RecoveryInvertebrates
Huntsman spider care guide
Heteropoda spp.
Height first. Arboreals build tube webs against vertical bark, so give them a tall enclosure with a slab to anchor to and only a couple of inches of substrate.
Arboreal — vertical height first
Huntsman spider enclosure size
Arboreal — vertical height first. An adult huntsman spider should live in at least 6" L × 6" W × 13" H; we build toward 8" L × 8" W × 15" H (0.7 × 0.7 × 1.3 ft, roughly 0.4 sq ft of floor and about a 4-gallon glass equivalent).
Vertical cork slab from floor to ceiling; the web tube will be built along it.
- Spiderling / sling
- 2" L × 2" W × 6" H recommended · min 2" L × 2" W × 4" H
- Juvenile
- 5" L × 5" W × 10" H recommended · min 4" L × 4" W × 8" H
- Adult
- 8" L × 8" W × 15" H recommended · min 6" L × 6" W × 13" H
Temperature and heating
Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — no basking site, no heat lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–80 °F ambient room temperature
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75 °F ambient room temperature
- Night
- Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Run lights on a Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 60–70% ambient. Dampen one corner of the substrate every week or two and keep a water dish full — never soak the whole enclosure.
Substrate and depth
Coco fibre with leaf litter on top. Depth: 1–2 in — just enough to hold humidity.
- Ventilation: Heavy cross-ventilation — arboreals are the least tolerant of stale, wet air of anything in the hobby.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Full-height cork bark slab or tube
- Hanging fake foliage for web anchors
- Shallow water dish at floor level
Build list
- Tall front-opening arboreal enclosure — Top-opening tanks put your hand where the animal's retreat is — arboreals bolt upward.
- Cork bark slab / tube — The web tube is built against bark; without it the spider webs a mess in the corner.
- Digital thermometer / hygrometer — Inverts are kept at room temperature — you need to know what the room actually does, not guess.
- Long feeding tongs and a catch cup — Every interaction — feeding, water top-ups, rehousing — should happen without your hand near the animal.
Huntsman spider FAQ
How big should an adult Huntsman spider enclosure be?
At least 6" L × 6" W × 13" H, and we recommend building to 8" L × 8" W × 15" H — about 0.7 × 0.7 × 1.3 ft, or a 4-gallon glass equivalent. Arboreal — vertical height first.
What temperatures does a Huntsman spider need?
Basking or warm surface None — no basking site, no heat lamp, warm side 72–80 °F ambient room temperature, cool side 70–75 °F ambient room temperature, night Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine. Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
Does a Huntsman spider need UVB?
None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Photoperiod: Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun.
What humidity does a Huntsman spider need?
60–70% ambient. Dampen one corner of the substrate every week or two and keep a water dish full — never soak the whole enclosure.
What substrate is best for a Huntsman spider?
Coco fibre with leaf litter on top, at a depth of 1–2 in — just enough to hold humidity.
How big does a Huntsman spider enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Spiderling / sling: 2" L × 2" W × 6" H recommended, minimum 2" L × 2" W × 4" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Is there anything to be careful about when keeping a Huntsman spider?
Extremely fast and prone to bolting. Rehouse inside a bin or bathtub with the door closed.
How much ventilation does a Huntsman spider enclosure need?
Heavy cross-ventilation — arboreals are the least tolerant of stale, wet air of anything in the hobby.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own huntsman spider record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.