Tapinauchenius plumipes — Fact Sheet

Tapinauchenius plumipes · Tapinauchenius plumipes

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Secure arboreal enclosure; routine handling not recommended
• Adult minimum: about 30 x 30 x 45 cm or similar
• Use cork bark, branches, web anchors, water dish, and strong ventilation
• Plan maintenance before opening; this species is fast and escape-prone

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Upright cork bark placed toward the back or side to form an elevated retreat
• Stable branches and foliage for climbing, cover, and web anchors
• About 5 cm of substrate to buffer moisture and cushion a fall
• Accessible water dish; avoid loose heavy decor, coarse mesh, and exploitable door gaps

💡 Lighting

• No UVB or dedicated basking lamp required
• Use gentle indirect room light; strong overhead lamps can dry the elevated webbed retreat
• Photoperiod: 10-12 h ambient light; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

• Warm zone: 23-27 °C
• Cooler area: 21-23 °C
• Night: 20-23 °C

💧 Humidity & Water

• Moderate humidity with airflow
• Water dish always available
• Lightly moisten part of the enclosure, then let surfaces dry
• Avoid sealed wet air and soaked webbing

🪳 Feeding

• Feed crickets, roaches, locusts where available, and occasional soft larvae
• Adults usually eat every 7-14 days
• Remove uneaten prey, especially near molt

🩺 Warning Signs

• Weak grip, shrinking abdomen, repeated frantic bolting, failed molts, or loss of a stable retreat