Defining Characteristics:

• This spider is a dwarf species, growing to a leg span of 1.5 inches
• They are known for their cute faces, tiny eyes and bright coloration of the adult male
• This semi-arboreal species is not adept at climbing smooth surfaces
• Eresus sp. 'Illustris' used to be considered a subspecies of Eresus cinnaberinus

Name: Eresus sp. 'Illustris' is commonly known as the Yellowhead Velvet Spider.

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: Eresus sp. 'Illustris' a semi arboreal species. The surface area of the enclosure should be no less than two times the spider's diagonal leg span in one direction and three times the diagonal leg span in the other. We recommend against allowing your terrestrial spider more than two times their diagonal leg span as head space above their substrate, as a fall from any higher could result in serious injury.

The enclosure should be tall enough to accommodate 1 inch of substrate for slings and 2+ inches for adults. ABG mix, coco cradle, and Dig-It are all good substrate options for this species, but our Pet Bug Team prefers ABG all the way!

They will benefit from a variety of terrarium furniture (cork bark, manzanita wood, etc.) as well foliage (live or artificial) to climb on and to hide behind. Live plants can be beneficial to air quality. 

Temperature (°F): This species thrives in the mid 70s to mid 80s, so a temperature of 75 degrees is ideal. Temperatures regularly dipping below 65 or spiking above 90° should be avoided. A reliable thermometer is highly recommended.

Humidity: These spiders thrive in an arid environment, so the recommended ambient humidity should stay between 30% and 50%. This can be achieved by making sure the substrate is always mostly dry.

The enclosure sides and décor should be spritzed lightly around 2 times a week to provide your spiderling droplets to drink from, but do not spray your spider directly. A hygrometer is a great way to monitor the humidity for your animal and see any needed adjustments. 

Size: At the time of sale, this animal will be 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Females can grow to be up to be 1.5 inches, and typically the males are a bit smaller. We use diagonal leg span to measure our spiders.

Age: Before making this species available to our customers, we ensure that they are well-established. This means our spiders are generally molted to a minimum of third instar and will have hatched two to three months prior to being listed for sale.

For spiders that we have not produced in house, we like to get two to three solid feedings in as well as the aforementioned minimums. They go through a 2 week minimum quarantine process to ensure the health of the animal.

For this species, the average lifespan is 2-3 years in males, and 4-5 years in females when provided an adequate environment and diet.

These individuals will be 6-10 months of age.

Feeding: At the time of sale, this animal is eating 1/2 inch crickets cut in half, once a week. Remove uneaten prey items after 24 hours as these will begin to decompose and attract phorid flies.

Never attempt to feed a freshly molted spider less than a week after their molt to prevent injury to the spider. Depending on the spider's age, the hardening process could take 48 hours to 1 week.

Sexing: Due to their age, Eresus sp. 'Illustris' sold by Josh’s Frogs are unsexed. 

Color/Pattern: As spiderlings, Eresus sp. 'Illustris' are a fairly uniform dark gray. As they start to mature, females of this bloodline develop a yellow suffusion over the gray on their cephalothorax. The males develop a bright red patch with black spots on their abdomens, similar to a ladybug pattern.

Social Behavior: Eresus sp. 'Illustris' are not a sociable animal and should be housed as individuals. Attempts at cohabitation will likely result in cannibalism.

Natural Range: Eresus sp. 'Illustris' are native to the Eastern Mediterranean.