Pet Brown Recluse Spider

People usually search for “pet brown recluse spider” for one of two reasons: they’ve found a small brown spider indoors and want to know if it’s dangerous, or they’re considering keeping a recluse as an unusual pet and want to understand the real risk.

The catch is that brown recluses are often misidentified, and the consequences of getting it wrong range from unnecessary panic (and pest treatments) to delayed medical care when a wound is caused by something else. The clearest, safest approach is to start with where the spider can actually live, then work through identification, risk, and—if you’re still determined—what responsible “keeping” really looks like.^{1, 2, 3}

First: the brown recluse is not an Australian spider

The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) is native to the United States, with a well-defined core range in the south-central Midwest and nearby states. Persistent claims that it’s “common in Australia” are not supported by the evidence used in medical entomology and pest management references.^{2, 4}

In Australia, “brown recluse” is sometimes used as a catch-all label for any small brown house spider. That’s a recipe for confusion. If you’re in Australia and worried about a spider, local identification (and local first aid advice) matters more than an imported name.³

How to identify a brown recluse (and why the violin mark is not enough)

Many spiders can look “brown” in dim light. Even the famous “violin” marking can be misleading, because people tend to see a fiddle shape in all sorts of harmless species. The most useful field clue is the eye pattern: recluse spiders have six eyes arranged in three pairs (dyads), rather than the usual eight eyes seen in most spiders.^{1, 4}

Other typical features described in clinical and identification references include a plain (patternless) abdomen and legs without obvious heavy spines. None of these on their own are a guarantee—photos and specimens still get misidentified—but they’re more reliable than the “fiddleback” story alone.^{1, 4}

A practical warning about “bite diagnosis”

Skin ulcers and “necrotic” wounds are often blamed on brown recluses in places where the spider doesn’t live. That matters because it can distract from other serious causes that need proper diagnosis and treatment.^{1, 5}

Habitat and distribution (where brown recluses actually turn up)

Within its native US range, the brown recluse tends to use dry, sheltered, low-disturbance spaces. Indoors, that often means stored items and quiet corners; outdoors, protected gaps under rocks, bark, or debris. It’s not a spider that typically sits out in the open.^{2, 5}

Outside that core range, verified finds are uncommon and are often explained by one-off transport of household goods rather than stable, spreading populations.^{2, 1}

Behaviour: shy, nocturnal, and usually only bites when trapped

Brown recluses are generally nocturnal and spend the day tucked away. When bites happen, it’s often because the spider is pressed against skin—inside bedding, clothing, shoes, or when someone reaches into stored items—rather than because the spider is “aggressive”.^{6, 2}

Health risks: what a brown recluse bite can do

A confirmed brown recluse bite can range from mild irritation to a slowly worsening wound. Some people develop a blister and then a deeper ulcer over time, and healing can be prolonged and may leave scarring. Systemic symptoms (such as fever or general unwellness) are less common but can occur, and children can be more vulnerable to severe effects.^{6, 7}

There is no specific “antidote” for brown recluse venom; care is generally supportive and focused on wound management, pain relief, and monitoring for complications.⁸

If you suspect a bite

• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply a cool compress (intermittently) to reduce pain and swelling.
• Seek urgent medical advice if you’re unsure what caused the bite, pain is severe, the wound is worsening, or you develop broader symptoms (fever, spreading redness, feeling unwell).^{6, 7}

Keeping a brown recluse as a pet: the reality

Calling a brown recluse “a rewarding pet” glosses over the practical problem: it’s medically significant, secretive, and easy to lose. Most of the time you won’t “handle” it safely, you’ll simply keep it contained and try not to forget it’s there. That’s not a moral judgement—just the natural shape of the animal’s life.

If you’re in Australia, there’s another issue: obtaining an exotic live spider lawfully is not simple, and importation of live animals is tightly controlled. An import permit may be required, conditions can be strict, and approval is not guaranteed. Attempting to bring in live spiders without permission can result in seizure and destruction or re-export at the importer’s expense.^{9, 10}

Why “escape-proof” matters more than a fancy enclosure

Most spiders can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. If someone chooses to keep any spider, the enclosure needs a secure lid, good ventilation that doesn’t create escape routes, and a set-up that doesn’t require frequent hands-in maintenance. That principle is reflected in Australian government guidance for keeping spiders generally (even when it varies by state and territory).³

Safer alternatives (if what you want is observation, not risk)

If the appeal is watching a spider hunt and build, a non-medically significant species is usually a better match for home keeping. Many people choose beginner-friendly tarantulas or locally permitted native species obtained through legal channels. The animal is calmer to manage, and the household risk profile is entirely different.

Final thoughts

The brown recluse is real, medically important, and widely misunderstood. It’s also not an Australian species, and it’s not a sensible “starter pet”. If you’re outside its native range, identification errors are common and “recluse bite” is often the wrong answer. If you’re inside its range, the best protection is simple: reduce clutter, be careful with stored items and clothing, and treat worsening wounds with the seriousness they deserve.^{1, 2, 6}

References

1. Vetter RS, et al. “Arachnids Submitted as Suspected Brown Recluse Spiders…”. Journal of Medical Entomology.
2. University of California Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM). Brown Recluse and Other Recluse Spiders.
3. Northern Territory Government. Keeping spiders as pets.
4. Vetter RS, Shay M, Bitterman O. Identifying and Misidentifying the Brown Recluse Spider.
5. Saupe EE, et al. Tracking a Medically Important Spider: Climate Change, Ecological Niche Modeling, and the Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa). PLoS ONE (via PubMed Central).
6. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Brown recluse spider.
7. Mayo Clinic. Spider bites: First aid.
8. Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Brown recluse spider bites: Know the signs, reduce the risks.
9. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Applications to import biosecurity risk materials.
10. Australian Government DAFF. Importing live animals and reproductive material (including conditions via BICON).