False Widow Spider Care

[LoveMaster1995]

Hello,

Me been me i am scared to death of been killed by venom and thats why iv been looking at false widow spider. Its not a toxic but i would realy like one. Theres one problem, everywhere i look theres no care sheets. Could someone please help me out plz

 

[anthony k]

Hi,

Steatoda species are very easy to keep, just pop them in a jar with some twigs to build a web on and feed once or twice every couple of weeks. They will do fine at room temp and you do not realy need to use a substrate or mist them.

I notice you are in the UK, I have currently got hundreds of S.grossa slings. If you would like some for free your more than welcome if you cover postage.

If interested email me at;

antkillick@tiscali.co.uk

Cheers,

ant.

 

[LoveMaster1995]

Thanx for info. would a small critter box be ok?

 

[buthus]

Yes ...a coke can would be OK.

When u use the common name "false widow", what Steatoda specie are u referring to?

 

[Tiefling]

This is where I keep my girl. Idk if you can see her up in the corner I don't think she is full sized yet. I just found her in my new apartment next to a hole scheduled to be patched so I got her outta there quick having no idea what to do. I have to keep her up high (I have a large and fearless 3 year old human boy as well)
This plastic terrarium akin byn4in?) was 6 dollars. I just threw in some twigs and a couple of leaves. The crickets seemed to appreciate the leaves until... Kinda lazy spiders but they can eat a lot and fast.

 

[NolanRobertsIntrovert]

I have a Steatoda Triangulosa Sling.

She a cute one. I got her from her mother cause she almost was about tog rev her and give her the death blow.


I love her and I got her 3 days ago

 

[Gryphus]

Yeah Steatoda are very easy too keep, care for these are very similar to that of the Latrodectus family. As the others said just place sticks/twigs in there for the spider too build webs. I have some sort of Steatoda which I believe to be triangulosa. For the enclosure I use a small acrylic box with twigs sand at the bottom so the sticks are grounded and more stable but that is optional.

 

[Gryphus]

Just realized this is a post from 2007

 

[NolanRobertsIntrovert]

dude there household spiders which live in garages. They don’t need sand, they can use some toys that fit in the enclosure and my triangulosa Liked that.

That enclosure is nice, but it isn’t fitting for a household spider

 

[Gryphus]

It honestly doesn't matter for these spiders. No they do not need sand; I just use it as a base to keep the twigs in place as well for looks. I also added a curly leaf where she tends to hide in during the day. As long as she has a place to hide and feel safe its fine.

 

[NolanRobertsIntrovert]

Tbh my false widow has been doing fine without twigs in her cage to anchor webs, I did that once and all she did was ignore them she is a pretty happy spider

Yeah Steatoda are very easy too keep, care for these are very similar to that of the Latrodectus family. As the others said just place sticks/twigs in there for the spider too build webs. I have some sort of Steatoda which I believe to be triangulosa. For the enclosure I use a small acrylic box with twigs sand at the bottom so the sticks are grounded and more stable but that is optional.

Look on the booty
Do you see alot of brown and white dots?
If yes then Triangulosa

 

[Cororon]

Yes, it's an old thread but people search and google for information, so the more info the better.

Clear acrylic boxes are great, and then something the spider can anchor the web on, like twigs, a wooden structure or even the metal wire from an old lampshade will do. These spiders are used to live indoors, so they aren't that particular. Steatodas have slow metabolism so feeding once every two weeks is enough, and a tiny mist of water once in a while (not directly in the spider).

 

[NolanRobertsIntrovert]

Yes, it's an old thread but people search and google for information, so the more info the better.

Clear acrylic boxes are great, and then something the spider can anchor the web on, like twigs, a wooden structure or even the metal wire from an old lampshade will do. These spiders are used to live indoors, so they aren't that particular. Steatodas have slow metabolism so feeding once every two weeks is enough, and a tiny mist of water once in a while (not directly in the spider).

I personally just make boring enclosures
I try adding sticks but my false widow just Ignores them
She seems happier without sticks and just anchors her web trip lines to the floor
Sadly I’m in winter and she is pretty derpy
I kill her prey and drop it in
Hopefully in April I will get her a boy and see some sexy time

I’ve had my false widow since she was just born from a eggsac
Sadly when I got her her mom tried to Eat her. I saved her but she was born with a broken back leg
But she still destroys crickets
She was 1 day old when I got her
She now 8 months old!

 

[Feral]

I've kept various wild-caught native Steatoda borealis and Parasteatoda tepidariorum and others. After reading articles and studies about the webbing strategies of Latrodectus and Steatoda and other cobweb-type spiders, I now keep them in much larger enclosures than the average hobbyist might think is appropriate to accommodate their natural instincts for layout of guy lines and web structure. I have a number of Steatoda borealis in my basement and it's easy to see the research is accurate. So I changed my enclosure size to be much larger. You may want to research their web strategies for yourself.

I find sticks and anchor points to be absolutely necessary, inarguably, as these types of spiders are terrible at walking on smooth surfaces/don't have the necessary anatomical features to enable them to climb smooth surfaces like glass and plastics.

 

[NolanRobertsIntrovert]

I've kept various wild-caught native Steatoda borealis and Parasteatoda tepidariorum and others. After reading articles and studies about the webbing strategies of Latrodectus and Steatoda and other cobweb-type spiders, I now keep them in much larger enclosures than the average hobbyist might think is appropriate to accommodate their natural instincts for layout of guy lines and web structure. I have a number of Steatoda borealis in my basement and it's easy to see the research is accurate. So I changed my enclosure size to be much larger. You may want to research their web strategies for yourself.

I find sticks and anchor points to be absolutely necessary, inarguably, as these types of spiders are terrible at walking on smooth surfaces/don't have the necessary anatomical features to enable them to climb smooth surfaces like glass and plastics.

I did make a tank for a false widow once
Instead of twigs I make her enclosure like some type of garage since the false widows I find are in my garage
I’ll add like a flooring with garbage everywhere and some old stuff to use as like anchor points like pieces of cardboard that were scattered all over my garage and piece of ugly nasty paper to make like some short of hide
I mimic it as a garage

 

[VintageAlbino]

Hej ! Please excuse my intrusion and lack of sight to fully operate this site but I’ve been researching care instructions for a Steatoda nobilis. I found her in one of my plants on my Botany study table. I felt to guilty to put her outside when she had been indoors all this time in my plant for a month or more. I have no experience with caring for any spiders. So my questions would be; what types of insects could I feed her? Would flightless fruit flies work? I understand the frequency of feeding by observing her. I just remembered I can put flies inside a slightly ventilated container inside the fridge long enough to sedate them so it’s easier to put flighted insects inside her enclosure. Has anyone successfully kept live plants in an enclosure for them to hide in? She seems to like bushy plants like thyme but also likes the Pincushion Moss I’ve been keeping her with. I just bought her an upright enclosure so she can be safer. She’s very laidback and okay with me moving her around daily. Her current enclosure is non-ventilated but has pincushion moss and mild humidity. Please excuse my late replies. I highly appreciate this thread as it’s been very helpful. I need to read over it again as it was a spontaneous decision to sign up and post here.

 

[darkness975]

Hej ! Please excuse my intrusion and lack of sight to fully operate this site but I’ve been researching care instructions for a Steatoda nobilis. I found her in one of my plants on my Botany study table. I felt to guilty to put her outside when she had been indoors all this time in my plant for a month or more. I have no experience with caring for any spiders. So my questions would be; what types of insects could I feed her? Would flightless fruit flies work? I understand the frequency of feeding by observing her. I just remembered I can put flies inside a slightly ventilated container inside the fridge long enough to sedate them so it’s easier to put flighted insects inside her enclosure. Has anyone successfully kept live plants in an enclosure for them to hide in? She seems to like bushy plants like thyme but also likes the Pincushion Moss I’ve been keeping her with. I just bought her an upright enclosure so she can be safer. She’s very laidback and okay with me moving her around daily. Her current enclosure is non-ventilated but has pincushion moss and mild humidity. Please excuse my late replies. I highly appreciate this thread as it’s been very helpful. I need to read over it again as it was a spontaneous decision to sign up and post here.

I wouldn't bother with live plants.

Crickets, flies, waxworms, or any other softer bodied prey is preferred.

 

[VintageAlbino]

I wouldn't bother with live plants.

Crickets, flies, waxworms, or any other softer bodied prey is preferred.

okay. Awesome! I’ve only added the moss she’s used to for extra hiding places. Hopefully this enclosure is okay enough. Now will be trying to transfer her to the new enclosure. I may have a little tool which will help with a safe transfer. She mostly stays hanging out between two pieces of the bigger fluffier moss. Thanks again !

 

[Brewser]

Nice Setup, albeit a bit to watery
Keep Up The Good Work. & Welcome to Arachnoboards.
Best Regards,
To You & New Friend

 

[darkness975]

okay. Awesome! I’ve only added the moss she’s used to for extra hiding places. Hopefully this enclosure is okay enough. Now will be trying to transfer her to the new enclosure. I may have a little tool which will help with a safe transfer. She mostly stays hanging out between two pieces of the bigger fluffier moss. Thanks again !

No need for it to be that moist. A small spritzer once a week or so is fine.