The Southern Black Widow Spider is probably the most feared of all spiders in the world. It is unfortunate that they have such a fierce reputation; most will try to escape humans rather than biting. They are truly interesting arachnids, perhaps best known for their distinctive red hourglass shape displayed on the abdomen.
Southern Black Widows, also known as "Hourglass Spiders" and "Shoe-Button Spiders", are docile, but also a bit hyperactive. Most will attempt to escape rather than bite, however, females that are guarding their egg sacs may try to bite. Though their venom is extremely toxic, they will not bite as their first means of defense. Typically, only the females are dangerous, since the males don't guard the egg sacs they will generally not bite. The Southern Black Widow Spider should be treated with care because of their powerful venom. Most adults who are not allergic to the venom will usually only experience discomfort, but for small children and those with allergies, the venom can be very toxic. They are not recommended for first time owners and should only be kept by responsible and experienced hobbyists. The Southern Black Widow is a web builder; their webs are most commonly seen close to the ground.
At maturity, Black Widows will measure one to two inches in length. Females live up to three years, while males are lucky to see their first birthday.
The Southern Black Widow Spider is most commonly found in parts of the Central East Coast and Southeastern United States. Southern Black Widows have also been spotted in the West Indies.
The Southern Black Widow Spider should be treated with care because of their powerful venom. Most adults who are not allergic to the venom will usually only experience discomfort, but for small children and those with allergies, the venom can be very toxic. They are not recommended for first time owners and should only be kept by responsible and experienced owners.
They are fragile spiders, and it is important that they be housed in a place where their tank is not dropped or shaken. The Southern Black Widow should be housed in a two and a half gallon tank, the height of the tank is much more important than floor space. It is important to make sure that the tank is escape-proof. One inch of peat moss, sand, or potting soil should be used as substrate. Arrange vines, non-poisonous plants, branches etc so they have somewhere to hide as well as a place to attach their webs. Keep the temperature in between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity between 55 and 70%. Adults should be fed a cricket or other large insect or two every three days. Care for babies (which take 20 days to incubate), is a little different. They can live in a clear plastic container with a small hole in the middle of the lid. Make sure to stuff this hole with a small piece of cotton so they can breathe, but not escape! Also, you might want to try using a screen to prevent spiderlings from escaping. In captivity, babies will eat pinhead crickets and fruit flies, as long as they can't fly. Baby Southern Black Widow Spiders mature very quickly.
One important thing to note is that if you have female Black Widows, who have egg sacks, you may wish to remove them from the enclosure before they hatch. The spiderlings are very, very small and will most likely escape from the enclosure into your home. If you want to save an egg sac for a scientific project you might want to freeze it into a dormant state.
