Trichonephila clavipes
- Scientific Name: Trichonephila clavipes, previously Nephila clavipes
- Common Name: Golden Silk Orbweaver
- Family: Araneidae
- Subspecies: T. clavipes fasciculata , T. clavipes vespucea
- Max Size:
- Antivenom: Not Applicable
- Conservation Status: Stable
- Keeper Experience (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced): Beginner
Introduction
These are some the large true spiders. They are beautiful and not dangerous. They are called Golden Silk Orbweavers because their silk is a goldish yellow color.
Identification
Look for large webs with them sitting in the middle of the web. Typical Orbweaver beavivior.
Sexual Dimorphism
Males are much smaller than the females. Notice in the following image how the male is much smaller than the female.
When To Look for Them
In the Southern United States, look during the summer months, especially around June and July.
Life Transformations
Younger specimens seem to be brighter in color.
Behavior
Desire to flee, not defensive
Geographical Range
From the Southern United States to Uruguay, South America
Habitat
Husbandry
They would be difficult to keep because they require such a large space. Consider keeping them in your backyard only if they are native to where you live.
- Communal: To a degree; the females are usually surrounded by males, which is not communal activity. However, these spiders make large individual webs very close to the same species. I find them, males and females, usually in large groups on individual webs
- Diet & Feeding: Insects, from cicadas and crickets to really any insect that flies into their webs.
- Enclosure: Very large, 1 meters to 2 meters
- Temperature: Hot, rainforest or swamp setting
- Water: I always recommend keeping fresh water for all animals.
- Humidity: High
- Substrate:
- Decor: Sticks, large branches, trees
Breeding
Pending
Health
Pending
How To Acquire Trichonephila clavipes
Find them or purchase online
Price: $60 maybe
Taxonomy
- Trichonephila antipodiana
- Trichonephila clavata
- Trichonephila clavata caerulescens
- Trichonephila clavipes
- Trichonephila clavipes fasciculata
- Trichonephila clavipes vespucea
- Trichonephila edulis
- Trichonephila fenestrata
- Trichonephila fenestrata fuelleborni
- Trichonephila fenestrata venusta
- Trichonephila inaurata
- Trichonephila inaurata madagascariensis
- Trichonephila komaci
- Trichonephila plumipes
- Trichonephila senegalensis
- Trichonephila senegalensis annulata
- Trichonephila senegalensis bragantina
- Trichonephila senegalensis hildebrandti
- Trichonephila senegalensis huebneri
- Trichonephila senegalensis keyserlingi
- Trichonephila senegalensis nyikae
- Trichonephila senegalensis schweinfurthi
- Trichonephila sexpunctata
- Trichonephila sumptuosa
- Trichonephila turneri
- Trichonephila turneri orientalis
***This list is subject to change***