The numbers
Enclosure
25 × 20 × 20 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, other insects · 1-2 items weekly
Temperature
24-30°C
Humidity
55-70% (drier surface, damp corner)
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not CITES-listed; IUCN not assessed
Difficulty
Beginner–Intermediate
Commonality
Common (often wild-caught); niche pet
Adult size
Body 1-3.5 cm depending on species; robust, hairy
Lifespan
Males ~2 years; females 3-5+ years
Growth rate
Medium-fast
Activity & niche
Nocturnal ground hunter; no capture web, roams or burrows
Temperament
Fast, defensive; will bolt or bite if cornered
Venom / defense
Mild venom, not medically significant; bite locally painful but harmless — fast, not a handling spider
Price (THB)
100-300 (Thai; often wild-caught)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24-30°C
Humidity
55-70% (drier surface, damp corner)
Min. enclosure
25x20x20 cm horizontal for one adult
Substrate
6-10 cm coco/soil, part-moist, allows a scrape/burrow
Hides / decor / water
Cork/bark hide, water dish, some leaf litter
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, other insects
Feeding frequency
1-2 items weekly
Supplements
Not required
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not recommended — fast, may bite; venom mild
Communal
No — cannibalistic; separate spiderlings
Defense / stress signs
Rapid fleeing, raised front legs, fang display
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous — female carries the egg sac on her spinnerets, then carries spiderlings on her back
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration, fall/handling injury, bad molt
Red flags / quarantine
SignsFast escaper — secure lid; QT wild-caught; check hydration
Good to know
- Female wolf spiders famously carry dozens of babies on their backs — the only spiders that do so
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