David Bowie Huntsman

Heteropoda davidbowie

True spiderintermediateVenom: Mild

About

A striking golden-haired huntsman named for Ziggy Stardust, from Malaysian rainforest. Big and flat (legspan to ~4 inches), nocturnal, and very fast — it hides in bark crevices by day and bolts when disturbed, so it's a look-don't-handle, intermediate species. Keep it warm (75-82°F) and humid (70-80%) in a tall, well-ventilated enclosure with large angled cork slabs to hide behind and climb; mist every 2-3 days. No urticating hairs; harmless mild venom but a fast biter. Not for handling.

Taxonomy

FamilySparassidae

GenusHeteropoda

Native regionMalaysia (rainforest)

TypeArboreal

Temperamentvery fast, skittish, nocturnal

Size & growth

Adult sizebody ~2.5 cm, ~4 in legspan

Length20.00–25.00 mm

Growth ratefast

Climate

Temperature75–82 °F

Humidity70–80%

Enclosure

Adult size12x12x18 inches (vertical), cork slabs

Substratecoco fiber; large angled cork bark for hiding/climbing; mist for humidity

Substrate depth2-3 inches

Water dishOptional

Feeding

Feeding modePredator (live prey)

Prey sizecrickets, roaches

Adult cadence1-2 prey per week

Times kept: 0