A local survey on the perception of the danger of exotic spiders among spider keepers and a review of the local situation of exotic spider keeping

Introduction This study aimed to investigate the availability of pet spider species in Hong Kong and spider keeper's perception of the danger of exotic spiders. Method This is a cross‐sectional questionnaire study targeting Hong Kong spider hobbyists that was conducted from June to December 2024. Electronic questionnaires were distributed to spider hobbyists using the snowball sampling method. Physical and online stores were sampled for the availability of spider species. Local cases of consults related to exotic spiders were examined. Results 75 participants responded to the survey, and 74 of them had kept Theraphosidae (tarantulas). The top three popular breeds were Grammostola , Brachypelma , and Caribena . Around 20% of them had been bitten by spiders, and 40% of them had been disturbed by urticating hair. Around half of them perceived the bite and urticating hair as dangerous. For the online and physical store visits, five families of spiders and 29 genera of tarantulas were available for sale. Discussion The majority of the participants kept tarantulas. Despite some participants having experienced health risks, half of the participants did not view the risks as significant, indicating a potential knowledge gap. The study had limitations, such as a small sample size and reliance on self‐reported data, but offered insights into the local spider‐keeping community. Conclusion Despite keeping exotic spiders, mostly tarantulas, who could be potentially dangerous to health, only around half of the exotic spider keepers were equipped with the proper knowledge to perceive the potential dangers. Further education among this population might be required.