I'm mainly interested in Pisauridae, Ctenidae, Sparrasidae, Lycosidae, Ctenizidae. I'm looking at getting Dolomedes okefinokensis, Heteropoda sp., and any Lycosidae. Are they deadly to humans? And are there any specific genera or species that I should look at other than the aforementioned ones?The great thing about true spiders is that it's such a huge diverse group that they have just about anything for any keeper! In terms of speed, some are significantly faster than tarantulas (Sparassidae and Ctenidae can be lightning fast, as can some Lycosidae and Pisauridae), but many are slower as well.
A good beginner for you really depends on what characters you like in your spiders. So here a few questions you can ask yourself before diving into the ridiculously addictive true spiders. Do you want something active or secretive? Colorful or camouflaged? Builds a nice web or actively hunts for food (or ambushes)? Are you comfortable with high venom levels or do you want something harmless? What sort of habitat/biome do you like (desert, forest, scrubland, etc.)? How much space do you have for your spider? How fancy/natural/decorated do you want it's enclosure to be?
As a whole, I think a good beginner for anyone is a jumping spider (Salticidae). Members of the genus Phidippus can be fairly large, have nice color and are very active and curious. They also can take on food items as large as they are. Venom level is very low (if you can even get them to bite).
Right now, I'm keeping members of:
Ctenidae
Sparassidae
Theridiidae
Sicariidae
Salticidae
Pisauridae
Filistatidae
Oxyopidae
and have kept:
Lycosidae
Homalonychidae
Atypidae
Ctenizidae
Let me know if you have any specific questions about any groups!
Those are some good groups, but expect to deal with some speed. D. okefinokensis, Heteropoda, and the lycosids are all harmless to humans. Anything in those groups make good starters as long as you're ready for some running. Dolomedes albineus makes a great pet, but they're a bit harder to get. Heteropoda is a great genus, so you'll be in for a treat if you get some of those. If you can find Arctosa littoralis, you'll have one of the most entertaining lycosids.
Most true spiders are harmless to humans. Mainly Latrodectus,Atrax, Sicariidae and Phoneutria are(or can be) dangerous.
Besides Ctenizidae all the rest are completely harmless. P.mira is my favorite spider personally and that family in general make great pets as they live longer than most local lycosids as they overwinter as juveniles and mate the following year.
The nice thing about most of these families is that they don't need a ton of care. I mist mine weekly and feed them either weekly or every other week, depending on their size. I do agree though, with my Barylestis scutatus it tends to be a battle of wills on who does/does not get out and gets food without the food consequently escaping. I have one who is the biggest pain and gets out every time I feed/water. Fortunately, it's only 1/2" right now, but as it gets larger it's going to be much more of a hassle to deal with the little monster.
That's very true. It also gives you a chance to check them out in their natural environment so you know how to set things up if you go the natural route. I caught a Dysdera crocata years ago before I really got into keeping invert pets and I kept it in a really spartan enclosure with nothing to hide under. Needless to say, it didn't do very well. I'd like to catch another this summer and if I do I'll give it substrate and things to hide under this time lol.
Very true. And even after keeping those huntsmen from Pango-Pango the natives a load of fun.
I would but a week ago almost all the snow was gone, now we have about 3" everywhere. I'm also not the most patient about getting animals (inverts that is).
I had a P. Johnsoni for a while. She is the only spider I've owned that has bitten me, but that's because this thing was spawn from hell. Threat displays regualrly and you could sometimes see the orangey-yellow venom beading up on her fang tips. She would go out of her way to try and bite me, even playing dead so that I would move closer and prod her with a stick to see if she's still alive. Then she'd flip back over, jump at me, and dig her fangs in to my pant legs. This happened multiple times too, and she managed to really chew on my finger once, probably dumping all her venom in to me right then. That's when I realized that I was never going to break this horse and it was best to let it go so I don't have to deal with it. She was big too, about 3/4 an inch body length. Spunky little character, but goes to show that not every spider is the same, and some spiders don't fit the regular "type" expected of the species.I personally like (Jumping spider ) Phiddipus regius. they are sooo adorable and not so fast.
Ohh holy cow. i never seen jumping spiders act like that. Not even Hyllus giganteus. It must have been the devil in disguise you got there
yes some spiders don't fit the regular as they "should" be. Just like tarantulas.
I don't know what it was about me that made her so enraged. I also have an A. Hentzi that my friends joke around about me having to touch it with a three foot pole. Pop off the top of his enclosure and he's *immediately* in a threat display, slapping and biting everything around him. I am genuinely afraid to rehouse him; I'd rather try and rehouse my C. Fimbriatus. I don't know what crawled up his cloaca but it certainly isn't pretty.Ohh holy cow. i never seen jumping spiders act like that. Not even Hyllus giganteus. It must have been the devil in disguise you got there
I have a G.rosea like that. talk about docile species. hahaI don't know what it was about me that made her so enraged. I also have an A. Hentzi that my friends joke around about me having to touch it with a three foot pole. Pop off the top of his enclosure and he's *immediately* in a threat display, slapping and biting everything around him. I am genuinely afraid to rehouse him; I'd rather try and rehouse my C. Fimbriatus. I don't know what crawled up his cloaca but it certainly isn't pretty.
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Just went and got a picture of him. All I did was open the container.
and to think I got this species because I heard they were "docile and easily manipulated."