Damastes sp. 'Madagascar' (Bandit Huntsman Spider) 0.5"

Damastes sp. 'Madagascar' (Bandit Huntsman Spider)

The Bandit Huntsman Spider, or Damastes sp. 'Madagascar', is a true spider, not a tarantula, newly arrived in the US hobby from Madagascar. Adults have a black base, with solid black legs and bold white banding across the carapace (head) and abdomen, the high contrast pattern that gives this species its bandit name. Spiderlings do not start out showing that banding, and it comes in around 2 inches, while the species only grows to about 5 to 6 inches in leg span, making it one of the larger huntsman spiders in the hobby. This species is also unusually long lived for a huntsman, with both males and females living about 5 years. This is a fast, alert species and not one for a first time keeper, though it is also one of the hardier huntsman spiders to keep once you are used to working with something this quick. Grab this true spider for sale today, offered here as a spiderling.

Why do hobbyists keep the Bandit Huntsman Spider?

• Black And White Banding: The solid black legs set off bold white banding across the carapace and abdomen, a striking contrast that gives this species its bandit name.
• Large Huntsman Species: Adults reach about 5 to 6 inches in leg span, among the larger huntsman spiders available in the hobby and an impressive animal to have in a collection.
• Fast Grower: This species grows quickly, so you get to watch it reach full size and its full black and white pattern sooner than many other invertebrates.
• Long Lived: Most huntsman spiders burn through a short male lifespan, but this species keeps both males and females around for about 5 years, a genuinely long run for the group.
• Surprisingly Hardy: Huntsmans have a reputation for being delicate, but this is one of the hardier species in the group, more forgiving of small care mistakes while you get used to keeping it.
• Rare in the Hobby: This is a brand new species to the US hobby, imported for the first time, so it is a real first for any Madagascar or huntsman collection.

How should Damastes sp. 'Madagascar' be kept?

• Adult Size: This spider hatches out around 0.5 inch in leg span, which is the size offered here, and grows to about 5 to 6 inches in leg span as an adult, so there is a lot of growth ahead.
• Enclosure: Start a sling this size in a small, well ventilated enclosure, at least a 32oz deli cup, roughly 4 by 4 by 6 inches. Consider sizing up one notch to a 5 by 7 inch footprint enclosure as soon as it is comfortably outgrowing the starter cup, since huntsmans do best with more room than a tarantula of the same leg span would need.
• Setup Tips: This species loves tight bark crevices and cracks far more than open floor space, so cork bark, cork rounds, or crevice style hides should make up most of the enclosure's furnishings from day one.
• Rehousing: With a fast growth rate, expect to size up more than once on the way to a 5 to 6 inch adult leg span. A 5 by 7 inch footprint enclosure will carry it well into the juvenile stage before a final upsize is needed.
• Temperature: Keep this species between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Humidity: A light misting about once a week is enough for this species. Good ventilation matters more than humidity here, so don't let the enclosure stay too wet.
• Water: Provide a shallow water dish as a backup, even though this species will likely not drink from a standing dish.
• Diet: At this size, offer prey around 1/8 inch, such as flightless fruit flies or pinhead crickets, at least once a week.
• Temperament: This is a fast, alert hunter and not a beginner species, though it is one of the hardier huntsman spiders to keep once you are used to working with something this quick.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for the Bandit Huntsman Spider?

• Captive Bred: We are proud to offer even captive bred true spiders along with our tarantulas.
• New To The US Hobby: This is a new species to the United States, imported for the first time, so very little English language care information exists on it yet. We will keep updating our own notes as we learn more about it ourselves.

Frequently asked questions about the Bandit Huntsman Spider

• Is the Bandit Huntsman Spider a tarantula? No. It is a true spider in the huntsman family, a completely different group from tarantulas. Huntsman spiders are fast, active hunters that chase down prey rather than sitting and waiting for it the way most tarantulas do, which is part of what makes them such fun animals to watch.
• Will the white banding show up right away? Not at this size. The banding comes in around 2 inches and keeps intensifying from there, so a 0.5 inch spiderling is still a plain black animal for now, with the full bandit pattern still ahead of it.

Listing Notes

• This listing is for a Damastes sp. 'Madagascar' Bandit Huntsman Spider spiderling measuring around 0.5 inch in leg span, which is the size given in the title, unsexed, with roughly a 50/50 chance of male or female. It is not showing the black and white banding yet, and that is the point: the pattern starts coming in around 2 inches, so you get to watch it come in and intensify from here.