The numbers
Enclosure
Tall enclosure, 12-20 cm deep substrate for one spider
Diet
Crickets, roaches offered near the burrow · 1 item weekly to biweekly
Temperature
22-27°C
Humidity
70-85%
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not CITES-listed; some species range-restricted
Difficulty
Intermediate
Commonality
Uncommon premium/collector species
Adult size
Body ~3 cm; distinctive hard, disc-like 'sealed' abdomen
Lifespan
Long-lived (10+ years, females)
Growth rate
Slow
Activity & niche
Fossorial — burrow with trapdoor; uses its flat armoured rear to plug the tunnel (phragmosis)
Temperament
Extremely shy; ambushes from burrow
Venom / defense
Mild venom, not medically significant; reclusive — not a handling species
Price (THB)
1,500-3,500 (indicative import)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
22-27°C
Humidity
70-85%
Min. enclosure
Tall enclosure, 12-20 cm deep substrate for one spider
Substrate
12-20 cm firm moist peat/clay/soil that holds a burrow
Hides / decor / water
Deep substrate for burrow, surface litter; light misting
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches offered near the burrow
Feeding frequency
1 item weekly to biweekly
Supplements
Not required
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not recommended — reclusive and delicate; harmless venom
Communal
No — solitary
Defense / stress signs
Plugs burrow with abdominal disc, retreats, refuses food
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous — female guards eggs in her burrow; spiderlings dig their own
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsBurrow collapse/dehydration if substrate wrong; stress
Red flags / quarantine
SignsProvide deep firm substrate; QT wild-caught; minimise disturbance
Good to know
- Its abdomen ends in a hard ribbed disc it uses like a manhole cover to seal its burrow — earning the name 'tornado/manhole spider'
Others in this group
Regal jumping spiderPhidippus regiusTanzanian giant tailless whip spiderDamon diademaGiant vinegaroon / whip scorpionMastigoproctus giganteusWest African tailless whip spiderDamon mediusSouthern black widowLatrodectus mactansBold jumping spiderPhidippus audaxWestern black widowLatrodectus hesperusPantropical huntsman spiderHeteropoda venatoria