Eresus sp "balcanicus" (Orange Face Velvet Spider) around 0.5" Juvenile & Habitat

Eresus sp. 'balcanicus' (Orange Face Velvet Spider)

The Orange Face Velvet Spider, or Eresus sp. 'balcanicus', is a terrestrial true spider from Greece and Turkey, often found in dry, rocky Mediterranean habitat among bushes and grass. Adult females carry a black body with a warm orange face, while mature males show a more contrasting black and red pattern and stay noticeably smaller than females. Spiderlings hatch out solid black, and females begin showing their adult coloration around 1 inch, about half of their 1.5 to 2 inch full size, while males stay black until they mature at their own full size of about 0.75 inch. Females live around 8 years while males live only 2 to 3. This calm, low-maintenance true spider gets everything it needs from its food and asks for almost nothing beyond feeding, making it one of the easiest invertebrates in the whole hobby to keep. Grab this true spider for sale today, not a tarantula, offered here as a juvenile.

Why do hobbyists keep the Orange Face Velvet Spider?

• Orange Face Coloration: Adult females carry a black body set off by a warm orange face, while mature males show a more contrasting black and red pattern and stay noticeably smaller than females.
• Low Maintenance Care: This is one of the easiest invertebrates to keep in the hobby. It doesn't need any added moisture at any life stage, since it gets everything it needs from its food.
• Large Adult Size: Most true spiders with this kind of build stay smaller, but this species reaches a good size for the category, about 1.5 to 2 inches for females, with males staying noticeably smaller, adding to the contrast between the sexes.
• Long-Lived True Spider: Females live around 8 years, an unusually long run for a spider this size.
• Alternative to Jumping Spiders: This true spider gets larger, is easier to care for, and lives far longer than a jumping spider, making it a natural next step for anyone who started with jumpers and wants more spider for the same easy care.

How should Eresus sp. 'balcanicus' be kept?

• Adult Size: Hatchlings start out tiny, at around 0.125 to 0.25 inch, and this species only grows to about 1.5 to 2 inches in diagonal leg span for females, with males topping out smaller at about 0.75 inch. Every size we carry is on the way to that full range.
• Enclosure: A 2 by 2 by 3 inch enclosure works well at this size, with about 0.75 inch of substrate. Add a few sticks or twigs for the animal to anchor its web to, since this species builds its silk tube retreat off of climbing material like this rather than just flat substrate, and it is sized ahead of the animal so it has room to grow into before the next rehouse. Consider sizing up one notch for extra room if you would rather rehouse less often.
• Rehousing: From here, plan on one more rehouse into the next size up as this species grows. Growth runs medium to slow for this family, so expect roughly a year or more between rehouses rather than a fast turnover.
• Temperature: Keep this species around 75 degrees Fahrenheit for its optimal range. Room temperature works fine too, since this species tolerates a wide range without trouble, and no extra heating is usually needed to keep it comfortable.
• Humidity: The substrate can stay mostly dry. A light misting or a small water dish is fine at this size if the animal is being fed well, though neither is required.
• Water: A small, shallow water dish is optional at this size, or a light misting instead. Either way, anything damp in the enclosure should dry out fully within about 24 hours rather than staying wet.
• Diet: Offer prey around 1/8 inch, roughly a quarter of this animal's current leg span, at least once a week.
• Temperament: This species is calm by nature and one of the easiest true spiders to keep in the whole hobby, a good match for a keeper who wants an easier keeping experience.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for Eresus sp. 'balcanicus'?

• Silk Tube Retreat: Like the rest of this family, this species builds a self-spun silk tube retreat, lined with webbing and camouflaged with substrate and plant material, and comes out on short hunting trips from the entrance.
• Included Habitat Vial: This species ships in a small, roughly 5 gram vial, the same housing we use for animals at this size in our own facility. It's not a complete habitat kit, just a small, effective setup that means no watering is needed while it's in there, so see Enclosure above for what to grow it into from here.
• Dwarf Species: This is a dwarf species by true spider standards, and being small is a real part of the appeal here, not a downside. It gives up nothing for its size, and a small, easy-to-house true spider is exactly what a lot of keepers are looking for.
• Temperament: Calm by nature. Like any true spider it can be unpredictable.
• We are proud to offer even captive bred true spiders along with our tarantulas.

Frequently asked questions about the Orange Face Velvet Spider

• Do velvet spiders drink water? Yes, velvet spiders can and will drink water, which is a common misconception because we tell keepers that small ones do not need it. The catch is how it is offered. We recommend not misting the small ones, because it is very easy to overwater them, and dampness that lingers works against a small velvet spider. A dry, well-ventilated setup is the success formula.
• Why do baby velvet spiders not need water? Babies get the moisture they need from their prey, and a small enclosure is very easy to overmist. If it does not dry out quickly, that dampness works against the animal, so with the small ones we skip the mister and let their food do the work.
• How should small velvet spiders be housed? Small velvet spiders do best in smaller containers with a little ventilation, which makes it easy to check that everything dries out. As they grow and get a little larger, move them into a larger cage with more ventilation. We do not recommend putting them in a large cage until they have some size.
• Can I mist a larger velvet spider? Yes. Once a velvet spider has some size and is in a larger cage with good ventilation, you can mist it weekly. Do not let the enclosure dry out completely, and keep the airflow up so it never stays soggy. We do not recommend misting small vials.
• Can I handle my velvet spider? Velvet spiders prefer to be left in their webs, so we recommend letting them stay there. They can be picked up, but as with any animal, there is a risk of being bitten when handling them.

Listing Notes

• This listing is for an Eresus sp. 'balcanicus' Orange Face Velvet Spider juvenile measuring around 0.5 inch in diagonal leg span, which is the size given in the title, unsexed, with roughly a 50/50 chance of male or female. This one is just crossing into juvenile size, past its more delicate spiderling stage, but still solid black either way: males don't start showing their contrasting coloration until they mature around 0.75 inch, and females don't begin their own coloration until around 1 inch.
• Looking for other sizes? This species is also available as a spiderling or juvenile.