- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
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- 11,503
Just some thoughts. Comments most welcome.
1. They are fast. In general, the fastest spider likely to be encountered. 2. They can climb just about any surface and 3. They are hyper aware of their surroundings. Sneaking up on them is very difficult.
- The main concern keeping Sparassids is avoiding them getting harmed by the keeper or them harming themselves. Their dashes for the wide open spaces are reckless, it's easy to break their legs trying to catch them and they will jump off surfaces into the air without regard how high up they are.
They will zoom straight at predators that would like to turn them into snacks or toys.
ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THEIR LEGS. They seem to regard them almost like a gecko regards it's tail. The loss of a few legs doesn't seem to shorten their life span if there is abundant food.
- How much room do they need? I suspect females could be content in an enclosure just large enough to spread their legs. As long as they are fed regularly they are content to remain motionless. Males MAY also be content with small enclosures but when they feel romantic a hefty portion of their brain switches off. They can go from reckless to well into suicidal.
- What would be the best containment? IMHO, I visualize an acrylic or glass area 1 foot square by up to 6 feet tall with a branch or stick extending 1 foot below the top. Optimal, say 3 or 4 feet tall. They love to lurk on vertical surfaces and except during mating times will spend their entire lives there. They much prefer to park head down which gives the keeper some breathing room to clean and feed them from above.
- What do they prefer to eat? Depends on the environments the spider calls home. Some, like the 'sewer rat of spiders' Venatoria, are most content with anything that moves about 1/2 their body length.
- Venom. Not medically significant and of all spiders they are down at the bottom of the list of trying to bite people. Even pressed against the skin their big thing in life is escape.
- Other considerations. Environment. Do they need water? No as a general rule. Some come from environments which are very damp but they are also found in arid zones where they never encounter water in any form. Researching your particular spider is in order. Humidity. As needing water. Their preferred locales are the detritus of forest floors where it is usually quite damp. They probably offset being constantly damp by their lurking habits up on tree trunks and branches where they can dry out. Fungal infections are common in damp locations.
A male out prowling during the day means romance is on his mind.
As a general rule, females will stop eating when carrying the sac until some time after the eggs hatch.
They can also be very beautiful
1. They are fast. In general, the fastest spider likely to be encountered. 2. They can climb just about any surface and 3. They are hyper aware of their surroundings. Sneaking up on them is very difficult.
- The main concern keeping Sparassids is avoiding them getting harmed by the keeper or them harming themselves. Their dashes for the wide open spaces are reckless, it's easy to break their legs trying to catch them and they will jump off surfaces into the air without regard how high up they are.
They will zoom straight at predators that would like to turn them into snacks or toys.

ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THEIR LEGS. They seem to regard them almost like a gecko regards it's tail. The loss of a few legs doesn't seem to shorten their life span if there is abundant food.

- How much room do they need? I suspect females could be content in an enclosure just large enough to spread their legs. As long as they are fed regularly they are content to remain motionless. Males MAY also be content with small enclosures but when they feel romantic a hefty portion of their brain switches off. They can go from reckless to well into suicidal.
- What would be the best containment? IMHO, I visualize an acrylic or glass area 1 foot square by up to 6 feet tall with a branch or stick extending 1 foot below the top. Optimal, say 3 or 4 feet tall. They love to lurk on vertical surfaces and except during mating times will spend their entire lives there. They much prefer to park head down which gives the keeper some breathing room to clean and feed them from above.
- What do they prefer to eat? Depends on the environments the spider calls home. Some, like the 'sewer rat of spiders' Venatoria, are most content with anything that moves about 1/2 their body length.
- Venom. Not medically significant and of all spiders they are down at the bottom of the list of trying to bite people. Even pressed against the skin their big thing in life is escape.
- Other considerations. Environment. Do they need water? No as a general rule. Some come from environments which are very damp but they are also found in arid zones where they never encounter water in any form. Researching your particular spider is in order. Humidity. As needing water. Their preferred locales are the detritus of forest floors where it is usually quite damp. They probably offset being constantly damp by their lurking habits up on tree trunks and branches where they can dry out. Fungal infections are common in damp locations.
A male out prowling during the day means romance is on his mind.

As a general rule, females will stop eating when carrying the sac until some time after the eggs hatch.

They can also be very beautiful

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