Noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis)

Short answers

Noble false widow: How big does the enclosure need to be?

20×20×25 cm (tall).

Noble false widow: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–25 °C (room temperature, very tolerant), at night 15–18 °C.

Noble false widow: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Noble false widow: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females live several years, ~2–5 years (individual reports up to 7).

Noble false widow: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–25 °C (room temperature, very tolerant)

Night temperature

15–18 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

50–60 %, rather dry, well ventilated

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

20×20×25 cm (tall)

Substrate

Little or dry substrate (a thin layer of coco humus, or bare-bottomed); twigs and cork as anchors for the web

Feeding

Food

Crickets, flies, moths, isopods; it can fast for long periods

Feeding interval

adults every 7–10 days, juveniles weekly

Key facts

Adult size

females 9.5–14 mm, males 7.0–11.0 mm

Life expectancy

females live several years, ~2–5 years (individual reports up to 7)

Origin

Originally Madeira and the Canaries; introduced into Europe (increasingly including Germany), Asia, North Africa and the Americas

Protection status

No CITES, not specially protected. The venom is weaker than Latrodectus but contains α-latrotoxin-like components – a bite can be painful and act locally. No general dangerous-animal status, but take care all the same.

Brumation

Not essential; a cooler winter spell (10–15 °C) 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 robust; it survives months with little food or water (hence its invasiveness). The "false widow". A common mistake: too damp. The life-expectancy figures come partly from close relatives and keeper reports – rated as medium.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• False black widow (Steatoda paykulliana) – Intermediate
• Cupboard spider (Steatoda grossa) – 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 Noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (20×20×25 cm (tall)), substrate (Little or dry substrate (a thin layer of coco humus, or bare-bottomed); twigs and cork as anchors for the web), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.