Care for Steatoda and Heteropoda

[deifiler]

Care for Steatoda, Heteropoda and 'Trapdoor Spider'

Hiya,

Well, the time has finally come that I can delve deeper into the world of 'true spiders'. I'll be buying a "false widow- steatoda sp" "African hunting spider - Heteropoda sp" and a "Black Trapdoor spider- Unknown sp" -OR- "Red Trapdoor spider -again, Unknown sp" Though I'd probably opt for the black one, due to expectations of appearance. I'm sorry to be so vague and refer to them simply by the colour, but that's all the info I can get

I've ran a search on caring for these on both google and this forum, but still I'd appreicate any specific advice as this board consists of knowledgeable people.

Anyway, any tips on keeping them?

In particular:

• Enclosures: Size; 'Arboreal' style? Layout; Decor; Hiding places
• Humidity and information pertaining to water intake
• Life expectancy
• And of course any more pics you've got!

Also I'd be interested in reading any good sources of information on these, not only on care but other things such as biological or taxonomical (is that correct?) data. If you've any suggestions for where to read, please post it! (I'll be rooting through google in the meantime)

Thanks, I'll be sure to upload pics when/if I get them

 

[Wade]

I keep Steatoda in very spartan containers, basically a few twigs in a deli cup, no substrate. I mist the web occasionally, but I don't think it's that important, they get most of thier moisture from food. They will get nice and fat on a cricket every week or so. You can do something more elaborate if you like, but it's not necessary. I'd guess 2-3 years longevity.

I keep huntsmen in one-gallon glass or plastic jars. I usually try to cut out a section of the lid and glue in some fine-mesh screening. I offer a small condiment cup for water, but I do mist occasionally in case they don't drink fro the bowl. I include pieces of cork bark, vertically place, and/or silk plants. I use a peat moss substrate. More or less, husbandry is like that for a small aboreal tarantula. They're very, very fast and able to climb almost any surface! Not sure on the life span.

With trapdoor spiders, I like to select a round jar and then find a smaller jar (or other cylendrical object) and insert it inside the larger jar. Then I pack peat moss or potting soil around the small jar. This forces the spider to burrow near the glass so you have a good chance of seeing the spider in it's burrow. I think the logevity is longer than that of a "true" spider but not as long as your typical tarantula.

Wade

 

[deifiler]

Ahh thanks Wade!

Highly appreciated I'll upload a few pics of the homes once I've made them, then of the bugs when they arrive

Thanks once again

 

[metallica]

here are pics of my old heteropoda, i have mated a new one here
pics