Sphodros care & experiences

[goonius]

While searching for someone selling Cyclocosmia, a genus I have been interested in for awhile, I came across a seller who also has Sphodros rufipes & Sphodros abbotti, and I'm kind of smitten. But finding experiences keeping this genus in captivity are scarce. I found a couple of old threads. One said deep substrate, another said an arboreal setup with at least 12" height. These are small spiders, so I can't help but question if this height is really necessary.

So, I was wondering if anyone here is quietly keeping these spiders and could offer any advice on their care.

 

[RezonantVoid]

While searching for someone selling Cyclocosmia, a genus I have been interested in for awhile, I came across a seller who also has Sphodros rufipes & Sphodros abbotti, and I'm kind of smitten. But finding experiences keeping this genus in captivity are scarce. I found a couple of old threads. One said deep substrate, another said an arboreal setup with at least 12" height. These are small spiders, so I can't help but question if this height is really necessary.

So, I was wondering if anyone here is quietly keeping these spiders and could offer any advice on their care.

As far as I'm aware, Sphodros display the unusual behaviour of constructing vertical tubes of silk and debris against the sides of a tree trunk. That is where the recommendation for tall setups comes in. I wouldn't give them an exclusively arboreal setup as they still burrow underground around the base of their tree trunk. I would give them at least 4" of sub and 6"-10" of climbing room above the surface.

We have trapdoors in Australia that build tubes up to 45cm tall above ground with an additional 20-30cm of burrow underground. Never underestimate how much space a 2" spider can use

 

[goonius]

Thanks for your input. I did find some images of their webs in the wild and one youtube video of someone who has kept them, and I can see how this would be so. Most info seems to be quite old, but "Bugs in Cyberspace" had a little recent info. It also looks like they might be somewhat moisture dependent (?) So, given what you shared and the little info I dug up, I'm thinking maybe a setup something like what a Psalmopoeus needs would be along the lines of what they want with, only with an especially long piece of cork to make that web tube on.

Now I just need to convince the SO that, yes! I really do need another spider (or 3)...

 

[RezonantVoid]

Thanks for your input. I did find some images of their webs in the wild and one youtube video of someone who has kept them, and I can see how this would be so. Most info seems to be quite old, but "Bugs in Cyberspace" had a little recent info. It also looks like they might be somewhat moisture dependent (?) So, given what you shared and the little info I dug up, I'm thinking maybe a setup something like what a Psalmopoeus needs would be along the lines of what they want with, only with an especially long piece of cork to make that web tube on.

Now I just need to convince the SO that, yes! I really do need another spider (or 3)...

4 years ago I decided to branch into spiders and told myself I would only stick to a few tarantulas...
now I have 6 tarantulas and over 150 other mygalomorphs yes, I definitely needed them all

 

[goonius]

4 years ago I decided to branch into spiders and told myself I would only stick to a few tarantulas...
now I have 6 tarantulas and over 150 other mygalomorphs yes, I definitely needed them all

A few years ago I gave in and allowed my daughter to get one tarantula. “Just one!” I told her.

She enjoys reminding me of this, and that most of our 25 arachnids are really more mine than hers, even if they all live in her bedroom.

I always wonder how people keep up with 100+ and I keep telling myself I will never find out personally… but there are just so many fascinating species out there! I can definitely see how you’d wake up one day with 150!

Lately I’ve really been enamored of the ones that are native to the southeastern US (where I live) which the 3 I’m vying for currently are. I’d love to find some out in the wild one day also, while having captive bred ones at home to observe more closely.

 

[RezonantVoid]

A few years ago I gave in and allowed my daughter to get one tarantula. “Just one!” I told her.

She enjoys reminding me of this, and that most of our 25 arachnids are really more mine than hers, even if they all live in her bedroom.

I always wonder how people keep up with 100+ and I keep telling myself I will never find out personally… but there are just so many fascinating species out there! I can definitely see how you’d wake up one day with 150!

Lately I’ve really been enamored of the ones that are native to the southeastern US (where I live) which the 3 I’m vying for currently are. I’d love to find some out in the wild one day also, while having captive bred ones at home to observe more closely.

When you're in Australia, there's pretty much new species of mygs brought in every 2 weeks, many of which are undescribed, so it's an easy trap to fall into. Unfortunately purse webs are something you can't get here, so I can only relay information about them I've heard from other keepers