Heterothele gabonensis
2 active listings · Spiders
- Category
- Spiders
- Origin
- Gabon and Equatorial Guinea
- Lifestyle
- Naziemny (siatkuje)
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Venom potency
- Strong
About the species
Heterothele gabonensis is a small African tarantula from the forests of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, described in 1858. It is one of the smallest Old World tarantulas in the hobby: adult females usually reach a leg span of about 6–7 cm. It is known for the dense web it spins throughout the enclosure and for fast growth. It has no urticating hairs, moves very fast and defends itself by biting, and like other African tarantulas its venom is stronger than that of typical American species. It suits keepers who want a small Old World tarantula and already have experience with fast species.
Care at a glance
Size
Females usually about 6–7 cm leg span
Enclosure type
Small, terrestrial, with anchor points for webbing
Substrate
5–8 cm, lower layer slightly moist
Furnishings
Cork, twigs, dry plants, water dish
Conditions
23–27°C, moderate to higher humidity, ventilation
Characteristics
Heavy webber, very fast, potent venom
Current listings
Origin and distribution
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea
It occurs naturally in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Appearance and size
Heterothele gabonensis has a brown to grey-brown body with a darker abdominal pattern. The colouring is subdued, and the spider stands out for its behaviour and webbing rather than its colour.
Adult females usually reach a leg span of about 6–7 cm. Males are smaller and shorter-lived. According to available data, females can live up to about 7 years and males about 2 years.
Origin
Lucas described the species in 1858. The World Spider Catalog gives the range as Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. It lives in humid tropical forest, where it builds dense silk retreats at ground level, among roots and in leaf litter.
The genus Heterothele includes several African species; others are known from Cameroon among other places. Know the origin of the line when buying.
Enclosure and substrate
An adult female needs a container with a floor of about 20 × 20 cm. Use 5–8 cm of substrate and add cork, twigs or dry plants as web anchors. The spider will soon cover most of the enclosure in silk, including the water dish.
The container must be escape-proof with fine ventilation holes, ideally opening without disturbing the main retreat.
Temperature and humidity
The species comes from humid forest, so keep the lower substrate slightly moist and the temperature at 23–27°C. Water along the edge once or twice a week.
The web helps the spider retain moisture, but the enclosure still needs airflow. Prey remains caught in the web quickly go mouldy in high humidity.
Feeding and growth
The spider grabs prey when it touches the web. Juveniles eat small crickets or roaches every 3–5 days, adults once a week. Remove leftovers woven into the web with long tongs.
The species grows fast and matures early, and males live only a short time after maturing. Keep this in mind when planning breeding.
Behaviour and safety
Heterothele gabonensis is very fast. When disturbed it usually hides in its web, but it can also dart out or bite. It has no urticating hairs, and a bite from an African tarantula can cause strong pain and systemic symptoms even when the spider is small.
Work with long tongs, with the room door closed and a catch cup ready. This species is not suitable for handling.
Good to know
Heterothele gabonensis has no urticating hairs, but it is very fast, and its bite can cause strong pain and systemic symptoms. Contact a doctor in case of a strong reaction; this page is not medical advice. The species is not listed in the CITES appendices; obligations may depend on the country and the transaction, and this information is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Heterothele gabonensis?
Adult females usually reach a leg span of about 6–7 cm. It is one of the smallest African tarantulas in the hobby.
Is Heterothele gabonensis suitable for beginners?
Not really. It is very fast and has stronger venom than typical American tarantulas. It suits keepers experienced with fast species.
What enclosure does Heterothele gabonensis need?
A small, escape-proof container, about 20 × 20 cm for an adult female, with 5–8 cm of slightly moist substrate and web anchors.
Where does Heterothele gabonensis come from?
From the humid forests of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Does it have urticating hairs?
No. Like other Old World tarantulas it defends itself with speed and biting.
Similar species
Written by the Terra Market team ·