[My back yard]

I once had a big wolf spider of some kind that I kept in a small birdcage. lol

I also once kept a velvet ant in a cage for about a year or more. Fed it bottle caps of Big Red. he seemed happy. That was scarier than any spider, even the tarantulas we catch around here. Their other name is 'Cow killer'. Very serious, painful bite.

[My back yard]

The kid's float won first place at the parade today!! Yea!

[RosieCotton]

Wolf spiders seem to be the most common "capture and keep as a pet" spider, at least in places where we don't have anything bigger. Since they hunt, they're easier to care for...just chuck in a few bugs once in awhile. ;-)

No thanks, though! I did keep crickets once in awhile, usually only for a day or two at a time. It was SO cool as a kid to have a cricket chirping in a bottle in your OWN room, right by the bed! Loud, though.

[Professional Engineer]

LOL Sounds as if you lead a very interesting life.