How to care for Nuctenea umbratica ?

KristianDobias

Arachnosquire
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Dec 30, 2024
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Okay so Hello fellow hobbyists, it's been some time since I posted here but I could use some of your advices

I found this cutie today outside on a wall of a supermarket, I assumed somoene probably threw her outside (it's winter here) or she crawled out on her own not knowing how cold it is so I took her home she looked to me at the first glance like some species of Steatoda but on the second examination she looked more like some species from the family Araneidae

Soon other spider enthusiasts helped me identify her as Nuctenea umbratica

I read wikipedia about this species and it's really fascinating, first I tought about releasing her since she might be more difficult to care for but the fact is I don't want her to freeze (I couldn't look at her outside all hubbled up freezing from the cold) so I decided to rather keep her

My plan is to turn the critter keeper you see on the pictures into her enclousure, I read this species hides during the day under bark so I will give her some bark and stone on the substrate, I will also give her some sticks so she can make a web in night
From Czech Arachnological society I learned that this species prefers semi-humid conditions so I would dew her enclousure every day to keep the ideal humidity

Are these ideas right or would you change something on my plan ?

Is here anyone who kept this species before ?

Thanks for any help in advance ^ ^

She's so cute and magnificent btw :33

First three pictures is the spider itself and the last two pictures is the critter keeper Iam planning to turn into her enclousure
 

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fcat

Arachnoangel
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Jan 1, 2023
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Wow, what a gorgeous spider! She looks very thick, you might have saved more than just her...

Way better than the cockroach I'm fostering because it's too cold to put it back outside. It's immature at least, I hope it's not lonely, and I hate the person I've become 😂
 

KristianDobias

Arachnosquire
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Dec 30, 2024
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Wow, what a gorgeous spider! She looks very thick, you might have saved more than just her...

Way better than the cockroach I'm fostering because it's too cold to put it back outside. It's immature at least, I hope it's not lonely, and I hate the person I've become 😂
Thank Youuuu ^ ^
Yeah she is gorgeous indeed :3

You are right, she really looks pregnant, if that's the case then it's gonna be fascinating observing her make an eggsack and raising her spiderlings, tho it's not like I need any more babies xD (I already have 2 Steatoda bipunctata eggsacks and 2 Steatoda triangulosa eggsacks 😅)

LOL, cockroaches are pretty cute honestly :3, wish you luck with it ;DD
 

zsiciarz

Arachnoknight
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Feb 18, 2023
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They do fine outside, even in winter. I would release her, but then again I don't keep captive orb weavers in general. I've seen N. umbratica orb webs significantly larger than that critter keeper, but they should adapt.
1737969477143.jpeg
 

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KristianDobias

Arachnosquire
Active Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2024
Messages
74
They do fine outside, even in winter. I would release her, but then again I don't keep captive orb weavers in general. I've seen N. umbratica orb webs significantly larger than that critter keeper, but they should adapt.
View attachment 490246
Oh Okay Thank Youuuu Very Much ^ ^

It's gonna be warmer for a few days I guess I will release her, I don't really feel like Iam ready to keep Araneidae (orb weaver)

Even tho she's cute as hell :33 (maybe someday in the future when I will be more experienced)

Thanks again ^ ^
 
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