True spider market

[Europus Gigantus]

Hey Jonathan,
It is pretty apparent, that outside of jumping spiders, people don't really have much interest in trues (except for maybe Lycosidae or Sparassidae.) I have six trues that are quite local to my location and I can't find any information on keeping them, and very little about them at all. Like so many new keepers, I started watching videos about tarantulas, then reading about the scientific aspects, and found it interesting. Then I noticed a spider I hadn't really seen before and decided to keep it. Then another, and another, etc. There is really so little information about their preferred habitat, diet, etc., I couldn't imagine selling or even giving them away when everything I do with them is a guess. The one thing I have learned, is that they are NOT tarantulas. Also, it's really hard to find food besides crickets for them, and the crickets I do get are usually too big or too small. (They do seem to be fairly healthy, though. I have no idea what the lifespan is.) Anyway, I hear ya, brother!
I wish there was a place where keepers of off the wall true spiders could discuss with others with the same passion.

 

[Richard McJimsey]

Purely because the interest is substantially lower than that of scorpions or theraphosids.
There are a few breeders of true spider, but not a lot.
Most true spiders don’t live long which bums people out, and most non-theraphosid mygalomorphs are pet holes.

 

[Spoodfood]

I know of only a couple people that breed and import true spiders with a good variety. But honestly I understand why some people may not have interest in them. The short lifespan and stuff is a bummer. But I’ve recently got an interest in them and if I see one in my house that I like, or online I grab it. I’ve managed to find a bunch of different jumping spider species, wolf spiders, widows. And I ordered some funnel webs and curtain webs. I see trapdoors, sand spiders, velvet spiders, and fishing spiders quite often. I think that for the amount of people that likely have an interest in them, they’re out there to find.

You may already know of my favorite vendor for them but if you’re looking for some and can’t find them, look up Tom Patterson on Instagram. He’s always got a good variety and if he doesn’t have something, you can ask if he’s planning on importing any soon. His stock changes a lot too with a little patience you’ll probably find many you’re looking for.

 

[Jonathan6303]

I know of only a couple people that breed and import true spiders with a good variety. But honestly I understand why some people may not have interest in them. The short lifespan and stuff is a bummer. But I’ve recently got an interest in them and if I see one in my house that I like, or online I grab it. I’ve managed to find a bunch of different jumping spider species, wolf spiders, widows. And I ordered some funnel webs and curtain webs. I see trapdoors, sand spiders, velvet spiders, and fishing spiders quite often. I think that for the amount of people that likely have an interest in them, they’re out there to find.

You may already know of my favorite vendor for them but if you’re looking for some and can’t find them, look up Tom Patterson on Instagram. He’s always got a good variety and if he doesn’t have something, you can ask if he’s planning on importing any soon. His stock changes a lot too with a little patience you’ll probably find many you’re looking for.

Yea Tom Patterson has an amazing stock

 

[Butterbean83]

I know this is an old post but it's interesting and I'd like to pick it up again. A few questions:

1) What other True Spiders are there that hunt their prey via running it down, are a good size, other than Ctenids, Sparassids and Lycosids?

2) Longevity? I'm aware that there is one True Spider that is not a Mygalomorph that lives as long as some Tarantulas... The females of he Sicarius species can live ten, sometimes 15 years I hear. Other than that I hear Eresidae can live to 5 years... I could be wrong but I think so can Cetnidae, Lycosidae and Sparassidae probably slightly shorter. I think Kulkania species can live 4-5 years or more.

Any knowledge on any other True Spiders that also live a fairly long time?

3) How big can Macroctenus kingsleyi get? This is the only True Spider that I own, actually enjoying it, it's a 4 or so CM sling, that's what it came as, I'd say it was more 3CM plus, has not long molted to 4 CM plus, a few days later it's hunting already. Definitely worth getting great to watch. The adults I've seen on videos look stunning but can't get a good guage on size from videos. So they hit 4-5"? I've heard 6-7" also, I'm inclined to believe the former before the latter but awesome if it is the latter.

 

[Kada]

All mygalomorphs are primarily inactive. When you enter the arachnid hobby get ready for a lesson in patience. Yea most people enter the hobby because there scared of true spider but not of tarantulas. I really don’t understand why people, who don’t really like spiders, buy a tarantula. Wouldn’t they be better of with a dog or cat or hamster even a snake or lizard.

People seem more likely to hand feed 100% carnivorous poor bears than black beads too lol. Tarantulas are fuzzy. And big. My bet is it isn't much deeper than that.


I think the size is important. Due to the avian, herp and aqua industries, there is a fairly global commercial food source readily available to most people. Many small spiders would need pinhead crickets at max, in comparison to larger species where one can use a wider lifespan range to feed, or larger species. The idea of constantly buying pinhead, and disposing of them when too big, breeding ones own, breeding small rkach species, fruit flies etc is a decent barrier to entry for a lot of people not that invested. I feel that's a good thing, it helps filter out the idiots that aren't responsible enough in ways. Unlike bigger stuff like tarantulas, bettas, iguanas etc which are tortured 24/7 around the world.

If jumpers were 15cm, it would be a different story haha