In Animal Crossing: New Horizons tarantulas are pretty rare, which is why they're such a popular item to sell to Nook's Cranny or Flick.
However, if you have the misfortune to approach them too quickly, they will chase you and attempt to bite you.
The task of catching them becomes even more complex when on the island of tarantulas — a rare occurrence when taking mystery island trips. The slightest misstep will result in you being attacked and knocked out.
So, here are some tips on how to avoid being bitten and capture those lucrative spiders!
Tip 1: The Prison
This technique is most effective on the island of tarantulas, because you need a good number of the spiders to be able to take full advantage. Be aware that on this island, only one tarantula can attack you at a time.
As usual, it will chase you if you get too close, and this is where the trap begins. The trick is to dig a perimeter around the spider, and then jump over one of the holes so that it cannot reach you. You'll then be able to catch it safely.
While one spider is chasing you, the other tarantulas will be completely calm and won't attack you. The video below from @ caoki8 shows how to trap a tarantula on the mystery island.
Tip 2: Be Patient
The tarantula is fearful, and will attack you if you approach it too quickly. If you see a tarantula on your island, approach it carefully by holding "A" while your net is equipped.
As soon as it readies itself to attack (raising its front legs in the air), stop and wait for it to return to normal position before moving in slowly. Repeat this process until you are at a good distance to catch it.
Tip 3: Clear the Island
Creating your own tarantula island consists of first clearing an entire island first. The spiders are somewhat terrirorial, and won't spawn if other insects can appear also.
- First, visit a mystery island;
- You must land on an island with insects — if there are no insects spawning, this task will fail;
- Clear the island completely by removing all flowers, trees and rocks;
- Tarantulas should start to appear from time to time;
- To facilitate their spawning, don't hesitate to hunt down all the other insects on the island.
Happy hunting!
