New to steatoda triangulosa

[Godsmack1934]

Hello, I recently found 2 S triangulosa in my garage and decided to bring them in, is there anything special I should take into consideration with caring for them? I've kept and am keeping plenty of latrodectus mactans and assumed their required set up would be similar, so I gave them the same set up I give my latrodectus mactans (20oz mason jar with 2 sticks and a thin(ish) layer of substrate) is that sufficient or should I change it? And what is their preferred food from your experience in caring for them? Thank you in advance to anyone who gives advice!
(Picture just 'cause, thats the smaller of the 2 though)

 

[CRX]

I have a female Steaoda triangulosa, she is an avid producer of fertile sacs. She lays 1 or 2 every month. There is a bit of debate over if this species is parthogenic or not. But, mine is pretty small and ive never seen her with a male, and every sac she lays ends up hatching.

As for the keeping, theres nothing to it. Keep the same as any widow. They dont need substrate, just some fake plants and a branch or two. Very easy spiders to keep.

Food: they are ravenous, they will eat anything they can catch in their web. Really will eat anything, I just use crickets tho

 

[Godsmack1934]

I have a female Steaoda triangulosa, she is an avid producer of fertile sacs. She lays 1 or 2 every month. There is a bit of debate over if this species is parthogenic or not. But, mine is pretty small and ive never seen her with a male, and every sac she lays ends up hatching.

As for the keeping, theres nothing to it. Keep the same as any widow. They dont need substrate, just some fake plants and a branch or two. Very easy spiders to keep.

Food: they are ravenous, they will eat anything they can catch in their web. Really will eat anything, I just use crickets tho

Ok, thank you so much!

 

[Contingence]

I have a terrarium full of S. triangulosa right now; it's not quite a colony, but with enough food and moisture they definitely tolerate each other enough to share web space. Individuals don't need special substrate or a lot of warmth or moisture to do really well. Spiderlings thrive on Drosophila melanogaster and adults love mealworms as well as pretty much whatever you can find under decaying wood (namely those little millipedes). Having something retreat-like between the middle and top of the enclosure can help guide/support the web structure.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I have a terrarium full of S. triangulosa right now; it's not quite a colony, but with enough food and moisture they definitely tolerate each other enough to share web space. Individuals don't need special substrate or a lot of warmth or moisture to do really well. Spiderlings thrive on Drosophila melanogaster and adults love mealworms as well as pretty much whatever you can find under decaying wood (namely those little millipedes). Having something retreat-like between the middle and top of the enclosure can help guide/support the web structure.

How do you feed such tiny babies ? Do you have pictures of this cage? Interesting.

 

[Contingence]

How do you feed such tiny babies ? Do you have pictures of this cage? Interesting.

I hope a video will suffice. For context, I finally liberated Zucchini's (the mom's) brood on Wednesday evening -- left the terrarium freshly watered sans lid in an undisclosed garage-like location, with fresh food for the remaining fruit flies -- with the emotional support of a handful of friends. I did put one of her biggest babies in a smaller terrarium as well, still haven't decided on a name.
My method was simple: Put a fruit fly colony (starter kit flightless Drosophila melanogaster plus fruit and water) inside the terrarium. Over time, regular fruit flies started making their way into the colony, and then the fruit flies started taking over our apartment. The spiders were very well fed, though!

Here's the last video I took of the big terrarium:
View attachment IMG_7183.MP4

And here's a video of Zucchini's successor in her small terrarium:
View attachment IMG_7188.MP4

 

[Contingence]

How do you feed such tiny babies ? Do you have pictures of this cage? Interesting.

Sorry to double dip, I just found a video of the setup when it was brand new.
View attachment IMG_6973.MP4

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Sorry to double dip, I just found a video of the setup when it was brand new.
View attachment 479763

Nice, I could probably find one either in garage or the park. Just don’t have money for fruit flies , they do pop up regularly enough my basement’s exploded with cellar spiders.

 

[darkness975]

I've kept and am keeping plenty of latrodectus mactans and assumed their required set up would be similar,

Yes