Black widows

[JasonO]

Anyone keep black widows (Latrodectus sp.) I'm pretty curious on there care?

I am not too serious about owning any at the moment, however should I find any I probably would collect them. From what I understand they are not as dangerous as they are made out to be in popular culture.

I've seen them for sale on websites occasionally but usually they are sold out, I'm more interested in what people feed them and stuff before I proceed any further with ordering any.

 

[neubii18]

They are really cool captives,and very easy to breed.I love them.I am fortunate enough to find L.hesperus(western black) and L.Geomitricus(brown widow).They are actually pretty hard to get tagged by.You have to literally grab them and put their fangs on your skin or get bit.I reccomend hesperus,mactans,or geomitricus for your first species,as they tend to be cheaper in case you find they're not for you.If you're ever looking for the 2 I mentioned I can find,let me know.I can hook you up.

 

[spider pest]

I'm really not trying to be the forum police at all, but if you search, you will find a TON of great information, as they are discussed quite commonly. Really, nearly any question you might have has been asked and answered multiple times.

I haven't had to opportunity to keep them, so maybe some of the Latro vets here can post links to some of the more informative threads of the past?

 

[Necromion]

I would link some older posts but I suck with search on this forum. But as to my experiance with black widows they are really easy to take care of. Just feed them crickets or other crawling insects. I have kept them in pickle jars to literally waterbottles (way to easy to house IMO). I do have one recommendation they like to hide near the top of their enclosure so if you are keeping them in a jar of somekind I recommend that you use caution when opening the lid as they can run surprisingly well.

 

[Irene B. Smithi]

IF you get bite by one it is a very nasty and something to be worried about bite (you might be spending some time in the ER). ON that note, I cleaned my large females cage today, just pulled her web on the stick out (did this outside on the ground). She stayed on the web, I cleaned out her cage ( a gallon sized pickle jar) and picked up her stick and web with chopsticks and put her back in. They eat anything (but I feed mine crickets).

They are dangerous, not something you really want to hold. Generally they're docile, HOWEVER if they have an eggsac they will get very protective. Assume that you can and will get bite, so when you go to clean the cage, always expect that it can happen, be careful, extra careful.

If you've never owned a nasty spider, or a venomous one, I would not suggest you start with this one. Got get your self a cute little jumping spider and work your way up.

Edit: they are very fast on the web. off they web clumsy and slow.... so worse case, knock it off the web and you'll have more control (that's how I catch them

 

[Gold Skulltula]

An ex boyfriend of mine used to keep a black widow. He said he'd had her for a few years and that he'd caught her from the wild.

Her set up was a small 5 gal tank with a pile of wood for her to make a home in. She was fed crickets and other random things found around the house.

Supposedly she was near the end of her life span when I got with my ex. I remember her dying. I was sad when it happened, she was pretty interesting. I was never scared of her. The tank she was in was secure enough.

I suppose educate yourselves about the risks and basic husbandry. Be careful, and you're good to go!

 

[JasonO]

I'm really not trying to be the forum police at all, but if you search, you will find a TON of great information, as they are discussed quite commonly. Really, nearly any question you might have has been asked and answered multiple times.

I haven't had to opportunity to keep them, so maybe some of the Latro vets here can post links to some of the more informative threads of the past?

Oops, sorry im not a complete internet newb I promise :8o

Also thanks for all the information everyone I am pretty interested in getting some Black widows now, though I'm not sure how it would work in my current situation. Technically I am already breaking the dorm pet rules, and I feel like black widows could get me in serious trouble...