Red widow (Latrodectus bishopi)
Invertebrates · Difficulty: Expert
Key facts and care guidance for Red widow (Latrodectus bishopi) (origin: Central Florida – sandhill scrub). Adult size around females 1–1.2 cm. Life expectancy 2–3 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Red widow: How big does the enclosure need to be?
20×20×30 cm, absolutely escape-proof.
Red widow: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 24–30 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 20–23 °C.
Red widow: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Not required.
Red widow: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 2–3 years.
Red widow: Is it suitable for beginners?
No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 24–30 °C
- Night temperature
- 20–23 °C
- Basking spot
- No basking spot
- Humidity
- 55–70 %
- UVB
- Not required
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- 20×20×30 cm, absolutely escape-proof
- Substrate
- Dry substrate, palm-frond structure as an anchor for the web
Feeding
- Food
- Flies, house crickets
- Feeding interval
- every 7–10 days
Key facts
- Adult size
- females 1–1.2 cm
- Life expectancy
- 2–3 years
- Origin
- Central Florida – sandhill scrub
- Protection status
- A DANGEROUS ANIMAL – a medically significant neurotoxin; keeping it requires a permit or notification, varying by German state. Found only in Florida, not legally protected there but rated vulnerable (its habitat is shrinking)
- Brumation
- None
- Cohabitation
- Keep them singly. Widows are solitary, opportunistic cannibals: a conspecific is eaten when food is scarce, and spiderlings eat their siblings soon after hatching. When animals are put together it is impossible to predict which one survives. For breeding, put the male in only briefly and under observation and separate them again afterwards.
Notes
Red-and-black rather than plain black, living in palmetto scrub. A very small natural range and protected in Florida – correspondingly rare in Europe. Only with a secure container concept.
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Related species
- Brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus) – Expert
- Mediterranean black widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) – Expert
- Northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus) – Expert
- Redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) – Expert
- Southern black widow (Latrodectus mactans) – Expert
- Pale widow (Latrodectus pallidus) – Expert
- Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) – Expert
- Noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) – Intermediate
What you need to start
To keep Red widow (Latrodectus bishopi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (20×20×30 cm, absolutely escape-proof), substrate (Dry substrate, palm-frond structure as an anchor for the web), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 8 November 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus_bishopi, https://www.fnai.org/PDFs/FieldGuides/Latrodectus_bishopi.pdf, Florida Natural Areas Inventory: Field Guide Red Widow Spider, Jan. 2023 (FNAI G3/S3, U.S. Status none, FL Status none, endemisch im Scrub der Halbinsel Florida) – https://www.fnai.org/PDFs/FieldGuides/Latrodectus_bishopi.pdf, Wikipedia (en): Latrodectus bishopi (NatureServe: verletzlich, kein Florida-Schutzgesetz genannt) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latrodectus_bishopi
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).