Velvet Spider Care:
Are these spiders easy?
Velvet spiders are hardy little spiders! They are quite laid back and great for a beginner spider keeper! They do not need to be held daily, in fact, it is recommended you don't hold them very much due to their nature to hide. They like a BONE DRY enclosure, so no need to even spray daily or worry about a water dish that will get dirty! With a little proper care, you can keep these wonderful, curious, and cute little creatures with joy and ease! This information pertains mostly to the Eresus species of Velvet Spiders.
Enclosures
Very small Spiderlings (1/16"-1/8") can easily be kept in a 25ml vial with bone-dry Sphagnum moss. *See the photo example below.
As they grow to about 1/4" I recommend keeping them in an enclosure that is about 2"x2"x3" with a little bit of coco fiber substrate, eco-earth is great for this, and bone dry Sphagnum moss. *See the photo example below.
For Juveniles about 1/2"+ , you can use an enclosure that is 4"x4"x4" thereabouts. A little bit of coco fiber substrate, eco-earth is great for this, a little hide made out of cork bark, and bone dry Sphagnum moss seems to be a great way to keep them at this size. *See the photo example below.
Second Juvenile to Adult option
For Juveniles & adults about 1/2"+ you can house them in a 5"-8” enclosure with the same substrate options as in previous juvenile enclosures.
Food:
When your spiders are small you will want to feed them hydei fruitflies. As they grow you can offer them mealworms, wax worms, wax moths, house flies, & blue bottle flies/spikes. Feed slings every 1-3 days and Juvenile to Adult every 5-7 days on average.
Temperatures:
Room temps about 72-78 degrees F. are a great range for these spiders.
Lighting:
Full spectrum - White LED lighting is great for these spiders. A day cycle of about 12 hours is recommended. Never place the enclosure in direct sunlight, it can overheat and kill them!
Lifespan:
On average most velvet species males live between 1-2 years and females live about 5 years.
New recommendations:
Hydration:
We recommend giving weekly water. It's best to use Distilled water in a very fine misting bottle. Just lightly spray the side of their enclosures. Use only enough that will dry within an hour.
Another option is to use one of our water stations that we designed and sell online. They include magnets which can help prevent the water source from tipping over and spilling. They are easy to install and removed on an as needed basis!