Keeping true spiders

[sschind]

I think that most people are aware that there are some weird people out there who keep tarantuals. I always figured that there were also people who kept other spiders as well but I never really knew how widespread it was. What are some of the keys for succesfully keeping true spiders. I live in Wisconsin so nothing really survives here over the winter so my visions of spiders are that they are short lived. Do most of these spiders have short lifespans or can they live longer than a season (tropical ones and southern ones I mean). How is the care for them different than Tarantulas. I'll just give one for example, I saw in the classifieds someone had a "green lynx" spider, sorry I don't know the latin name, are these easy to keep. He was selling the inexpensively (2/$1.00 for babies)

How do you keep them and what do you keep them in? Are there any good links to sites dealing with keeping true spiders. Sorry about all the questions but In getting over my fear of spiders I found myself addicted to tarantulas, now I am thinking I might want to branch out.

I did keep a jumping spider I found in my store for one summer. A nice jet black little guy with a white devils face on it, but it died once winter set in. I also picked up a very beautiful garden spider one fall but it didn't last a month.

Anyway, again sorry about all the questions but I am slowly discovering that the further you go down the evolutionary scale (assuming humans at the top) the more interesting the animals become.

 

[Capella]

My husband brought home a Hogna variety wolf spider about a month ago he found under a sink at work. The same guy who thinks my T's are dumb pets. I put it in a small $5.00 Wal-Mart Critter keeper with a 98 cent clay flower pot to hide in. Peat Moss for the substrate. Gave it a water dish and throw her a cricket every couple of days. They are far bigger than she/he is and they get nailed immediately. It never occurred to me she might just die. She is doing fine so far. Silly me for thinking we were going to just look at it for a few days

 

[diadematus]

What are some of the keys for succesfully keeping true spiders. I live in Wisconsin so nothing really survives here over the winter so my visions of spiders are that they are short lived.

If they didn't survive over the winter there wouldn't be any to see in the springtime. The orb weavers apparently all live about 12 months (though I thought that some can live longer). The Theridiidae and other common house spiders (including Latrodectus) apparently have a life-span of up to five years. These couldn't be easier to keep -- or so it seems to me. They don't require much space (even a mason jar with a couple three twigs would be enough) and are fun to watch as they ensnare their prey.

I personally like the orb weavers, but have had more luck simply letting one build a net in the window (rather than using an enclosure). A scientist by the name of Zschokke has several papers that deal with keeping orb weavers in the lab; his information could be adapted to hobby use.

I also have a small hunting spider (Philodromidae) that I found. She (4mm long but growing) is in a small clear plastic box (8 x 15 x 10 mm), also with a couple twigs and seems like she will do well. I feed both of them "micro-size" crickets from the pet shop. In summer you can find bugs outside (or inside). The Theridion I have (also about 4mm long) cannot climb out; you could leave the lid off. In fact, I think that any web-makingspider, once established with a good food supply, will probably more or less stay put (but maybe you don't want to try this with Latrodectus).

So, that's my two cents; the masters here will probably have more to say (and can correct any errors on my part).

-K

 

[LeilaNami]

I believe some species of orb weavers can live 4 years after they mature...or is it four years until they mature...? :wall:

 

[diadematus]

I believe some species of orb weavers can live 4 years after they mature...or is it four years until they mature...? :wall:

I thought that I had read that A. diadematus, for example, live 1 to 2 years. But I can't find anything just now that says that.

In any event, other than "disagreements" on where in the apartment they build their webs, and having to clean up a little spider poop, they seem to be pretty compatible. This past evening, we had a large, fat fly in the apartment -- something not so common anymore as temperatures (with the exception of yesterday) are beginning to cool. I caught it, placed it in the refrigerator for a minute and then placed it in the net of "Sophie II". She was on top of the fly, whose wings were still buzzing a little, before I had even let go with the pincette.

 

[Stylopidae]

There's a lot of true spiders around here if you know where to look.

I'm interested in heteropoda species, but I just haven't the time to find them right now.

I'll probably end up trading for them.

I only have a couple of true spiders at the moment. I can't remember what species right off hand, but they're in my profile.