Cupboard Spider

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Cosmopolitan species, native to Eurasia. Inhabits dark corners inside buildings (basements, closets) and outdoors under stones and woodpiles.

Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Theridiidae, genus Steatoda. Commonly called the Cupboard Spider or False Black Widow due to its likeness to the true black widow.

Behavior and Habits: Spins a messy, tangled three-dimensional cobweb. Remains hidden in a retreat during the day and waits for prey to trigger web threads at night.

Morphology: Shiny dark purple-brown to black abdomen, often with crescent-shaped pale markings. Females up to 10 mm; males are much smaller and slender.

Terrarium Setup: A vertically oriented enclosure (minimum 20x20x25 cm) containing small twigs or plastic decor in the upper corners to serve as web anchors. Dry 2 cm substrate.

Lighting and Heating: Thrives at standard room temperature (18-24 °C). Protect from direct sunlight and avoid heat sources above 26 °C, which can kill the spider.

Humidity and Hydration: Low humidity (40-60%) is preferred. Do not mist the substrate. Lightly spray a few droplets on the web edge once every two weeks for drinking.

Feeding and Supplementation: Feed live crickets, flies, or mealworms once a week. Toss the prey directly into the web structure. Remove prey carcasses.

Compatibility: Strictly solitary. Cannibalistic behavior is common; females will attack and devour any other spider in their territory.

Health and Common Diseases: Extremely hardy. Venom is low but can cause local localized pain and mild discomfort if bitten. Handle only with tweezers or cups.