← Back to species
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
Leg span0.79–1.57 in
Growth ratefast
Life stagesSling → juvenile → adult
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