse bite.

Bite Danger for Pets

While humans are certainly at risk, your family pets are probably even more at risk. While human beings might be bitten while feeding or upon escape, a pet might actually seek out a strange looking creature like the brown recluse. Cats and dogs seem somewhat resistant to brown recluse venom, but they can react badly to a bite. Pets know no better, and can be bitten rather easily.

Escape Artists

Brown recluse spiders are notoriously good escape artists when it comes to enclosures. You must be especially careful that any brown recluse habitat is secured well, and that even the slightest of cracks are not available to the spider. Spiders in general will seek out any weakness in an enclosure, and be out of the enclosure in a matter of moments if you are not careful.

Proliferation

Once your brown recluse spider has escaped it's enclosure, all bets are off. A single brown recluse spider will lay several egg sacs during their season, and each of these egg sacs will contain up to 50 spiderlings. These spiders will grow to maturity within one year or so, and will have spiderlings of their own. Once they begin this process, you have a whole house full of these dangerous spiders that continues to grow with every passing day. Is that really worth the risk for having a single little pet spider?

Eradication Difficulties

Once the brown recluse has spread in a home, then eradication becomes nearly impossible. These spiders like to hide, and they are experts at doing so. This can make getting rid of them very difficult. It usually takes an expert and years of expense to fully eradicate the brown recluse spiders in a house that is fully infested. No pet spider is worth the horrible life of living with these spiders throughout your home. Consider this before you consider keeping one as a pet.