The Giant House Spider is one of the most legendary and poisonous spiders in Taiwan. It is distributed throughout the island, but visibility is low. It is often found in only a few areas and has few records in the literature. It is extremely aggressive and attacks fiercely at the slightest disturbance. Residual venom can be seen on its fangs after an attack. This species has always been sought after by spider enthusiasts due to its large size, venomous nature, and legendary status. However, the Giant House Spider is not easy to keep as a pet and has a long lifespan, resulting in slow growth rate.
Chinese name: 巨型上户蜘蛛
Latin name: Macrothelegigas
Kingdom: Animalia
Distribution area: China, Japan
The Giant House Spider is not only distributed in Taiwan, but also on islands mainly in Okinawa south of Japan. Its Japanese name is "ジョウゴグモ" (Jougo Gumo). Previously, scholars named it by direct translation. However, in Chinese characters, the Japanese term "ジョウゴ" has two explanations: "上户" (shànghù) and "漏斗" (lòudǒu). The Japanese term "上户" refers to a person who is good at drinking, which has no association with spiders. Therefore, the so-called "巨型上户蜘蛛" (Giant House Spider) has a scientific name of Macrothele holsti, instead of the literal translation.
The Giant House Spider has the largest size among the Macrothele genus, with the maximum leg spread reaching almost 20 cm, according to records. Its dark red fangs, extremely aggressive nature, and relatively large body size compared to other Macrothele species are its main distinguishing features. There is still relatively little information about this species, and some people say that Macrothele holsti is the Giant House Spider, but there is no correct literature to support this claim.
1. Emaciation
When you find that the spider's body becomes dull and the skin starts to dry and turn yellow, it is likely to be suffering from emaciation. This condition is generally caused by the spider not eating well and suffering from malnutrition due to long-term hunger.
2. Intestinal Inflammation
In contrast to emaciation, this condition occurs when the spider eats too much. If the owner keeps feeding the spider continuously or if the food temperature is too low during feeding, it can cause bloating and abdominal pain in the spider, eventually leading to intestinal inflammation.
3. Hemiplegia
Spiders do not require a high environmental temperature, but when the temperature is too high, particularly in the summer when it is hot and humid, and the spider's cage is far from the ventilation, the spider can experience symptoms similar to heatstroke, with legs and feet being paralyzed due to nerve paralysis, resulting in hemiplegia.
4. Constipation
Constipation is mostly caused by not drinking enough water. In addition to food, spiders also need water. If the owner only feeds the spider but does not provide water, the water content in the food cannot supply the spider's body with the necessary moisture.
5. Necrosis
When a spider does not eat or move, its spirit decreases, and black ulcerative lesions appear on the abdomen, indicating necrosis. The reason for this condition is that the water and food are not fresh. If the spider eats food contaminated with bacteria, it can contract necrosis, which can lead to death in severe cases.
6. Mold Stains
Especially in the south, during hot and humid weather in the summer, the spider's body surface is prone to bacterial invasion. The spider's joints become more and more stiff, and the body becomes damp, providing a favorable environment for bacteria to survive and reproduce, leading to the appearance of mold stains on the spider.
7. Parasites
Parasites can be said to be the most disgusting disease for spiders. If it is a small parasite, it may not be too serious, but when those aggressive parasites crawl on the spider's body, it looks very disgusting. Apart from affecting the spider's rest, they may also carry other viruses, causing multiple infections and threatening the spider's life.
Rearing requires extremely high humidity, appropriate cover, and deep soil (substrate). However, due to individual differences, some Giant House Spiders can nest in artificial environments, while most individuals may refuse to feed or even suddenly die due to their inability to adapt to the artificial environment. If the Giant House Spider can nest and live in captivity, then it can be considered a successful rearing.
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