Help Raising Huntsman Spiderlings

[hunstmanmama]

Hi Guys, please bear with me as I am new to this site.

My father and I am restoring a vintage car, and uncovered a huntsman spider and her silk nest and (flat circular) egg sack.
The mother did not return to guard her babies and I feel really bad. I have decided to raise them and release them (seen as though they are native here in AUS) or give the spiders to loving owners (who will not use them as feeders).
I am unsure what type of huntsman the spider was but it looked quite similar to the image below:

Does anyone know what sub-species this is? Some sort of badge huntsman?

They have not hatched yet, will probably be another couple of weeks yet.
I have a few questions as I want as many as these spiderlings to survive as possible!
If you know a lot about raising spiders or huntsmans your help would be greatly appreciated. <3

1. I heard some huntsman sacks are broken open by the mother so they can come out? Is this true and do I need to open the sack slightly?

2. Once hatched, can I feed the spiders dead crickets or feeders? I am not keen on live feeders and figured I could cut the crickets to be smaller for the spiderlings? Will they only eat if live and moving? How much should I feed each daily without power feeding?

3. Will the spiderlings have enough air within a container? Or do I need air holes? I am unsure how small a hole the spiderlings will be able to escape from.

4. Can I keep the spiderlings together in a terrarium or in groups in slightly smaller enclosures? Or do they need to be kept individually? Will they eat one another? I heard they are a fairly social species.

5. Are is the huntsman a desirable species for pet/spider owners? I would like them to go to a loving home but if not I will find a good place to release them either as a community or individually.

Thanks so much for your time and help.

 

[mantisfan101]

I’d use fruit flies for the first couple molts, and if you leave thr sac with the mother they’ll emerge just fine. They’ll be fine in terms of ventilation, too much amd they’ll rapidly dessicate. You could try keeping them in groups while they’re small to cull out any weaklings, but theh will definitely cannibalize. They do make good pets but they are extremelt fast and not good for handling

 

[hunstmanmama]

Okay thank you
Can not leave with mother though as she has long gone

 

[Benjaminn]

Does anyone know what sub-species this is? Some sort of badge huntsman?

Yes it looks like a Holconia sp.

1. I heard some huntsman sacks are broken open by the mother so they can come out? Is this true and do I need to open the sack slightly?

No.

2. Once hatched, can I feed the spiders dead crickets or feeders? I am not keen on live feeders and figured I could cut the crickets to be smaller for the spiderlings? Will they only eat if live and moving? How much should I feed each daily without power feeding?

If you can get flightless fruit flies that would be optimal. You can rip up crickets into small pieces or use the small cricket legs. No they won't just eat live. Feeding them a small leg once or twice a week is sufficient.

3. Will the spiderlings have enough air within a container? Or do I need air holes? I am unsure how small a hole the spiderlings will be able to escape from.

You need ventilation. Using a small pin to poke holes in the container is enough. If you feel as though the holes are too large glue some paper towel over the air holes.

4. Can I keep the spiderlings together in a terrarium or in groups in slightly smaller enclosures? Or do they need to be kept individually? Will they eat one another? I heard they are a fairly social species.

I wouldn't recommend keeping them together.

5. Are is the huntsman a desirable species for pet/spider owners? I would like them to go to a loving home but if not I will find a good place to release them either as a community or individually.

Make sure to check your local bylaws to see if they are even legal to keep. I don't know how high of demand spiders are down there so i really couldn't tell you. Since they're native to that area your best bet would be to release them.