Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa)

Short answers

Cupboard spider: How big does the enclosure need to be?

15×15×20 cm (tall).

Cupboard spider: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 18–25 °C (room temperature, very tolerant), at night 15–18 °C.

Cupboard spider: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Cupboard spider: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females up to ~6 years, males ~1–1.5 years.

Cupboard spider: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

18–25 °C (room temperature, very tolerant)

Night temperature

15–18 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

40–60 %, moderate; offer water droplets every 2–3 days

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

15×15×20 cm (tall)

Substrate

A thin layer of coco humus or bare-bottomed; twigs and cork as anchors for the web; a small water area or droplets

Feeding

Food

Crickets, flies and other insects; it can fast for months (with water)

Feeding interval

adults every 7–14 days, juveniles weekly

Key facts

Adult size

females 6–10.5 mm, males 4–10 mm

Life expectancy

females up to ~6 years, males ~1–1.5 years

Origin

Cosmopolitan and synanthropic (probably originating in Europe or the Mediterranean); present in Germany

Protection status

Established in Germany and treated as native → general protection under §39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (taking from the wild). No CITES. The venom is mild (local symptoms).

Brumation

Not essential; a cooler spell is tolerated

Cohabitation

Single housing, solitary and cannibalistic. No group housing. The reason is not conflict but predation: these animals take anything that fits in their mouths, and a second animal in the enclosure is included.

Notes

Very easy to care for and robust, often in houses and cellars. It lays several egg sacs (40–100 eggs) a year. Popular as a beginner's web spider; still, because of its (mild) venom, one for the more advanced.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) – Intermediate
• False black widow (Steatoda paykulliana) – Intermediate
• Brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus) – Expert
• Mediterranean black widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) – Expert
• Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) – Expert
• Red widow (Latrodectus bishopi) – Expert
• Redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) – Expert
• Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (15×15×20 cm (tall)), substrate (A thin layer of coco humus or bare-bottomed; twigs and cork as anchors for the web; a small water area or droplets), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.