Keep in mind that most spiders are nocturnal. They will not move much during the day. Try to observe nocturnal species late at night or early in the morning. Select a day active species like a jumping spider to have a spider that is more temporally compatible with your activities. Select females for longer lasting specimens.
Males generally have shorter lives.
Housing Many spiders can be keep in quart jars or even paper cups. However, these containers can be a little inconvenient for the owner. For better display and access a terrarium is a better choice. A 5 gallon terrarium is sufficient for even a large tarantula or scorpion but some people would prefer a 10 gallon size. Any container should have a good lid.