Care of a Camel Spider

Camel spiders have a reputation for being very aggressive towards humans, a reputation that has been slightly exaggerated. However, it is true that they can and will bite if provoked, and although not poisonous, they can inflict serious pain. Despite the risks, some people do keep these fascinating creatures as pets. Like most spiders and exotic animals there are certain conditions you have to recreate so that they can survive and live happy lives. They will require a strong structure to keep them safe and prevent them from escaping. Care of a camel spider requires having a detailed understanding of its needs and requirements, otherwise problems can arise.

  1. Living Conditions

    • In the wild, camel spiders are found in countries such as Egypt, Iraq and have even been spotted in certain areas of United States, including the Southwestern deserts. It is important to keep them in an escape-proof enclosure, as they have the ability to bite through mesh and can climb surfaces such as glass with ease. A large plastic tank is the best option, with 10 cm of sand spread on the floor so that their natural living conditions are recreated, allowing them to burrow underground. According to ExoticPets.com, you should keep camel spiders warm during the day, ideally at around 35 C (95 F) and then allow this temperature to drop during the night to 24 to 28 C (75 to 82 F). They need very low humidity levels during the day, but you should lightly mist the enclosure each evening to produce a nighttime humidity of 70 to 90 percent.

    Diet

    • Camel spiders have a healthy appetite and will eat everything you give to them. Therefore, it is important to limit feeding to once every two days. It is best to feed your spider food which it would normally eat in the wild. Feed it a range of insects like crickets, locusts, mealworms and cockroaches. As a rule, try not to feed it anything bigger than the size of its abdomen. Also remember to provide a small shallow water dish to allow it to drink.

    Handling

    • It is not safe to handle camel spiders. They have a reputation for being very aggressive, so it is best not to take the risk. When feeding, drop food into the cage and reseal it to prevent the spider from escaping. Camel spiders can reach speeds of up to 10 mph, so it is best to keep them secure at all times, otherwise catching them may be a problem. Camel spiders do not have venom glands and therefore are not life-threatening to humans, although they can inflict a painful bite with their powerful jaws, so be very careful when replacing water or feeding them.

    Isolation

    • It is best to keep individual camel spiders isolated. In the wild they eat insects, scorpions, lizards and other spiders, so do not be tempted to house them with any other pet, otherwise problems may arise.