Tube-web spider (Segestria florentina)

Short answers

Tube-web spider: How big does the enclosure need to be?

~20×20×25 cm with vertical structure (bark or rock crevices) for the burrow tube.

Tube-web spider: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C, at night 14–18 °C.

Tube-web spider: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed (nocturnal).

Tube-web spider: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: lives several years, females approx. 3–4 years.

Tube-web spider: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

14–18 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

55–70 %

UVB

No UVB needed (nocturnal)

Enclosure

Minimum size

~20×20×25 cm with vertical structure (bark or rock crevices) for the burrow tube

Substrate

Soil or coco with bark, stones and crevices for a burrow with signal threads

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, beetles, roaches, house crickets)

Feeding interval

adults 1×/week

Key facts

Adult size

females 13–22 mm, males 10–15 mm body length (long legs)

Life expectancy

lives several years, females approx. 3–4 years

Origin

The Mediterranean and Europe (carried overseas)

Protection status

Not protected; the bite is painful (green-shimmering chelicerae), with possible local and mild systemic symptoms, but it is not a medical emergency

Brumation

A cool overwintering (8–14 °C) is advisable for animals of Mediterranean origin

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – a territorial burrow dweller, solitary and cannibalistic. The reason is not fighting but feeding: these animals take anything that fits in the mouth, and a second animal in the enclosure counts.

Notes

It builds a burrow with radiating signal threads; strikingly green-shimmering chelicerae; nocturnal; defensive, and it can bite painfully. The source name ("Florentine") is a German trade name; the technical name is the "great / common fisher-net spider".

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Woodlouse spider (Dysdera crocata) – Intermediate
• Huntsman spider (Heteropoda venatoria) – Beginner
• Brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) – Expert
• David Bowie huntsman spider (Heteropoda davidbowie) – Intermediate
• Raft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) – Expert
• Segmented spider (Liphistius sp.) – Expert
• Great raft spider (Dolomedes plantarius) – Expert
• Domestic house spider (Tegenaria domestica) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Tube-web spider (Segestria florentina) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (~20×20×25 cm with vertical structure (bark or rock crevices) for the burrow tube), substrate (Soil or coco with bark, stones and crevices for a burrow with signal threads), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.