Desert Velvet Spider

Stegodyphus lineatus

True spiderbeginnerVenom: MildCommunal OK

About

A small, social velvet spider from arid Mediterranean scrub that builds dense silk retreats and tunnels. The rule that matters most: keep it BONE DRY. Do not mist and do not give a water dish. It gets its water from prey, and humidity building up in the enclosure is the most common way these spiders die in captivity. Give strong ventilation, dry substrate filling a third to half of the enclosure, and twigs, excelsior or light grapevine to anchor its webbing. 68-76°F suits it; it is more active toward the warmer end. Feed slings twice a week; for juveniles and adults, feed by the abdomen rather than the calendar, and hold off if it looks plump. It can live alone or in a small group (it is naturally communal; size up the enclosure and feed generously if grouped). Females famously feed their young with their own bodies (matriphagy). Docile, mild venom, not a handling spider.

Taxonomy

FamilyEresidae

GenusStegodyphus

Native regionarid Mediterranean and Middle East (Spain, Israel, Turkey, North Africa)

TypeSemi-arboreal (web)

Temperamentdocile; rarely bites, retreats into its silk; not for handling

Size & growth

Adult sizebody up to ~0.6 in (15 mm)

Length?–15.00 mm

Growth ratemedium

Climate

Temperature68–76 °F

Enclosure

Sling sizesmall, very well ventilated sling enclosure

Juvenile sizemedium enclosure, ventilation holes too small to escape

Adult sizesmall square or wide enclosure (about 4-6 in cube)

Substratedry substrate; twigs, excelsior or grapevine to anchor web tunnels

Substrate depthfill 1/3 to 1/2 of the enclosure, kept dry

Water dishOptional

Feeding

Feeding modePredator (live prey)

Prey sizefruit flies and pinheads as slings; crickets or small roaches later

Sling cadencetwice a week

Juvenile cadenceweekly, as the abdomen needs

Adult cadenceevery 2-3 weeks, as the abdomen needs

Times kept: 0