People usually search “red house spider pet” for one of two reasons: they’ve found a webby, reddish-grey spider around the house and want to know if it’s safe to leave alone, or they’re thinking about keeping a small native spider and want care advice that won’t quietly go wrong. With house spiders, the details matter: species ID, ventilation, moisture, food size, and what to do if a bite ever happens.
In Australia, “house spider” is often used for Badumna species (grey house spider Badumna longinqua and black house spider Badumna insignis). They’re common around buildings, build messy lacy webs with a retreat, and mostly keep to their corner if left undisturbed.1, 2
First, a quick correction: “Red house spider” isn’t the standard name
The spider most people mean by “red house spider” is usually one of the Australian house spiders in the genus Badumna, especially the grey house spider (Badumna longinqua) or the closely related black house spider (Badumna insignis). “Grey house spider” and “black house spider” are the common names you’ll see in Australian references; “red house spider” is not a widely standardised label.1, 2, 3
Identification: what a Badumna house spider looks like
- Size: adults are usually around the 1–2 cm body-length range (females larger than males), depending on species and individual variation.1, 3
- Colour: typically dark brown to black or greyish, often with a pale dorsal pattern on the abdomen that can be faint. Some individuals can look warmer-toned (brownish) in certain light, but they’re not reliably “red”.1, 3
- Web: a messy, lace-like sheet with one or more funnel-like retreats tucked into a crack or crevice (window frames, brickwork, bark, rock walls).1, 2
Temperament and bite risk
House spiders generally avoid contact and stay close to their retreat. Bites are uncommon and usually happen when a spider is trapped against skin (for example in clothing or when someone reaches into a crevice). Treat any bite seriously at first if you’re unsure what bit you, but most spider bites do not cause severe illness.2, 4
If you’re in doubt about the spider (especially if it may be a funnel-web or mouse spider), use a cautious first-aid approach and seek urgent advice.4
First aid basics (Australia)
- For most minor bites/stings: wash with soap and water, use a cold pack for pain and swelling, and monitor symptoms.4
- If a funnel-web or mouse spider bite is suspected: call 000 and apply a pressure immobilisation bandage, keep the person still.4
- If a redback bite is suspected: do not use pressure immobilisation; use a cold pack and seek medical advice if pain is severe or symptoms spread beyond the bite site.4
Are they suitable as pets?
As a “look, don’t handle” pet, a house spider can be a calm, low-fuss animal to observe at close range. The trade-off is that they’re not a social species, they’re not predictable in the way a mammal is, and they can be stressed by frequent disturbance. A secure enclosure matters more than almost anything else, because a roaming spider in a house quickly becomes a spider you can’t find again.
Also note that legality isn’t universal. In Australia, you generally can’t import invertebrates as pets, and bringing spiders in from overseas is not permitted for the pet trade.7
Housing: a practical enclosure setup
A small, well-ventilated container is usually better than a large, damp terrarium. House spiders do best when they can anchor a web and retreat into something tight and dark, rather than living in constant moisture.
- Enclosure: a clear plastic container or small glass tank with a secure, ventilated lid. A “tight” lid is not enough—use a locking or clipped lid if possible.
- Ventilation: ensure good airflow. Stale, wet enclosures are a common cause of mould and mite problems in invertebrate keeping.
- Furnishings: add a piece of bark, a folded section of cardboard, or a small log to create a stable crevice-like retreat where the spider can sit back from the web.1, 2
- Substrate: optional. If used, keep it on the dry side and spot-clean regularly.
- Water: instead of a deep dish, use a very shallow cap or provide occasional light misting on one side so droplets form. Avoid soaking the whole enclosure.
Feeding: what to offer (and what not to)
Badumna house spiders are predators that take insects caught at the web edge. Around homes they feed on moths, beetles, termites and other night-flying insects drawn to lights.1
- Best foods: small crickets, small cockroaches, moths, flies—prey that’s smaller than (or roughly similar to) the spider’s body length.
- Frequency: many adult spiders do fine with one or two appropriately sized insects a week; reduce if prey remains uneaten.
- Avoid: offering fruit and vegetables (they don’t eat produce), or leaving large live prey in the enclosure for days (it can stress or injure a spider during moulting).
Handling: minimise it
Handling isn’t necessary for a healthy pet spider, and it raises the risk of both bites and accidental injury (a fall can be fatal for some spiders). If you need to move the spider, guide it gently into a container using a soft brush or a piece of cardboard. Treat it like a small, skittish animal that lives by vibration and shadow.
If children are involved, the simplest rule is still the safest: look, don’t touch.2
Lifespan and breeding
Females can live for around two years in some Badumna species, with males often shorter-lived.1
Females may produce multiple egg sacs, kept within the retreat area of the web, and they remain with the sacs until the spiderlings hatch.1
Common problems in captivity
- Dehydration: the spider looks sluggish and stays tucked away; check that droplets are available occasionally and that the enclosure isn’t baking in sun.
- Too much humidity: mould, mites, and a sour smell; increase ventilation and reduce misting.
- Moulting trouble: often linked to stress, poor ventilation, or prey left in the enclosure; keep the environment stable and leave the spider undisturbed.
Legalities (Australia): what’s actually true
It’s not accurate to say these spiders are “legal to keep as pets in most countries”. Rules vary widely by jurisdiction. In Australia, the big legal line to be aware of is importation: invertebrates (including spiders) are not permitted to be imported as pets, and permitted imports are generally limited to research or zoological purposes under strict controls.7
If you’re keeping a spider you found locally, check your state or territory wildlife rules if you’re unsure—especially if you plan to buy/sell, transport across borders, or keep large numbers.
References
- Australian Museum — Black House Spider (Badumna insignis)
- Australian Museum — Spiders in the House and Garden
- Museums Victoria — Black House Spider (Badumna insignis) species information
- Queensland Government (Health) — Bites and stings: first aid guidance (including spider bites)
- Atlas of Living Australia — Badumna longinqua (Grey House Spider)
- Australian Government DCCEEW — Live Import List
- Australian Government DAFF — Unique or exotic pets (invertebrates not permitted as pets)
- Australian Government DAFF — Invertebrate animals: importing live invertebrates into Australia
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom