Not furry either, still lovely.
Six-eyed Sand Spider
Sicarius thomisoides
Also called Six-eyed Crab Spider, Sand Spider
From Deserts and arid regions of South America, particularly Chile and Brazil12
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Body length; legspan up to about 5 cm
Looks how to spot one
Exoskeleton
A robust, flattened body with a leathery cuticle covered in curved setae that trap sand grains for camouflage. The legs are held sideways like a crab, and the spider has six eyes arranged in three pairs.31
Personality what they are like
Extremely shy and non-aggressive; prefers to rely on camouflage rather than confrontation. However, it is incredibly fast when startled and its venom is medically significant, so it must never be handled.45
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Nocturnal and fossorial; spends most of the day buried in sand. Needs a deep sand substrate to burrow and a secure, escape-proof enclosure. Not an active pet that requires exercise.24
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Very low maintenance. No misting or special humidity control needed; keep enclosure dry. Clean out uneaten prey to prevent mould. Use long tongs for any maintenance inside the enclosure and never open the lid without a secure barrier.4
Home where they are happiest
A 5-10 gallon tank with a secure, escape-proof lid (magnetic or locking latches). Fine dry sand 2-3 inches deep for burrowing. A small piece of cork bark for optional cover. Keep at room temperature (70-80°F) with low humidity (30-40%). No additional heating required. This spider is venomous and banned in some regions; always check local laws before acquiring one.45
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Live insects such as crickets, roaches and mealworms. Feed once every 2-4 weeks; the spider can survive months without food. Drop prey near the burrow and let the spider ambush it.46
Company who they like around
Strictly solitary; never house with another spider as they will cannibalise each other. This is a display-only pet that should never be handled due to its potent venom, which contains hemolytic and necrotic toxins that can cause severe tissue damage and internal bleeding. Banned in some countries; always verify legality before keeping.42
The story where it all began
The genus Sicarius was first described by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1847. These spiders are considered living fossils, with a lineage dating back over 100 million years to before the breakup of Gondwanaland. In the pet trade, Sicarius thomisoides is the species most commonly encountered, though it remains rare and is mostly wild-caught. Captive breeding is uncommon, and the spider is prized by experienced keepers for its unique hunting behaviour and extreme hardiness.134
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Six-eyed Sand Spider. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Humidity checkevery 2 days
- Water dishevery 2 days
- FeedingDepends on species, size and moult stagevaries
- Spot cleanRemove leftover foodevery week
- Moult noteLeave them in peace while moulting and note it in the diaryvaries
- Substrate changeevery 6 months
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Six-eyed Sand Spider?
Feed your spider once every 2 to 4 weeks, as it can survive months without food. Adjust the schedule based on its size and moult stage. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests monitoring feeding needs individually.46 Furry Diary plan
What does a Six-eyed Sand Spider eat, and what should it never eat?
It eats live insects like crickets, roaches, and mealworms. Never feed it dead prey or items that are not live insects, as it prefers to ambush moving food.46
How much space does a Six-eyed Sand Spider need?
A 5 to 10 gallon tank with a secure, escape-proof lid is ideal. Provide 2 to 3 inches of fine dry sand for burrowing, and a small piece of cork bark for cover.45
What temperature, light or water does a Six-eyed Sand Spider need?
Keep the enclosure at room temperature between 70 and 80°F with low humidity around 30 to 40%. No special lighting is needed, but provide a shallow water dish. Furry Diary's starting plan includes checking humidity and refreshing water every two days.45 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Six-eyed Sand Spider's home?
Spot clean weekly by removing uneaten prey to prevent mould. Change the substrate every 6 months. Always use long tongs for safety when cleaning.4 Furry Diary plan
Can a Six-eyed Sand Spider live with others?
No, this spider is strictly solitary and will cannibalise any other spider housed with it. It must live alone in its enclosure.42
How long does a Six-eyed Sand Spider live?
This fascinating spider can live 10 to 15 years with proper care. Its long lifespan makes it a long-term commitment for experienced keepers.43
Can I handle a Six-eyed Sand Spider?
Never handle this spider. It is venomous, extremely fast when startled, and its bite can cause severe tissue damage. It is a display-only pet that must be admired from a safe distance.452
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- en.wikipedia.org: Sicarius (spider) en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, coat or body, history, fun fact
- atlarium.bio: sicarius thomisoides atlarium.bioused for origin, colours, activity needs, social needs, fun fact
- biodiversityexplorer.info: sicarius biodiversityexplorer.infoused for length cm, lifespan years, coat or body, colours, history, fun fact
- petcritique.com: six eyed sand spider care guide venomous low maintenance pet for exper petcritique.comused for lifespan years, best traits, temperament, activity needs, grooming or care, habitat needs, diet basics, social needs, history, fun fact
- arachnoboards.com: six eyed sand spiders.335428 arachnoboards.comused for temperament, habitat needs
- spiderzoon.com: what do six eyed sand spiders eat spiderzoon.comused for diet basics
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-10-01. Text is written in our own words from these sources.