False Widow Spider Care

[CRX]

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

Agreed, way too wet. But it looks good apart from that, if a little crowded

 

[VintageAlbino]

Just following up~ the enclosure has dried out due to the great airflow and being next to a strong air purifier. The humidity in my home has been around 50%-60% but I’m trying to dry it out some. I tried getting a photo of her. She’s as tiny as that seedling in the photo next to her. I want to put her in the new enclosure soon because of the raising humidity and before her next feeding time. She hasn’t really tried to get the softbodied millipede that I threw in there two weeks ago. She really enjoys that pincushion moss. In the new enclosure it doesn’t seem too crowded as she’s so tiny. I just used the same occupancy ratio her current enclosure has. Thanks so much everyone for your help ! I may reply slow as I recover from a broken neck and while I wait for my special glasses to get repaired…

 

[darkness975]

Just following up~ the enclosure has dried out due to the great airflow and being next to a strong air purifier. The humidity in my home has been around 50%-60% but I’m trying to dry it out some. I tried getting a photo of her. She’s as tiny as that seedling in the photo next to her. I want to put her in the new enclosure soon because of the raising humidity and before her next feeding time. She hasn’t really tried to get the softbodied millipede that I threw in there two weeks ago. She really enjoys that pincushion moss. In the new enclosure it doesn’t seem too crowded as she’s so tiny. I just used the same occupancy ratio her current enclosure has. Thanks so much everyone for your help ! I may reply slow as I recover from a broken neck and while I wait for my special glasses to get repaired…

Millipedes are not a good prey choice. Use crickets or wax worms.

 

[CRX]

Millipedes are not a good prey choice. Use crickets or wax worms.

Millipedes also give off noxious liquid as a defense mechanism. Terrible, terrible idea for prey

 

[VintageAlbino]

Understood. I found somewhere to get flightless fruit flies and I noticed she really enjoys chasing gnats or flies. I’ve got her successfully transferred to her new enclosure and she’s quite mad at me but quickly settled in between the moss at the bottom for now. She was yelling for a bit (flailing her front legs). She was calm enough for me to scoop her up with my hand (I had a little rubber cap in hand). I didn’t have her favourite plant (Thyme) but I had a piece of spider plant. She didn’t like that. I had to do something quickly as her old enclosure wasn’t safe anymore since a succulent cutting started to mold. I had no idea I was going to have her or even put her in there as it was only for the moss but she’s happy and safe now. I’ll start putting funds back to keep her happy and safe. Now I need to figure out enrichment activities for her as she may get bored. Thanks everyone!

 

[CRX]

If/when she's large enough, pinhead/small crickets will provide a more substantial meal than fruitflies. Also, be prepared for spiderlings. This species is believed to parthenogenic, I have a small female, never mated, and to date she's laid too many sacs for me to count, and each one hatches producing anywhere from 10 to 30 babies

 

[darkness975]

Now I need to figure out enrichment activities for her as she may get bored

That is not a thing with spiders. They want to be left alone. They don't have the mental capacity to feel bored. Attempting to stimulate them in that type of way will be received as a major source of stress and will cause problems.

 

[CRX]

That is not a thing with spiders. They want to be left alone. They don't have the mental capacity to feel bored. Attempting to stimulate them in that type of way will be received as a major source of stress and will cause problems.

Agreed but I hope he was joking lol

 

[Brewser]

Suggest adding some vertical structure, branches, bark etc. thus creating a more natural environment for the Specimen.

 

[VintageAlbino]

She had been somewhat unhappy with her enclosure so I’ve been adjusting it accordingly today. I found her hiding with some over watered plants outside of her enclosure. Her webs have suggested she’s been planning her escape since I put her inside. I’ll try to make the arrangements much better. As far as enrichment I was meaning a more natural environment with a lot more hiding places and perhaps a better place to lurk in the dark. I think the backside and top side of her new enclosure needs to be darkened so she gets better sleep/feels more comfortable as it’s closer to her original living space in which I first found her (in the thyme). She’s well fed so I can only conclude she’s seeking moisture as her new enclosure is more ventilated or…it’s the next chapter of her life(?) What would be signs of her having a new clutch? I was prepared for the possibility of more spiderlings. She appears more well fed than normal for her schedule (she didn’t intake any of the two live bits put in). I can tell she’s quite mad currently as I have her in a temporary isolation enclosure which was just a quick thought. I have some experience of spiders getting more aggressive in hotter climates so I’ve tried to keep the ambient temperature and humidity at a neutral level. My way of thinking is much more different than others so I just operate on the basis of observation… things have been more challenging since somewhat braking my neck. Please excuse my slow replies. I appreciate all the support and patience.

 

[VintageAlbino]

She had been somewhat unhappy with her enclosure so I’ve been adjusting it accordingly today. I found her hiding with some over watered plants outside of her enclosure. Her webs have suggested she’s been planning her escape since I put her inside. I’ll try to make the arrangements much better. As far as enrichment I was meaning a more natural environment with a lot more hiding places and perhaps a better place to lurk in the dark. I think the backside and top side of her new enclosure needs to be darkened so she gets better sleep/feels more comfortable as it’s closer to her original living space in which I first found her (in the thyme). She’s well fed so I can only conclude she’s seeking moisture as her new enclosure is more ventilated or…it’s the next chapter of her life(?) What would be signs of her having a new clutch? I was prepared for the possibility of more spiderlings. She appears more well fed than normal for her schedule (she didn’t intake any of the two live bits put in). I can tell she’s quite mad currently as I have her in a temporary isolation enclosure which was just a quick thought. I have some experience of spiders getting more aggressive in hotter climates so I’ve tried to keep the ambient temperature and humidity at a neutral level. My way of thinking is much more different than others so I just operate on the basis of observation… things have been more challenging since somewhat braking my neck. Please excuse my slow replies. I appreciate all the support and patience.

Well I guess I was wrong about her being unhappy and escaping. It was actually another ! I wondered why they didn’t look quite right. She actually spooked me while I was moving her enclosure between floors for adjustment. Still will make some black out corners because she’s near plant lights during the day. Included a photo of her getting comfy.

 

[CRX]

Well I guess I was wrong about her being unhappy and escaping. It was actually another ! I wondered why they didn’t look quite right. She actually spooked me while I was moving her enclosure between floors for adjustment. Still will make some black out corners because she’s near plant lights during the day. Included a photo of her getting comfy.

The best time to view them active is very late at night like between 2 to 5 AM. Mine is very active in this time, I love watching them. They prefer darkness so its best to view them with a dim flashlight, I sometimes put my fingers over the lense too

 

[darkness975]

Well I guess I was wrong about her being unhappy and escaping. It was actually another ! I wondered why they didn’t look quite right. She actually spooked me while I was moving her enclosure between floors for adjustment. Still will make some black out corners because she’s near plant lights during the day. Included a photo of her getting comfy.

So what did you do with the other one?

 

[VintageAlbino]

usually I take a look at her around night time. I guess she’s made herself comfortable. Here’s a photo as it’s really a beautiful construction. As for the other spooder; I’m going to relocate them to a safe space where people or animals don’t frequent. I want to put them in a lush garden before the frost hits. I can’t put them together in the same enclosure and I don’t have enough food for both of them sadly.

 

[Mountaindani]

I I have two who came from the pet store who sold me crickets. One was a piece of egg carton that came with the crickets, and one was in a container they gave me to start another fruit fly culture. I figure since they were living in dry conditions I would keep them that way. I do provide a small water dish, but who knows if they use it. Every once in a while i give a super light spritz on one side of their enclosures. I see them at night, otherwise so that's when I drop a small cricket in there. They are hardy little guys.
Give them some dry leaf litter to hide it and a few dry sticks they can web up for their prey and they will be happy as a clam. This is the only one who comes out, because I have had her for 6 months now.

 

[Mountaindani]

I have no idea how I posted twice, but I'm so sorry. I don't know how to delete it.

 

[darkness975]

I I have two who came from the pet store who sold me crickets. One was a piece of egg carton that came with the crickets, and one was in a container they gave me to start another fruit fly culture. I figure since they were living in dry conditions I would keep them that way. I do provide a small water dish, but who knows if they use it. Every once in a while i give a super light spritz on one side of their enclosures. I see them at night, otherwise so that's when I drop a small cricket in there. They are hardy little guys.
Give them some dry leaf litter to hide it and a few dry sticks they can web up for their prey and they will be happy as a clam. This is the only one who comes out, because I have had her for 6 months now. View attachment 486571 View attachment 486570

You should spritz water droplets for drinking. They don't use a dish.

 

[Mountaindani]

You should spritz water droplets for drinking. They don't use a dish.

I do that too, I just added a water cap with a bit of water in the bottom to be safe when I first got them. But I knew they were in a very dry area before I got them.