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Common Name:
Sydney Huntsman Spider
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Huntsman Spider
Photo: Susan Clarke
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Common Name:  Sydney Huntsman Spider

Other Common Names:  Sydney Giant Crab Spider, Huntsman Spider

Scientific Name:  Holconia immanis  (Full Taxonomy)

Group:  True Spider

Origin or Range:  Australia

Relative Size:  Much Larger Than Average  
    (as compared to other spiders)

Average Lifespan:  ??? year(s)

Compatibility:  Average   
    (as compared to other spiders)

Category:  Arachnids » Spiders
Animal Description:  

The Sydney Huntsman Spider is a large and distinctive species of spider. They are fairly hard to acquire.

Sydney Huntsman Spiders, also known as the Sydney Giant Crab Spider or simply Huntsman Spider, are not aggressive, though they are distrusting and fast moving if one is not careful they will quickly run away from you. Because they are so fast, they are often recommended for intermediate hobbyists, an inexperienced keeper might loose their spider. They are calm, though very active. In the wild, they are generally arboreal and they are nocturnal hunters. They are most commonly seen in the dry savannah, tree trunks, under bark, in gardens, beneath stones or to the distaste of the arachnophobic, on the walls of houses. The captive habitat should mimic their natural environment as much as possible. A two and a half to five gallon tank should be sufficient space to house this spider. One to two inches of sand can be used as substrate, filling the bottom of their tank. Since this species is largely arboreal in the wild it is recommended that you decorate their surroundings with climbing accessories and hiding places, some examples are vertical pieces of cork bark and porous rocks. This spider likes to hide, he will typically be found hiding in spots within the cork and in the holes of the rocks. Keep the temperature around 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity around 50%. For substrate, use 1 to 2 inches of sand. In the wild, the Huntsman will eat a variety of insects, arthropods, small lizards and frogs. Rather than catch their prey in a web, Huntsman Spiders stalk and ambush their prey. This may explain why they have evolved to be so fast! Their fangs are large and powerful and hold the food. Their bite is relatively harmless to humans causing only pain and swelling in most people. If you are allergic the reaction could be toxic, as is the case with all spiders one must take care, you do not want to find out you have an allergy the hard way. In captivity, Sydney Huntsman Spiders are known to eat a variety of foods, feeding on crickets, large insects, and lizards. Babies do well on a diet of small insects such as non-flying fruit flies and pinhead crickets.

Easily recognizable, the Huntsman spider has a large, flat body with very long legs. At maturity, they will grow to a length of three and a half to six inches. Their two back pairs of legs are shorter than the ones at the front, and they extend sideways so that they can walk forwards and sideways. They are seen in a number of different colors, the most common are brown, black, and gray.

Sydney Huntsman Spiders they are found in the wild of Australia and New Zealand, they are not at all afraid of urban settings and are commonly seen in houses within these areas.

Specific Care Information: Relative Care Ease: Uncertain

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Breeding and Propagation: Relative Breeding Ease: Uncertain

Sydney Huntsman Spiders will copulate for several hours, usually. Unlike many other true spiders, in most cases, the female will not attack the male. After mating, the female keeps her egg sac away from her body, she will generally hide it somewhere and guard it closely until the eggs hatch. When hatching begins, the mother will open the egg sack to help her babies out. Huntsman Spiders females will generally remain with their young for several weeks.

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Sunday, 12 October 2008