Do Hamsters Attract Spiders?

I have recently heard a rumor that having a hamster cage in your house can attract spiders. If you are anything like me, you will not want these eight-legged creepy crawlies setting up shop in your home. A lot of people scream in disgust when they see these creatures, and while many are harmless, there are some species you wouldn’t want to bump into. So, do hamsters attract spiders?

Hamsters themselves will not attract a spider; if anything, the spider would run away from a potential predator. However, spiders and other bugs are attracted by any open food sources. A hamster’s food bowl for example might be tempting for spiders. 

Of course, the last you want is an infestation of pests, so let’s take a look at this in a little more detail and find out how to keep spiders at bay.

Will My Hamster Attract Spiders?

Having a hamster cage, especially one that is open, can cause a variety of bugs, including spiders, to pay a visit. Spiders can often be found in the home, and they love to hide in dark corners, underneath boxes, and in cracks in the wall. 

However, the hamster itself will not attract spiders. Many people think that the cage and the animal’s scent will be attractive to spiders, but this is not the case. 

For the most part, spiders don’t pose too much of a risk to people, but there are places in the world where venomous spiders live. Although, these tend not to enter the home for the most part. 

The one that might is the funnel-web found in certain parts of Australia, but these are relatively large and easy to spot. 

However, if you do live in this part of the world, you will want to avoid a funnel-web interacting with your pet since they are highly venomous. 

In the main, however, spiders will only be attracted to the food source in your hammies enclosure. But there are lots of things that you can do to prevent this from happening, which we will look at later. 

One of the things that terrifies a lot of hamster parents is finding a spider chilling out in their pet’s cage. Your primary concern may be that the spider might hurt your pet. In a lot of cases, the hamster will likely not notice the spider if it has made a web in the corner and remains still since their eyesight is not the best. 

Conversely, if the spider is quite large and moving around the cage, your hamster might show an interest.

We have talked about deadly spiders, but it is important to keep in mind that all spiders have venom. It’s just that some are more deadly than others. Take the common house spider; for example, it simply cannot deliver enough venom to kill anything other than its prey. 

That being said, that is not to say that the spider would not try to defend itself by biting the hamster, which could cause injury and distress for your pet.

Nonetheless, regardless of the species, if you find a spider bunking in with your hamster, it is probably a wise idea to take it out and relocate it somewhere more appropriate. 

In truth, having a hamster isn’t going to see your home becoming overrun with spiders and other bugs, but you may see the occasional one. 

Do Hamsters Eat Spiders?

It is known that in the wild, hamsters can and will hunt insects, although this is not always the main part of their diet. Some pet owners even try to mimic this by offering dried crickets, mealworms and even dried grasshoppers as a treat for the hamster. 

There is nothing wrong with this. But feeding live spiders to your hamster is perhaps not such a wise idea.

You should keep in mind that unless they are very venomous, eating a spider should not cause any harm to your hamster. They will likely digest it quite well and get on with their life. The problem comes beforehand.

As we have discussed, a spider might try to attack your hamster or may bite them. In many cases, this won’t cause any significant harm but can certainly frighten your hamster. 

The spider is even more likely to be aggressive if the hamster chases it and it feels the need to defend itself.  Therefore, if you find spiders around your home, you should not use them as a tasty snack for your pet. 

Ways To Deter Spiders

As we have mentioned, your hamster’s food might be attractive to spiders. On top of this, the corners of the cage could be a good place for the spider to make a web, especially if the cage is in a dark corner of the room. 

However, if you want to make sure that the number of eight-legged visitors is as low as possible, there are things you can do to keep them at bay. 

• Use a bin cage over a wired one; this will prevent spiders from getting into the enclosure and will make the food source less obvious. 
• Keep the room clean and free from clutter. Spiders like to hide in dark recesses, and if there is a lot of clutter, they will set up home. What’s more, if you dust away cobwebs regularly, this will also deter the spiders. 
• There are some things that can naturally deter spiders, such as peppermint oil, conkers, and hazelnuts. Spiders are repelled by the scent, and placing these at entry points can work well. Just be sure not to get these things near the hamster. 

Related Questions

Do hamsters attract bugs?

Similar to spiders, your hamster will not attract other types of bugs. Their scent is not attractive to these pests, nor is it appealing to other rodents such as mice and rats. However, once again, the food source could be attractive to these creatures. 

What can kill a hamster?

In the wild, hamsters are often hunted by birds of prey and snakes. Wild birds and snakes are unlikely to find their way into the home, so your hammy will be pretty safe. However, some households have other pets such as reptiles, cats, and large birds, and even dogs that could harm or even kill the hamster. If you do have other animals in the home, it is vital that they are kept separate from the hamster.