Keeping spiders out of the cage

sossboss · 03-22-2016, 12:57 PM

Just went and checked on my winter white, Lilly, and I found a spider on the side of her tank. Thankfully, this one was tiny. But I'm worried that another one will get in and I won't catch it in time. Will my hamster be alright if a spider gets in her tank while I'm not home? How can I help keep them out?

**Cinnamon Bear** · 03-22-2016, 02:58 PM

That's a good question as I have the warm weather coming up, bugs too, I especially hate spiders!!!

I've had hammies in here for almost 2 yrs & im sure spiders have visited them but I only got scared once when I saw 2 little spiders crawl off my new baby dwarf a year ago. Turned out she had Cushings I don't know if the spiders bit her or not? They all got treated for mites right after that happened. Thought it might be spider mites? But vet said no but I know what I saw! (Not an exotic vet)

I asked an exotic vet about spiders and she said they would ignore each other. I have to continually clean and spray doors & windows in the warm weather, I'm dreading it.

I'm sure they are harmless, hopefully? I'm just terrified by bugs/spiders

I'd hire an exterminator if it weren't for the bad stuff me & hammies would have to breathe.

hamtarokid · 04-08-2016, 07:50 AM

Ick. I'd say go for some fine mesh over the openings to the cage, at least during the season when you have a lot of spiders.

Pebbles82 · 04-08-2016, 02:05 PM

I'll have your spider please - apparently they eat moths lol. (I've been having a moth problem and there might be some in the cage).

**Cinnamon Bear** · 04-08-2016, 02:20 PM

Update: there's a good chance the hamster might eat the spider exotic vet said a few days ago.

Hope you get the moth problem under control Serendipity soon!

cypher · 04-08-2016, 10:14 PM

Unless it's a huge one the ham would probably enjoy eating a nice tasty spider!

Piebald · 04-09-2016, 12:05 AM

Mmmm nice crunchy bit of extra protein. Look out spiders!

AmityvilleHams · 04-09-2016, 01:18 AM

Poor spiders

Definitely fine mesh.I'd be worried about larger spiders but the smaller ones and ones that can't kill humans shouldn't be too harmful.Jumping spiders for example are very tiny and harmless,but I'd imagine 1/4 inch mesh would keep them out better than 1/2 inch mesh because they're so small.

Angie B · 04-15-2016, 12:20 PM

As far as I know hamsters will eat a spider (hammies eat meat) if they know what to do with it, being the spoilt pets that they are! So I wouldn't worry too much unless it's a poisonous spider you have (don't know where you live).

Pebbles82 · 04-15-2016, 12:57 PM

I decided to keep a spider as a pet once. It was big and it lived under the stairs. I lived on my own and I thought - that spider isn't doing any harm really and it eats bugs, so it can live there. It would come out and go back about the same time every night and I stopped being scared of spiders. But then one day blooming loads of them came out - it had had babies - that was a bit too much for me!