Not furry either, still lovely.
Social Huntsman Spider
Delena cancerides
Also called Flat Huntsman Spider, Communal Huntsman, Avondale spider
From Native to Australia, introduced to New Zealand.1
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Body length: males 2.0-2.5 cm, females 2.5-4.0 cm. Leg span can exceed 15 cm.
Looks how to spot one
Exoskeleton
The body is very flat and broad, with a reddish-brown head and a grey-brown abdomen. The legs are long and hairy, with dark tips, and the front pair is noticeably longer than the back. The whole spider is covered in fine, dense hairs.234
Personality what they are like
Social Huntsman Spiders are timid towards humans and rarely bite. They are highly social with their own colony, living in family groups led by a dominant female, but they are aggressive and cannibalistic toward spiders from other colonies.315
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Nocturnal and sedentary during the day. They do not build webs for catching prey, so they need space to hunt and a secure retreat to hide in.56
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Very low maintenance. The enclosure stays clean because they add little silk. Provide a retreat such as a sheet of clear acrylic or a piece of cork bark leaned against the glass to create a narrow gap.6
Home where they are happiest
A terrarium with a secure lid. They need a tight, flat retreat (e.g., under bark or a sheet of acrylic) to feel safe. Room temperature is fine; keep the enclosure dry with a water dish. They are not found in homes in the wild, but can be kept in captivity.65
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Carnivorous. Feed on insects and other invertebrates such as crickets, cockroaches and mealworms. They are ambush predators and do not need live prey to be moving constantly.247
Company who they like around
This species is social and lives in family groups. In captivity, a colony can be kept together, but individuals from different colonies will fight and cannibalise each other. They are not venomous to humans; a bite causes only minor, short-lived pain.314
The story where it all began
The Social Huntsman Spider was first described by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1837. It gained fame from its use in the films 'Napoleon' and 'Arachnophobia', where it was wrongly portrayed as deadly. In reality, it is harmless to humans. It is unusual among spiders for its social behaviour, living in large family groups under loose bark. It has been introduced to New Zealand, where it is called the Avondale spider.15
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Social Huntsman 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 Social Huntsman Spider?
Feeding frequency depends on your spider's size, age and moult stage. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests adjusting based on these factors, so consult a vet or experienced keeper for a schedule tailored to your spider. Furry Diary plan
What does a Social Huntsman Spider eat, and what should it never eat?
They are carnivorous and eat insects like crickets, cockroaches and mealworms. No specific foods are listed as harmful, but always offer appropriately sized, captive-bred prey. Ask a vet about any potential dangers.247
How much space does a Social Huntsman Spider need?
Provide a terrarium with a secure lid and room to hunt. Furry Diary's starting plan doesn’t specify exact dimensions, but a larger enclosure allows more natural behaviour. Consult a breeder for size recommendations based on your colony size.56
What temperature, light or water does a Social Huntsman Spider need?
Room temperature is suitable; no special heat or light needed. Provide a shallow water dish (Furry Diary suggests replenishing every 2 days) and keep the enclosure dry. Avoid high humidity.6 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Social Huntsman Spider's home?
Spot-clean leftover food weekly (Furry Diary suggests every 7 days) and replace the substrate every 6 months. They produce little mess, making maintenance easy.6 Furry Diary plan
Can a Social Huntsman Spider live with others?
Yes, they are social and can live in a colony with their own family group. However, never mix spiders from different colonies as they will fight and cannibalise each other.314
How long does a Social Huntsman Spider live?
They generally live around 2 to 2.5 years. Provide a stable environment to help them reach their full lifespan.256
Can I handle a Social Huntsman Spider?
They are timid towards humans and rarely bite, but handling is not recommended as it can stress them. They are not venomous, though a bite causes minor pain. It's best to observe them in their enclosure.315
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.
- bie.ala.org.au: c306e3f1 03aa 435d bac7 551c9c7d1e46 bie.ala.org.auused for origin, best traits, temperament, social needs, history
- collections.museumsvictoria.com.au: 8803 collections.museumsvictoria.com.auused for length cm, lifespan years, coat or body, colours, diet basics, fun fact
- en.wikipedia.org: Delena cancerides en.wikipedia.orgused for length cm, coat or body, temperament, social needs, fun fact
- bwvp.ecolinc.vic.edu.au: social huntsman bwvp.ecolinc.vic.edu.auused for length cm, coat or body, colours, diet basics, social needs
- theconversation.com: hidden housemates australias huge and hairy huntsman spiders 55017 theconversation.comused for lifespan years, best traits, temperament, activity needs, habitat needs, history, fun fact
- titag.org: rayorhuntsman titag.orgused for lifespan years, best traits, activity needs, grooming or care, habitat needs
- australian.museum: huntsman spiders australian.museumused for diet basics, fun fact
- sciencenews.org: subsocial behavior among delena huntsman spiders sciencenews.org
- 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.