Lycosidae?

[Alokin]

Ok i am new to this forum and all and the thing that lead me here is that my wolf spider(i think) which i found wondering my room is for some reason acting strange he doesnt want to eat.....also can you please tell me if it is a wolf spider indeed cous im new to the spider world. Here is a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOpAFQgmhnw&list=HL1387473233

And i will upload pictures of him in the galery

 

[Smokehound714]

It is indeed a wolf spider. The substrate is bad, too lumpy. They need fine easily worked substrate, pure dry sand will work better.


Your wolf appears to be an obligate burrower, similar to the genus geolycosa.

 

[loxoscelesfear]

Hogna carolinensis , love the orange -yellow chelicrae

 

[Smokehound714]

Hogna carolinensis , love the orange -yellow chelicrae

Nah, Nikola is from Bulgaria, making this more likely to be in the genus Lycosa. Lycosa tarantula is a good bet.

They build turrets like Hogna, though. If you give him/her pure sand, poke a hole in the middle of the enclosure, and gently coax it into the hole, once it's inside, begin sprinkling sand directly over her; this stimulates turret building for some strange reason. Wolf spider turrets are kinda like a duck-hunter's hide, they use them as a shield, too.

 

[Alokin]

so why doesnt she want to feed is she pre molding .....i dont know im woried and what should i do to the invirement i dont understand all this technelogical term thingy please tell me what to do in simple words xD thank you Also i have a question for X-mas im leaving for my home town is it good to leave it here or shood i take it with me?

 

[Smokehound714]

Well, none of us can know for sure. Perhaps it is in premolt. But then again it could be severely stressed out, they can see very well, and all the vibration from the cam and the light could be disturbing it.

 

[Alokin]

So should i take it with me though i dont think i can get her (i think its a she...because the pulps aren't filled up and swolen , but she could be still young though i daubt it cous she has a vivid orange and shes pretty big.)out of that hole without hurting her in some way i tried once and she tryed to bite the thing i was trying to get her out with....and im scared she might hurt herself....Also are these spiders agresive and can i handle it or i shouldnt try to make it walk on my hand ...cous i read they arnt toxic but the bight hurts like a mother......and i think it will cous she has quite some fangs....

 

[Smokehound714]

It's a female. Male wolf spiders develop the huge palps well before maturity.

Some wolf spiders are calm and docile, others are confrontational and throw up defensive poses and bite. It all depends on the individual, just like how some people are nice, and others are mean. However, like jumping spiders, they CAN "tame" down as they grow used to you. One thing- You may want to get a heating light, wolves do like to bask. Strange for a "nocturnal" animal.. My schizocosa wolves loved to bask, they'd turn darker to absorb the light.

if she's well fed, and you're only gonna be gone a few days, then there's no need to worry. Just give her a water dish, and she's good.

 

[Alokin]

well i already left i didnt take her with me but she is well fed her abdomem is pretty big...i think i even overfead her....i will be gone 2 week though i think im just gona let her get hungry a little like maybe a week and then im gona instruckt my roomate to give her a cricet...i gues that will surfice for a week actualy she ate 2 crickets last week so shes pretty full i gues....and i have a new question for the flore of the tank what soil should i use..i have acces to pretty lumpy soil but i can pretty much make it finer on hand...and i have acces to sand aswell...which will be better or should i just buy some coco fiber...if i can find any...(i read some stuff on the forum everyone is talking about this coco fiber stuf....) and how much is like 4 fingers deep enough....should i pack it up tight or let it be loos(the soil i mean) also can a cricet kill her...And lastly but not least...how do i tame her i wish to hold her but everytime i try she goes on her back legs ant shows her fangs...i cant seem to ern her trust.And what kind of heating lamp should i get???????/


a little bit of topick...for some reason from time to time when i open the container she is in there are theese little Flyes....where do they come from..could a fly that i gave her laid some egs...and is that of any importants?

 

[Smokehound714]

Coco fiber is best. perfect turret-building material. Leave the substrate somewhat loose, they reinforce their burrow with silk, so it doesnt need to be tamped.

you dont need a heating lamp, really. I just like to give my spiders luxurious things

Since you live in her native habitat, you're good to go.

 

[Alokin]

And about the other stuff

 

[Smokehound714]

Hard to say, without a pic, though my guess would be either phorid flies, or fungus gnats. Many phorids are scavengers, many do target fly species. But others ARE parasitoids (parasitic- laying eggs on other animals, with the maggot developing inside the body of a fly, or cricket.)

 

[Alokin]

Is 4 fingers deep enough...

 

[Alokin]

Im sorry im posting another post after my last here but i cant edit my last post...for some reason anyway look at what i Found i think this is my spider....it really resembeles her...anyway...tought you should know Tigrosa helluo or a Geolycosa or as you said Lycosa Tarantula

 

[Hanska]

I'm so jealous if it's a Lycosa tarantula. I'd really want one or two of those.

 

[Alokin]

I believe it is maybe...but if it is i really doubt it would be hard for you if you live near bulgaria i see theese little fellows all the time If she has babyes some day i might send you one

 

[Alokin]

Guys i dont have access to Coco Fiber....wwhat should i use for a substrate....????

 

[Tarantula_Hawk]

Ok let me clear up some facts about your spider.
What you have is a Geolycosa vultuosa, one of the two major burrowing lycosids found in eastern Europe (the other one being Lycosa singoriensis, which is a lot bigger and less common).
Lycosa tarantula is not present in your region, and the closest thing you get in Bulgaria is Lycosa praegrandis. It's an eastern mediterranean species, so i'm guessing its probably limited to southern Bulgaria, since it is reported for your country.

G. vultuosa, as you might have guessed, is a burrowing wolf spider. Since it's a native spider, you might as well use the substrate you have in your area. No need to go around looking for coco fiber, they dont build large turrets and a layer of grass will do the job.
Also, four fingers of substrate is definitely not enough for this species. Give it at least 10cm. Which ever substrate you use, I would also suggest you to pre-build (dig) a vertical tunnel for the spider to use. It will make its life a lot easier and will allow it to quickly adapt to the captive condition. The spider should immediately use and modify your prebuild vertical hole.

They are sedentary spiders and, thus, have quite a slow metabolism compared to other more active lycosid species. Two weeks without food, if well fed, is definitely not a problem for this spider.


As for the handling part, simply dont, if you wish to have a healthy and active spider. There is no such thing as domesticating a spider. These animals are not cats or dogs. Handling is extremely stressful for a spider in general, moreso if its sedentary and fossorial. Viceversa, it may very well bite you, and while the bite of this species is not considered dangerous to man, there's still no point of risking it. If you want to keep it captive and in healthy condition, then let it live peacefully in its burrow, and enjoy it for what it is.

 

[Alokin]

Thank you so much Tarantula_Hawk...this is the answer i wanted from the begining....i verry much apritiate what you have writen and will not try to handle her.Also thanks for the specification of the spider If i have any firther questions can i come to you for them ?

 

[Tarantula_Hawk]

If i have any firther questions can i come to you for them ?

Yes of course.