Thank you Simon for sharing these fantastic photos! We're thrilled to see your enjoying her Exo Terra Nano Tall. It's always rewarding to see our products in action, especially with such a unique and fascinating pet.
The Red Fang Wandering Spider (Ctenus spp.), commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, is an interesting species with some unique characteristics:
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Appearance: The Red Fang Wandering Spider is named for its distinctive reddish fangs (chelicerae), which contrast with its dark brown or gray body. It has a robust, hairy body with long legs that help it move quickly and catch prey efficiently.
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Habitat: Unlike web-building spiders, Red Fang Wandering Spiders are ground-dwellers. They’re often found on the forest floor, under rocks, logs, or leaf litter. They are most active at night, hunting for prey without building webs.
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Behavior: As a member of the wandering spider family, this spider actively hunts insects and small vertebrates instead of waiting for prey to come to it. They are known for their agility and are particularly skilled at ambushing their prey.
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Venom: While not considered as dangerous as the Brazilian Wandering Spider, some species in the same family possess venom that can cause symptoms in humans, including pain, swelling, and mild systemic effects. However, Red Fang Wandering Spiders are not typically aggressive towards humans and would rather flee than bite.
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Diet: They feed on a variety of insects, including beetles, crickets, and other small arthropods. Their nocturnal hunting style allows them to avoid many daytime predators.
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Reproduction: Female Red Fang Wandering Spiders lay eggs in sacs that they hide in safe, concealed areas. The young spiders, once hatched, are relatively self-sufficient and disperse quickly to avoid competition.
This spider is a fascinating example of ground-dwelling hunters in the arachnid world and plays an important role in controlling insect populations within its habitat.