Eresus and Eresidea

[TheraMygale]

Hey!

i don’t have an Eresus yet. My feeds are pouring (the internet is listening to my conversations) with such amazing videos of totaly black eresus type spiders.

i know a few species have been on the market for a while now. While “new” not classified yet, are starting to show up.

i can totaly see the interest in these chubby arachnids. The overall anatomy shape is really cute and the fact you keep them dry, interesting.

i have been researching for a while because they fascinate me. I want to get one in a few months, if i can get the one i like.

that being said, i have researched their weather in specific locals. Its undeniable, you keep them dry.

however, many of our homes, like mine in Canada, gets naturaly humid in the summer. Like, 80s in some weeks.

my curiousity stems from keeping them dry. If we take some Eresus from Croatia, just for an example, the air can get humid. It was pretty humid when i checked in the recent days.

so my question: if kept dry, as in no water bowl (i still have issues with that one), and no moisture in sub or moss, will the moisture naturaly found in the home be an issue?

considering these mediterraenan countries, do have days of high humidity, then it should not be a problem. That is my conclusion.

keeping them warm would seem to be the hardest, in the winter months (which would then be very dry aka in the 50s). And those locals do stay warm.

im not chasing numbers here. Im digging deep and brainstorming. Its all part of my approach in understanding if i can actualy own one of these. Short lived and expensive, i don’t want to provide a cruel habitat that just leads to death.

i will stick to looking at pictures and videos of them if it proves to be a bad match.

for the record, ive seen some eresus that seem to get kind of big. Like an inch or two? Could just be the video aspect of it. But on a persons finger, a totaly black female seemed really big.

i dont plan on handling it. There is just no way i am spending 100$ on a spider that stays under an inch.

i welcome all thoughts on the subject. Eresus are growing in the spider keeper world, and i want to learn more and share with people who love them and keep them or are just as curious as i am. I welcome them, and find them a nice entry spider for many folks not quite ready for a tarantula, even a small one.

 

[Wolfram1]

Most slings sold are sadly still the offspring of WC females (as far as i can tell) there probably are exceptions

i wouldn't pay 100$ either, all the prices in the US are crazy

sadly their range is huge and the different species look very similar, so knowing where they were collected is probably important in order to give the best care.

not all need it as dry or warm as you might imagine, but the fast majority we have in captivity probably do

Here is an example from Eresus kollari from Russia rather than the mediterranian. The interesting part is that they seem to build short tunnels into sandy soil rather than the classical webs up in the tall grass.

i always try to find videos from their natural habitat, those are the most interesting

though this one is great too:

i haven't had mine for long and they are still tiny so personal experience is still lacking

very tiny, and i wouldn't recommend them to beginners, ~ same difficulty as raising small Phiddipus regius

 

[TheraMygale]

Thanks @Wolfram1.

this is insightful. I believe you when you say they come from wildcaught females.

that means the offspring are wildcaught, in my book.

i have an excellent trustworthy dealer in Canada. I only buy from them. I would trust them to tell me if they suspect wild caught adult. They also rarely have the species i want, because they cant find breeders they trust to work with.

so, if a black eresus does not show up at my dealer, i will not be purchasing one.

I might go with the one that has a bit of yellow, but i will be sure to check with them what they know on the spiderlings.

i believe you when you say they are not really beginners when very small. Also why i am researching at the moment and hoarding information. This is almost the best part in arachnid husbandry: the searching. Its so satisfieing. It also makes me grow as a keeper and become knowledgeable in all arachnids.

Nothing new is coming in imports until probably march anyways. This gives me a lot of time.

the prices are crazy. Even for jumpers.

i find P audax easily in the wild. And i refuse to sell them. Managed to even get some eggsacs in the past. Hatched, went to instar 2-3. Since all wildcaught, i release them in safe habitats for biodiversity. I don’t keep jumpers in general.

i also successfully breeded mealworms, and now have my first hatchlings. Which is interesting to have as a tiny feeder.

i am going to go watch your videos now, thank you for your contribution. I hope this thread can grow with very valuable information on Eresus and help us get better acquainted with these spiders.

i always try to find videos from their natural habitat, those are the most interesting

i couldnt agree more. These are the most valuable.

the soil in video one definitely looks well drained and sandy. But the over “ambience” seems humid. The air anyways. Looking at the greenery and plants gives cues, and i am well versed in that.

wow! In 2nd video Koko is sooo smart. Going in from behind is a great tactic. I am loving this. Thanks! This guys is very smooth. Loving the vibes in this video.

i actualy have three unused acryclic enclosures just like in this video. This would work well.

i knew it! He has provided water! He offers droplets once a month. He did. I almost got into a fight with someone over this once…

i definitely think Eresus and I are made to encounter each other.

merci beaucoup! This was a great learning experience. Eresus are so kawaii!