The numbers
Enclosure
10 × 10 × 18 cm
Diet
Crickets, flies, small roaches · 1-2 items weekly
Temperature
24-29°C
Humidity
50-65%
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not CITES-listed; IUCN not assessed
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Specialist keepers only
Adult size
Body ~1-1.3 cm female (glossy black, red hourglass)
Lifespan
1-3 years (females)
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Nocturnal sit-and-wait web ambusher (messy cobweb)
Temperament
Shy, not aggressive — but bite is dangerous; retreats rather than attacks
Venom / defense
Medically significant venom (latrotoxin, latrodectism) – advanced keepers only; NEVER handle
Price (THB)
350-800 (indicative import)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24-29°C
Humidity
50-65%
Min. enclosure
10x10x18 cm (deli/vertical) with anchor points for one adult
Substrate
2-3 cm coco; provide web-anchor twigs/cork
Hides / decor / water
Twigs/cork for web scaffolding, water via misting
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, flies, small roaches
Feeding frequency
1-2 items weekly
Supplements
Not required
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Never
Communal
No — solitary and cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Drops from web, plays dead, retreats to corner
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous — female builds round papery egg sacs holding hundreds of spiderlings; not live-bearing
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration; bad molt
Red flags / quarantine
SignsEscape-proof, labelled enclosure; tools only; verify local legality & keeper competence; QT wild-caught
Good to know
- Antivenom exists; despite fearsome reputation, deaths are very rare with modern care
Others in this group
Regal jumping spiderPhidippus regiusTanzanian giant tailless whip spiderDamon diademaGiant vinegaroon / whip scorpionMastigoproctus giganteusWest African tailless whip spiderDamon mediusBold jumping spiderPhidippus audaxWestern black widowLatrodectus hesperusPantropical huntsman spiderHeteropoda venatoriaDwarf / spotted tailless whip spiderPhrynus marginemaculatus