Heterothele villosella — Fact Sheet
Heterothele villosella · Heterothele villosella
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 4-6 cm |
| Lifespan | 2-10 years |
| Subspecies | No recognized captive-care subspecies |
| Origin | Tanzania |
| Activity | Nocturnal |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Legal | CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local rules still apply |
🏠 Enclosure
- Compact secure fossorial enclosure; routine handling not recommended
- Adult setup: about 20 x 20 x 20 cm with 6-10 cm substrate
- Provide bark, leaf litter, web anchors, and very secure ventilation holes
- Solitary housing is the safer default despite communal hobby claims
🌡️ Temperature
- Warm zone: 22-26 °C
- Cooler area: 20-22 °C
- Night: 19-22 °C
💧 Humidity & Water
- Keep a moisture option, not a soaked enclosure
- Spiderlings should not dry out
- Adults can use a small water dish and one damp corner
- Avoid moldy webbing and poor airflow
🪳 Feeding
- Feed very small crickets, small roaches, fruit flies for tiny slings, or pre-killed prey
- Adults usually eat every 5-10 days
- Remove large or uneaten prey promptly
🩺 Warning Signs
- Shrinking abdomen, weak movement, mold, mites around prey remains, escape attempts, or failed molt