Jingzhao's Yarn Spider

Jingzhao's Yarn Spider (Chilobrachys jingzhao) is a type of primitive spider that lives in underground burrows. It belongs to the family Filistatidae, subfamily Selenocosmiinae, and genus Chilobrachys. It is a newly discovered spider species in China in recent years.

Chinese Name: Jingzhao's Yarn Spider

Latin Name: Chilobrachys jingzhao

Place of Origin: China

Habitat Type: Tropical Rainforest

This species of bird-eating spider from Guangxi, China was discovered in 2000. However, overall, most species of the Chilobrachys genus have small bodies, dull colors, strong aggression, and relatively large venom, making them unsuitable as pets, except for the Indian tiger spider.

In recent years, domestic scientists have been studying the venom of this species for pharmaceutical purposes. It is possible that there are large-scale breeding facilities in Guangxi extracting toxins from these spiders. It is also speculated that the larger individuals of Chilobrachys spiders found in the mainland market are the discarded individuals from these breeding facilities (individuals that have had their venom extracted or are older), and they cannot survive for a long time in captivity. (The same situation may also occur with "wild" Hainan bird-eating spiders or tiger-patterned bird-eating spiders.)

Jingzhao's Yarn Spider is recommended for spider enthusiasts to keep as a pet. It is a negatively phototactic species that is active at night and hides during the day. It preys on orthopteran insects and cockroaches. It lays and hatches eggs from December to January, with each egg sac containing 80 to 100 eggs.

1. Wasting disease

When you find that the spider's body becomes dull and the skin starts to dry and turn yellow, it is likely that wasting disease has occurred. This condition is generally caused by poor feeding and long-term starvation leading to malnutrition.

2. Enteritis

In contrast to wasting disease, this is caused by overfeeding. The owner constantly feeds the spider or feeds it with food at a low temperature, which can cause bloating and abdominal pain. Over time, this can develop into enteritis.

3. Hemiplegia

Spiders do not require a high environmental temperature, but when the temperature is too high, especially in summer, with high heat and humidity, if the spider's cage is too far away from the ventilation, the spider will be in a state close to heat stroke, with its legs paralyzed and unable to move, resulting in hemiplegia.

4. Constipation

Constipation is mostly caused by lack of water. In addition to food, spiders also need to consume water. If the owner only feeds the spider without providing water, the moisture in the food cannot provide the spider with the necessary water for its body.

5. Black rot disease

No appetite, lethargy, and the appearance of black ulcerative lesions on the abdomen are manifestations of black rot disease in spiders. The cause of this condition is consuming stale and contaminated food. If the spider eats food contaminated with bacteria, it can be infected with black rot disease, which can be severe enough to cause death.

6. Mold disease

Especially in the southern regions, during summer, when the weather is hot and humid, the spider's body surface is susceptible to bacterial invasion. The spider's joints become increasingly stiff, and its body becomes increasingly damp, providing an ideal environment for bacteria to survive and reproduce, leading to the appearance of mold on the spider's body.

7. Parasites

Parasites can be considered the most disgusting disease for spiders. If it is a small insect, it may be manageable, but the kind of rampant parasite that crawls on the spider's body is disgustingly repulsive. Besides affecting the spider's rest, it may also carry other viruses, causing multiple infections and posing a threat to the spider's life.

1

, Temperature

The temperature should be controlled between

25~30

, and the temperature difference between day and night should not be too large. Pay attention to cooling and heatstroke prevention in summer, and heating and keeping warm in winter to ensure the healthy living of the

spiders.

2

, Humidity

The humidity should be maintained at about

65

. Low humidity can easily cause the dehydration and emaciation of the spiderlings, leading to death.

If the humidity is too high, the spiderlings are prone to swelling and death due to water retention.

3

, Ventilation

Good ventilation environment can make the spiderlings strong and reduce diseases, facilitating safe molting. Air pollution, humidity, and stuffiness are the main causes of death in the

spiders.

4

, Food

The feeding of spiders mainly involves small animals, such as yellow mealworms, small earthworms, etc. Animal blood can also be fed (note that no salt should be added to the blood). If conditions permit, artificial feed can also be used. The formula can be:

50% egg yolk

, 20% honey

, 20% milk

, 4% vitamin supplement

, and 3% lactose. After mixing, feed it in a dish or on a sponge.

5

, Light

Firstly, there should be adequate light. If conditions permit, take them outside to see the light.

(The spiders do not like light, so they should have a place to avoid the sun when exposed to light, ensuring their safety.)

Normally, windows should be opened frequently, but avoid direct sunlight.