Since some orb weaver threads have recently been bumped with a very inappropriate way to keep an orb weaver, I though I would share my setup, which seems to have been working quite well for me.
This is a 30"x36"x6" frame that I custom built (shoddily), with acrylic panes on either side that can be opened like a door. I have four 3" holes with screens covering each; 2 on each side, one near top, one near bottom. I use these to control humidity, which is generated by live ivy that I planted in the bottom. I monitor the humidity with 2 very simple gauges on the inside of the doors (one on each door, so I can see it no matter which way I have the setup facing me). I have kept a few different species in here, which have different humidity preferences.
Currently I have a female banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata, in this enclosure which I wild caught. This enclosure is actually probably a bit too big based on the size of the webs that I saw in nature. She seems to have adapted just fine though, and spins a beautiful and perfect web every night, including stabilimentum (web decoration) and has a few barrier webs in front/near the top. I keep the humidity around 60-70% and I toss her a cricket every ~3 days.
While I think some species make webs that have guy lines that are likely way too big for comfortable web building (maybe something like Araneus bicentenarius), there are several that are well suited for captive care given the right care and can thrive. I have no experience (yet!) on breeding, but I eventually would like to get a Nephila breeding program going...
In the wild before capture
Setup -- $5 for scale
This is a 30"x36"x6" frame that I custom built (shoddily), with acrylic panes on either side that can be opened like a door. I have four 3" holes with screens covering each; 2 on each side, one near top, one near bottom. I use these to control humidity, which is generated by live ivy that I planted in the bottom. I monitor the humidity with 2 very simple gauges on the inside of the doors (one on each door, so I can see it no matter which way I have the setup facing me). I have kept a few different species in here, which have different humidity preferences.
Currently I have a female banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata, in this enclosure which I wild caught. This enclosure is actually probably a bit too big based on the size of the webs that I saw in nature. She seems to have adapted just fine though, and spins a beautiful and perfect web every night, including stabilimentum (web decoration) and has a few barrier webs in front/near the top. I keep the humidity around 60-70% and I toss her a cricket every ~3 days.
While I think some species make webs that have guy lines that are likely way too big for comfortable web building (maybe something like Araneus bicentenarius), there are several that are well suited for captive care given the right care and can thrive. I have no experience (yet!) on breeding, but I eventually would like to get a Nephila breeding program going...
In the wild before capture
Setup -- $5 for scale
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