How Long Can Spiders Live Without Food And Water?

In this post, you will learn about spider survival, especially how long they can survive without food and water. Spiders are incredible creatures, known for their extraordinary survival abilities.

And we often wondered how they succeeded without frequent meals and water. However, Spiders have been around for over 300 million years while they have adapted to various environments.

With over 48,000 species globally, they’ve developed strategies to outlive. According to an expert, “Spiders are very efficient at conserving energy, which allows them to endure extended periods without sustenance. Their small size and slow metabolism play key roles in this.”

Spiders, unlike humans, don’t rely on three square meals a day. They have a unique metabolic rate, which varies from larger animals. This means they can make do with significantly less food and water.

READ ALSO: Hobo Spider Vs Brown Recluse ( Identify The Differences )

With that said, Let’s get started.

How Long Can Spiders Live Without Food?

Spiders can survive without food for varying durations, depending on their size and species. In general, they can endure somewhere between 30 to 60 days without a meal.

Suppose you’re on a road trip, and your car’s gas tank can hold more fuel than a smaller vehicle. The larger your gas tank, the longer you can go without refueling.

Similarly, in the spider world, size plays a significant role in determining how long they can last without food. Larger spider species, like tarantulas, possess a physiological advantage over their smaller counterparts.

Their size allows them to store more energy and water reserves, which means they can go for extended periods without a meal.

Some tarantulas, for instance, can persist for several months without food. Smaller spiders have limited energy reserves due to their undersize.

They must eat more frequently to sustain themselves. For many small species, going without food for over a month can be a real challenge.

However, the ability to endure hunger varies from one spider species to another. Some spiders have evolved remarkable adaptations to survive harsh conditions which allows them to break the general 30-60-day rule.

Take the orb-weaving spider, for instance. Some species within this group can go much longer without food compared to their peers.

Some reports suggest that certain orb-weavers can survive up to six months without eating. In addition, the environment also plays a crucial role.

Factors like temperature, humidity, and prey availability impact how long a spider can endure without a meal. Spiders in temperate regions might enter a state of dormancy during the winter, conserving energy and surviving without food until the weather warms up and prey becomes more productive.

In some cases, spiders might accidentally fall into a situation where prey is scarce. During these periods, they can exhibit unique behaviors, such as becoming more lethargic, conserving energy, and prolonging their time without food.

READ ALSO: Brown Recluse Vs Wolf Spider (The Key Differences)

How Long Can Spiders Live Without Water?

A spider can only go without water until it dies of dehydration. However, numerous spider species have developed clever strategies to live in arid environments without direct access to water.

Spiders are skilled hunters, and they catch different insects and other small creatures as their primary source of food. These prey items contain moisture, which the spider can extract to meet its water requirements.

You’ve probably encountered a spider in your sink or bathtub, right? One reason for this seemingly odd behavior is the spider’s quest for water.

When a spider ends up in your sink or bathtub, it might not be there by choice.  In these environments, there’s often a bit of standing water or moisture, which can be a lifeline for a thirsty spider.

They are drawn to these areas in search of the precious liquid they need to survive. Spiders inhabiting deserts have taken water conservation to the next level.

Their bodies are adapted to minimize water loss, and they are highly efficient at retaining the moisture they acquire. Some desert spider species, like the trapdoor spider, can construct burrows with tight-fitting lids to seal in humidity.

This adaptation helps them create a microclimate that prevents water loss. Just like with food, the ability of a spider to go without water for extended periods also depends on environmental conditions. Factors such as temperature, humidity, and prey availability influence their water requirements and strategies.

The Role Of Metabolism In Spider Survival

Metabolism refers to the chemical processes that happen inside a living organism’s body to maintain life. These processes involve converting food (or in the case of spiders, prey) into energy and other vital substances that the body needs.

One of the most amazing things about spiders is that they are very small creatures, and their metabolic rate reflects this.

Compared to larger animals like mammals, spiders have a slower metabolic rate. They don’t need to eat as frequently as their bigger mates.

For instance, while you might need three meals a day, spiders can go without food for extended periods. A slower metabolism allows spiders to make the most out of the food they consume. They are like energy-saving experts, extracting every bit of usefulness from the prey they catch.

READ ALSO: Do Spiders Have Wings? (Resolved)

Factors Influencing Spider Metabolism

Several factors influence a spider’s metabolic rate which helps it adapt to various environments and situations.

1. Temperature

A spider’s metabolic rate depends on the temperature of its surroundings. In warmer environments, their metabolic processes speed up which allows them to be more active. When it gets colder, they become more sluggish and require less energy.

2. Species Variation

​Different spider species have evolved with specific metabolic rates suited to their unique habitats and lifestyles. Some are built for speed and agility, while others are designed for patience and long periods of fasting.

3. Prey Availability

​The availability of prey plays a significant role in a spider’s metabolic rate. If food is scarce, they can slow down their metabolism to conserve energy. Conversely, when prey is large, they can accelerate their metabolic engines.

4. Environmental Conditions

​Environmental factors like humidity and altitude can also impact spider metabolism. Spiders living in high-altitude regions may have adapted to lower oxygen levels and different metabolic demands.

How Do Spiders Flourish Without Food And Water?

There are specific strategies that help spiders to overcome hunger and dehydration, and how these adaptations can vary among different spider species.

Hunger

1. Web Weaving

Many spider species are master web weavers. Their webs serve as ingenious traps, catching unsuspecting prey that becomes their next meal.

When food is scarce, some spiders can go into a sort of energy-saving mode, where they reuse their webs instead of expending energy on building new ones.

2. Reduced Activity

​Spiders can lower their activity levels to conserve energy. They become less active, move less, and wait patiently for prey to come to them. This conserves the energy they would otherwise use in hunting.

3. Efficient Digestion

Spiders are efficient at extracting nutrients from their prey. They inject digestive enzymes into their captured prey, turning the victim’s insides into a nutritious soup. This method allows them to get the most out of every meal, which is particularly beneficial during periods of scarcity.

Dehydration

1. Water Storage

​Some spider species are skilled at storing water within their bodies. They can hold on to water acquired from their prey and use it to endure dry spells. This storage system is especially important for spiders in arid environments.

2. Behavioral Adaptations

​Spiders are resourceful when it comes to finding moisture. In search of water, you might find them in your sink or bathtub. These environments often have small amounts of standing water, which can be a lifesaver for a dehydrated spider.

3. Burrowing Habits

​Certain spiders, like trapdoor spiders, are expert burrowers. They construct underground chambers where the humidity is relatively high, providing a microclimate that helps them conserve water.

That said, not all spiders use the same adaptations to survive without food and water. Different species have grown unique strategies based on their habitats and lifestyles.

Web-weaving spiders, like orb-weavers, often rely on their webs to catch prey and conserve energy. In contrast, hunting spiders, such as wolf spiders, use their speed and agility to chase down prey when it’s available.

Then again, Spiders in arid environments, like deserts, have evolved specific adaptations to cope with dehydration, such as sealing themselves in burrows or extracting water from prey.

READ ALSO: Do Spiders Drink Water?

Conclusion

Spiders are good at conserving energy, and their small size and slow metabolism allow them to go without food for up to 60 days.

When it comes to water, spiders will ultimately die of dehydration without it. Still, many have developed smart adaptations to cope with arid conditions.