Garden Spiders

[Hiron]

Hello all, this is my first post here so I am quite uninformed and I apologize if this has been answered already or is not suitable for this sub forum. I have recently wild caught a juvenile garden spider in Ireland. Does anyone know how much I have to feed it? I was thinking of one isopod every 2 weeks or so. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[sparticus]

That totally depends on the size of the spider. However that doesn't sound like quite enough to me. I tend to offer my true spiders food probably once or twice a week, and I give food that is near the size of the spider's carapace, sometimes a lttle bigger if they will take it. I also offer a few drops of water on their webbing for drinking a couple times a week.

 

[Hiron]

That totally depends on the size of the spider. However that doesn't sound like quite enough to me. I tend to offer my true spiders food probably once or twice a week, and I give food that is near the size of the spider's carapace, sometimes a lttle bigger if they will take it. I also offer a few drops of water on their webbing for drinking a couple times a week.

Thank you for the reply. I just caught it today so I will give it a feed of an isopod on Sunday and then on Wednesday and do that for every week.

 

[Brewser]

Welcome to the arachnid neighborhood.
Congrats on a New Friend.
A picture would be helpful.
Best Regards,

 

[Hiron]

Welcome to the arachnid neighborhood.
Congrats on a New Friend.
A picture would be helpful.
Best Regards,

Thanks for the welcome. I'm using my phone so I can't get the best shot of the animal. I'll attach a photo of the enclosure with the spider in it.

 

[TheraMygale]

We will need better pictures to identify and tell you its needs. Should be fine for a while though.

Get it out on a piece of white paper. Should help with identification.

 

[Hiron]

We will need better pictures to identify and tell you its needs. Should be fine for a while though.

Get it out on a piece of white paper. Should help with identification.

I have taken these two pictures with my fingers as a reference:

 

[Hiron]

I have tried feeding it isopods but it's web broke twice with the isopods dropping to the tank's floor. Will the spider still eat them?

 

[darkness975]

Is that an Araneus spp?

 

[Hiron]

Is that an Araneus spp?

If I correctly IDed it as a garden spider it should be: Araneus diadematus.

 

[darkness975]

I have tried feeding it isopods but it's web broke twice with the isopods dropping to the tank's floor. Will the spider still eat them?

Try softer prey items. Flies, moths, etc.

 

[Hiron]

Try softer prey items. Flies, moths, etc.

Thanks. Would it be preferable to kill the animals or would they need to be alive?

 

[darkness975]

Thanks. Would it be preferable to kill the animals or would they need to be alive?

Leave them alive. If they don't move then it will not do any good.

 

[Hiron]

The spider has layed eggs and I have removed them in case they hatch. Is this bad for the spider's health?

 

[Glorfindel]

That's too bad, no next gens

 

[Hiron]

That's too bad, no next gens

I don't have the facilities to keep more animals unfortunately and I'm afraid that there may be some escapees through the airholes. Is removing the sac bad for the mother though?

 

[Glorfindel]

I don't have the facilities to keep more animals unfortunately and I'm afraid that there may be some escapees through the airholes. Is removing the sac bad for the mother though?

no