True Spiders: Gandanameno

There are 5 recognised species of the Velvet Spiders - Gandanameno (Eresidae) from Eastern and Southern Africa. They are very easy to keep. They require no moisture at all. I keep mine on a thin layer of dry substrate, with a layer of dry moss + some cork bark - they will build their nest under the moss, or in/ under the wood. They will eat prey much larger than themselves, by dragging it into their nest. Fly maggots, Calci worms and Wax worms are good for growth. I feed them 2-4 times a week. The young do not require a heat mat, as long as they are in a warm room. I keep the mother (around 2.5" in size) just on the edge of a heat mat. She will take large locusts. They will dump the spent prey outside of their nest, which I carefully remove, but, be prepared for a tug of war with these feisty little spiders. The females can live upto 5 years, males 1-2 years. They are full of character and are one of my favourite spiders to keep.
when young hatch from the eggsac, keep them together in a large group, keep at 20 to 26 degrees and very dry, never spray them, feed on fruit flies, maggots and small crickets
usually about 30 in an eggsac