Lichen Huntsman Spider

Heteropoda boiei

True spiderintermediateVenom: Mild

About

A large, flat, lichen-patterned huntsman that hunts by ambush and speed rather than a web. Give it a tall enclosure with cork bark slabs to press behind, warmth of 75-86°F, and 55-75% humidity from regular misting of the walls (it drinks the droplets); strong ventilation is essential. Feed crickets or roaches about weekly. It is fast and skittish and will bolt rather than fight — the venom is not dangerous to a healthy person, though a bite is mechanically painful. Not a handling spider; keep the enclosure escape-proof. Solitary.

Taxonomy

FamilySparassidae

GenusHeteropoda

Native regionSoutheast Asia

TypeArboreal (huntsman)

Temperamentfast, skittish; flees rather than bites; bite mechanically painful

Size & growth

Adult sizeup to ~6 in leg span

Length20.00–40.00 mm

Growth ratefast

Climate

Temperature75–86 °F

Humidity55–75%

Enclosure

Adult sizetall enclosure with cork bark slabs to hide behind

Substratepeat/coco fiber with sphagnum to hold ~75% humidity; cork bark for hides

Substrate depth1-2 inches

Water dishOptional

Feeding

Feeding modePredator (live prey)

Prey sizecrickets, roaches, mealworms

Adult cadenceabout once a week

Times kept: 0