How Do I Breed Huntsmen?

[Slavkleos]

I previously tried to breed 2 huntsmen. After about a month or 2 the female somehow got caught in her own web and it wrapped around her pedicel. I tried and failed to remove it and found her dead after about a week. The male is still alive and I found a new female in a tree next to my street. They don't really interact, how would I breed them? They live in a 50L container and spend all their time on the walls, lid, or in a toilet paper roll. Someone said the male would dry out but he eats fine, the last container was one of those lunchbox sized containers.

 

[NMTs]

Are you sure the male is mature? Do you know what species of huntsman spider you have exactly? If you're trying to breed local, wild-caught specimens, then they're only going to breed when the seasonal indicators are correct - ie: correct temperatures, humidity levels, day/night cycles, etc.. It's spring down under now, right? Do you normally see baby spiders this time of year, or is there a different time that you see them (later in the summer, fall, etc.)? As an example, our local tarantulas usually mate at this time of year (beginning of fall), then the females will drop their egg sac in the spring/summer when the weather warms up.

If you have any pics of these spiders please post them - I'd love to see them!

 

[Brewser]

Before you Breed you need to Read.

Research What You Have and How to Care for them. (Keep Em Alive)

 

[Slavkleos]

I've kept the species for over a year, one died because I stupidly out another huntsman in the same container thinking they'd be friends or not fight overnight (the new one immediately attacked the old one), another died from old age and the third died a couple weeks ago.

 

[Slavkleos]

The male and females are huge, it's spring here but it's cold. Around 10° or less. They're communal huntsmen, sourced from the bushland where I live. The species is delena cancerides but I saw a video this week that had a spider with a different name that looked exactly the same. They haven't eaten in a few days so I fed them, the female went for the grub but the male has absolutely no interest in the one I gave to him.

 

[NMTs]

Well, that's definitely a mature male. The only suggestion that I would make is to maybe provide some more cover for them to hide in and they might feel more secure and willing to engage in breeding activity. Perhaps you can put a plant in the bin instead of just a bunch of garbage? You could also try increasing the temperature. I'm not sure how high it would need to be, but if it's cold they aren't likely to breed.

 

[Brewser]

Perhaps you can put a plant in the bin instead of just a bunch of garbage?

Agree 100% and that's not "Trash Talk" lol

 

[Brewser]

The male and females are huge, it's spring here but it's cold. Around 10° or less. They're communal huntsmen, sourced from the bushland where I live. The species is delena cancerides but I saw a video this week that had a spider with a different name that looked exactly the same. They haven't eaten in a few days so I fed them, the female went for the grub but the male has absolutely no interest in the one I gave to him.

Those are some Attractive Attackers ya got there!
Australia is Awesome for Wildlife.

 

[Slavkleos]

I found another one but the female did not approve of her. I added parts of the bark I found her under.

 

[NMTs]

I found another one but the female did not approve of her. I added parts of the bark I found her under.

Generally speaking, spiders are not communal. Just because they may live in close proximity in the wild doesn't mean they will tolerate each other in the same enclosure in captivity. In the wild they can move away from one another when needed, but as you're finding out, when that option isn't available, it usually results in one or the other getting eaten.

 

[Slavkleos]

The species is commonly known as communal huntsman. I think the pair I have aren't those now because the actual delena cancerides looks a little different.

 

[Slavkleos]

Isopeda Villosa.

 

[NMTs]

The species is commonly known as communal huntsman. I think the pair I have aren't those now because the actual delena cancerides looks a little different.

What I've read about Delena cancerides is that they are semi-communal, and the group usually consists of a large matriarch and several generations of her offspring (a big momma and her kids), but as individuals mature they are driven away. This would lead me to believe that you'd be unlikely to find a group of mature adult specimens living in a communal group. Maybe what I've read is wrong, though...

Isopeda Villosa.

I agree that yours do look more like this species.

 

[Slavkleos]

I find them under loose bark of trees but can only ever catch one or two before they all retreat underground or into crevices. I've only had a max of two at a time.