Wold spiders are medium to large spiders that are mainly active hunters.

SETUP:

Wolf spiders require a setup at least 3 times the length of their body and deep enough for them to create their extensive burrows. It is recommended to have a tall enclosure above the substrate to prevent escapes during maintenance. The substrate should be slightly damp, and able to hold a burrow without collapsing. You can also give them hides such as bark or leaves.

FEEDING:

Wolf spiders are active feeders, preferring live, fast prey such as crickets and woodies. Burrowing species may also take mealworms when offered, although they should not be fed regularly due to their high fat content. Wolf spiders should be fed once every 4-7 days. Water can be supplied in a dish or in the form of a spray.

Centipedes are fascinating creatures which have a wide variety of different species and colours. This care guide covers most scolopendrid species.

SETUP:

Centipedes are strongly adapted to burrowing, as their exoskeleton allows for them to desiccate extremely quickly. For this reason, centipedes require a sturdy substrate, such as a mix of coir-peat and sand. However, some keepers keep centipedes withs shallow substrate and a hide. Centipedes require large tanks, at least 1.5 times as long and wide as their body length. An escape proof enclosure is required, as centipedes can squeeze through extremely small spaces. Additionally, enclousures should be tall to prevent escape during maintenance.

FEEDING:

Centipedes are voracious predators, feeding on many different feeders, such as crickets, woodies, mealworms and even pinkie mice. These should be fed once every 1-2 weeks. They can also occasionally be fed fruit such as banana or grape. They can drink from the substrate, or from a water bowl. Be cautious during feeding to prevent getting bitten.

Huntsman spiders are large, impressive spiders that live in the tropical regions of the world. They are extremely fast and agile, but not very aggressive towards humans.

SETUP:

Due to their arboreal nature, huntsmen require taller enclosures. These should be 2x their legspan long by 2x their legspan wide by 3x their legspan high. A tall piece of bark should be provided for the centipede should be able to hide. Substrate should be able to retain moisture.

FEEDING:

Huntsman spiders are active hunters which can be fed crickets, woodies and pinkie mice once every 3-4 days. Since they drink water droplets from surfaces, it is best to spray their enclosure with a spray bottle. They must be fed live food, as they hunt based off sight.

Millipedes are fascinating detritivores which feed on decaying matter. They are extremely easy to keep and handle.

SETUP:

Millipedes are slow moving detritivores which require a special substrate that you can buy from many online bug stores. You can also add dead leaves and pulpy wood. They require deep substrate for moulting and burrowing and prefer a tank at least 2 times their body length wide and long.

FEEDING:

Although millipedes mainly feed on their substrate, it is advised to also feed them fruits such as banana or apple once every 1-2 weeks. Their substrate should be moist, as it should be their main source of water. For young millipedes, calcium such as cuttlebone or chalk can be added to their substrate to strengthen their exoskeleton.

Isopods are an essential part of a healthy clean up crew, as they eat rotting matter in bioactive tanks. They come in many different colours and species, all having mostly the same care requirements.

SETUP:

Contrary to popular belief, isopods are actually crustaceans, meaning that they are more closely related to crabs and lobsters than other land invertebrates such as myriapods or insects. For thsi reason, they have gills which can easily dry out. This is why they should be provided with damp substrate to allow them to breathe. They can be kept and bred easily in a very small setup as long as they have deep enough substrate.

FEEDING:

Isopods should be given a balanced diet of different fruits and dead insects. An alternative for this is fish flakes. They should also be offered dried leaves.

Beetles are the most diverse of all arthropods, having an estimated 400 000 species. They range in size from the minuscule Scydosella at 0.3 mm to the enormous Megasome which grow up to 13cm in length. This care guide covers most scarab, longhorn and darkling beetle species.

SETUP:

Although adult beetles range widely in their required setup, most larvae can be kept in tubs of flake soil until they pupate. They should have deep substrate, which should be replaced when it gets filled with faeces.

FEEDING

Although larvae will feed primarily off of the substrate, adult beetles must be fed with fruits or beetle jelly every 3-4 days.

Ants are extremely common across the world, making up around 5% of arthropod biomass. this care guide covers general claustral species in their founding stage.

SETUP:

These ants should be housed in a test tube with a water section. This can be made by filling a test tube 1/3 with water, then pushing a cotton ball down towards the water. The test tube size can vary depending on the ant species, but most species can live in 20mm tubes.

FEEDING:

Once the nanitics (first workers) arrive, you must begin feeding your ants with dead insects and sugar water. You can make sugar water by mixing sugar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Feed them this by placing it on the side of the test tube.

Ants are extremely common across the world, making up around 5% of arthropod biomass. this care guide covers semi claustral species such as Myrmecia and Rhytidoponera in their founding stage.

SETUP:

Semi claustral ants thrive in a ‘Tubs and Tubes’ setup, which consists of a test tube in a tub filled with sand. For larger species, ventilation can be provided by poking holes in the container with a needle.

FEEDING:

Unlike claustral species, semi claustral ants require food during their founding stage. They can be fed sugars, and when they have larvae, you can begin feeding them dead insects. However, some species such as Myrmecia can also be fed live prey.