Phidippus audax enclosure critique

[Tortuga]

I feel like Im setting myself up for a shit show of criticism, so be gentile lol.
I’m not crazy about critter keepers, but i have plans in the making for diy glass enclosures (still researching materials). For now, I’m curious what you guys would change or improve upon.

Substrate is coco fiber and potting soil. I took out the water dish for the photo fyi, it normally sits in the back right corner.


She (I think its a she) spends a good amount of time on the lid, but her home is behind the corkbark. The rock is hot glued to the bottom. Enclosure is next to a sliding glass window, so she gets lots of natural light.


She eats well! Once a week
bonus pic, just because

 

[Andrea82]

Not sure if this is correct, but I think I read somewhere that waterdishes can pose a threat to jumping spiders, and that it's better to mist the glass for them to drink from. @basin79 is this correct?

 

[basin79]

Not sure if this is correct, but I think I read somewhere that waterdishes can pose a threat to jumping spiders, and that it's better to mist the glass for them to drink from. @basin79 is this correct?

Not sure if a water dish would be a threat or if a jumper would use 1 but they definitely drink droplets off the sides of the enclosure or deco.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Too big, use a 32oz deli cup. Way easier.

 

[Tortuga]

Too big, use a 32oz deli cup. Way easier.

Enclosure too big? Everything I've read on jumpers say give 'em some space. Define easier? easier for who? I've experienced nothing so far that I would classify as difficult. Prey items don't last long once introduced, 2 min max. Plus watching her hunt is awesome, her latest kill was an upside down pounce with a fang to the noggin for the insta-kill. I hope that doesn't sound snitty, if I come off that way I apologize.

@basin79 and @Andrea82 I've never seen her drink from the water dish, ever. Misting it is, I'm more than happy to ditch that ugly green plastic bottle cap. Thanks for the tip ya'll

 

[Ratmosphere]

If it works for you then it's fine! Like to speak on personal preference and space conservation.

 

[basin79]

With regards to housing I used a square 5.8lt tub.

 

[Tortuga]

Thank you @basin79, interesting. I wonder if that would encourage them to stop webbing corners of the lid? I'm curious. Now that I think about it, I wonder if breaking up sections of cork bark and hot gluing them around the sides (except for the front glass) would accomplish the same thing? I'm going to try this this weekend and see if that will discourage lid webbing. She makes hides in all four corners but always defaults to her main hide at night.

 

[basin79]

Thank you @basin79, interesting. I wonder if that would encourage them to stop webbing corners of the lid? I'm curious. Now that I think about it, I wonder if breaking up sections of cork bark and hot gluing them around the sides (except for the front glass) would accomplish the same thing? I'm going to try this this weekend and see if that will discourage lid webbing. She makes hides in all four corners but always defaults to her main hide at night.

Yes. They use the sling pot. Spin their hammocks in them, moult in them.

 

[BugggGirl]

Too big, use a 32oz deli cup. Way easier.

Jumping spiders need more space to move around. They need to stay active and a deli cup would be way too small for them, unless they are so tiny they are still eating fruit flies.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Disagreed. Keep over 5 species of jumpers in the deli cups and never once had a problem. It's a 32oz deli cup, look it up if you arent familiar with the size.

 

[Tortuga]

I’m liking this new design, Takashi Amano inspired, RIP Mr. Amano. @Ratmosphere, I feel ya on the 32oz cup, it’s an ample amount of space for these guys. Especially if space is not a commodity for you. I’ve got the space so why not right? I’m guessing she likes it too, a few days after the update she set up shop. She has yet to make any nests on the lid for the past few weeks. Dropping in roaches is not an option anymore because of the moss, so tong feeding it is. I’ve thought about hand feeding, but I may be too much of a wus. They really are like cats when they feed though, she actually wiggles her booty before she pounces

 

[Andrea82]

View attachment 313534 I’m liking this new design, Takashi Amano inspired, RIP Mr. Amano. @Ratmosphere, I feel ya on the 32oz cup, it’s an ample amount of space for these guys. Especially if space is not a commodity for you. I’ve got the space so why not right? View attachment 313535 I’m guessing she likes it too, a few days after the update she set up shop. She has yet to make any nests on the lid for the past few weeks. Dropping in roaches is not an option anymore because of the moss, so tong feeding it is. I’ve thought about hand feeding, but I may be too much of a wus. They really are like cats when they feed though, she actually wiggles her booty before she pounces

That's a gorgeous enclosure!

 

[Ratmosphere]

That setup is SEXY.

 

[BenLeeKing]

View attachment 313534 I’m liking this new design, Takashi Amano inspired, RIP Mr. Amano. @Ratmosphere, I feel ya on the 32oz cup, it’s an ample amount of space for these guys. Especially if space is not a commodity for you. I’ve got the space so why not right? View attachment 313535 I’m guessing she likes it too, a few days after the update she set up shop. She has yet to make any nests on the lid for the past few weeks. Dropping in roaches is not an option anymore because of the moss, so tong feeding it is. I’ve thought about hand feeding, but I may be too much of a wus. They really are like cats when they feed though, she actually wiggles her booty before she pounces

To me that web looks like either a brooding chamber of molting chamber~

 

[Gogyeng]

View attachment 313534 I’m liking this new design, Takashi Amano inspired, RIP Mr. Amano. @Ratmosphere, I feel ya on the 32oz cup, it’s an ample amount of space for these guys. Especially if space is not a commodity for you. I’ve got the space so why not right? View attachment 313535 I’m guessing she likes it too, a few days after the update she set up shop. She has yet to make any nests on the lid for the past few weeks. Dropping in roaches is not an option anymore because of the moss, so tong feeding it is. I’ve thought about hand feeding, but I may be too much of a wus. They really are like cats when they feed though, she actually wiggles her booty before she pounces

Oh my goodness ! =)

 

[Tortuga]

To me that web looks like either a brooding chamber of molting chamber~

I would agree and I thought the same, but she made that a few weeks ago, no molt and no brood as of yet. Time will tell

 

[Gogyeng]

Is she accepting food?

 

[advan]

View attachment 313534 I’m liking this new design, Takashi Amano inspired, RIP Mr. Amano. @Ratmosphere, I feel ya on the 32oz cup, it’s an ample amount of space for these guys. Especially if space is not a commodity for you. I’ve got the space so why not right? View attachment 313535 I’m guessing she likes it too, a few days after the update she set up shop. She has yet to make any nests on the lid for the past few weeks. Dropping in roaches is not an option anymore because of the moss, so tong feeding it is. I’ve thought about hand feeding, but I may be too much of a wus. They really are like cats when they feed though, she actually wiggles her booty before she pounces

That does not look like a "sleeping bag" they normally web to rest. That looks like she's about to drop.

 

[Tortuga]

@Gogyeng She has a healthy appetite still, ate a lateralis nymph yesterday. There was a fly buzzing around her enclosure this morning and she was going bat shit crazy trying to get it lol. Plus she's always parked facing the deli cups that hold my T slings, pretty sure she's trying to figure out how to eat them. Her abdomen is HUGE though, one lateralis nymph a week at the moment and I'm even thinking of cutting that back. I mist 3-4 times a week and I see her drinking regularly.

I think you're right @advan, she looks gravid and that webbing is much more elaborate than the other hammocks she's made before. Only problem is, I can't see very well in her hammock to verify anything. I have a dentist mirror that I can see into the bottom opening, but I'm limited as to what I can see. Just gonna wait and see, which I'm ok with, I'm patient.

Questions: What would be proper terminology describing her different types of 'hammocks'? There's 3 different types from what I understand? Nesting, Brooding and Molting? School me wise ones!