{"product_id":"damastes-sp-madagascar","title":"Damastes sp. 'Madagascar' (Bandit Huntsman Spider) 0.5\"","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDamastes sp. 'Madagascar' (Bandit Huntsman Spider)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bandit Huntsman Spider, or Damastes sp. 'Madagascar', is a true spider, not a tarantula, newly arrived in the US hobby from Madagascar. Adults have a black base, with solid black legs and bold white banding across the carapace (head) and abdomen, the high contrast pattern that gives this species its bandit name. Spiderlings do not start out showing that banding, and it comes in around 2 inches, while the species only grows to about 5 to 6 inches in leg span, making it one of the larger huntsman spiders in the hobby. This species is also unusually long lived for a huntsman, with both males and females living about 5 years. This is a fast, alert species and not one for a first time keeper, though it is also one of the hardier huntsman spiders to keep once you are used to working with something this quick. Grab this true spider for sale today, offered here as a spiderling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy do hobbyists keep the Bandit Huntsman Spider?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlack And White Banding:\u003c\/strong\u003e The solid black legs set off bold white banding across the carapace and abdomen, a striking contrast that gives this species its bandit name.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLarge Huntsman Species:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adults reach about 5 to 6 inches in leg span, among the larger huntsman spiders available in the hobby and an impressive animal to have in a collection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFast Grower:\u003c\/strong\u003e This species grows quickly, so you get to watch it reach full size and its full black and white pattern sooner than many other invertebrates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLong Lived:\u003c\/strong\u003e Most huntsman spiders burn through a short male lifespan, but this species keeps both males and females around for about 5 years, a genuinely long run for the group.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSurprisingly Hardy:\u003c\/strong\u003e Huntsmans have a reputation for being delicate, but this is one of the hardier species in the group, more forgiving of small care mistakes while you get used to keeping it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRare in the Hobby:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a brand new species to the US hobby, imported for the first time, so it is a real first for any Madagascar or huntsman collection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow should Damastes sp. 'Madagascar' be kept?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e This spider hatches out around 0.5 inch in leg span, which is the size offered here, and grows to about 5 to 6 inches in leg span as an adult, so there is a lot of growth ahead.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEnclosure:\u003c\/strong\u003e Start a sling this size in a small, well ventilated enclosure, at least a 32oz deli cup, roughly 4 by 4 by 6 inches. Consider sizing up one notch to a 5 by 7 inch footprint enclosure as soon as it is comfortably outgrowing the starter cup, since huntsmans do best with more room than a tarantula of the same leg span would need.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSetup Tips:\u003c\/strong\u003e This species loves tight bark crevices and cracks far more than open floor space, so cork bark, cork rounds, or crevice style hides should make up most of the enclosure's furnishings from day one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRehousing:\u003c\/strong\u003e With a fast growth rate, expect to size up more than once on the way to a 5 to 6 inch adult leg span. A 5 by 7 inch footprint enclosure will carry it well into the juvenile stage before a final upsize is needed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep this species between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e A light misting about once a week is enough for this species. Good ventilation matters more than humidity here, so don't let the enclosure stay too wet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provide a shallow water dish as a backup, even though this species will likely not drink from a standing dish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e At this size, offer prey around 1\/8 inch, such as flightless fruit flies or pinhead crickets, at least once a week.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a fast, alert hunter and not a beginner species, though it is one of the hardier huntsman spiders to keep once you are used to working with something this quick.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAre there any additional notes or considerations for the Bandit Huntsman Spider?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCaptive Bred:\u003c\/strong\u003e We are proud to offer even captive bred true spiders along with our tarantulas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNew To The US Hobby:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a new species to the United States, imported for the first time, so very little English language care information exists on it yet. We will keep updating our own notes as we learn more about it ourselves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently asked questions about the Bandit Huntsman Spider\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIs the Bandit Huntsman Spider a tarantula?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. It is a true spider in the huntsman family, a completely different group from tarantulas. Huntsman spiders are fast, active hunters that chase down prey rather than sitting and waiting for it the way most tarantulas do, which is part of what makes them such fun animals to watch.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWill the white banding show up right away?\u003c\/strong\u003e Not at this size. The banding comes in around 2 inches and keeps intensifying from there, so a 0.5 inch spiderling is still a plain black animal for now, with the full bandit pattern still ahead of it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eListing Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis listing is for a Damastes sp. 'Madagascar' Bandit Huntsman Spider spiderling measuring around 0.5 inch in leg span, which is the size given in the title, unsexed, with roughly a 50\/50 chance of male or female. It is not showing the black and white banding yet, and that is the point: the pattern starts coming in around 2 inches, so you get to watch it come in and intensify from here.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Exotics Unlimited","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67717101060415,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0701\/5828\/7167\/files\/Damastes.jpg?v=1792096363","url":"https:\/\/exoticsunlimitedusa.com\/products\/damastes-sp-madagascar","provider":"Exotics Unlimited","version":"1.0","type":"link"}