Asianopis aspectans (Cameroon ogre-faced spider) care guide

This particular species tends to thrive in captivity, so the guidelines on this page will apply to this species only.

Please consider giving our video Care Guide a watch on YouTube!

Cameroon net-caster video care guide

description

Asianopis aspectans (formerly Deinopis aspectans) is a sub-Saharan African net-casting spider species. They appear to be very abundant in Cameroon, where the common name is sourced. These aliens have many highly specialized adaptations to finding and capturing prey, such as their enormous forward-facing pair of eyes as well as their ability to spin a net of sticky webbing with which they cast at unsuspecting prey.

This species displays quite a bit of individual variation in color and pattern, ranging from a patternless tan color, to a solid black dorsal stripe, to a highly ornate pattern with multiple shades of dark brown and black. Sexing these spiders is easy once they reach 6th instar - males retain a relatively smooth, cylindrical-shaped abdomen, while females develop a pair of bumps (we affectionately call them "lady lumps") on the top of the abdomen about halfway to the end. More imagery to display this will be added to this guide later.

  • juvenile female, about 7th instar

  • adult female, demonstrating her camouflage skill

  • subadult male with net

Project Safety Net

Marshall Arachnids first started Project Safety Net in 2024 with the goal of maintaining a US captive-breeding project with Asianopis aspectans for years to come. These unique true spiders are very fun and extremely rewarding for the keeper, and we want no more than to reduce the demand for wild-caught imports and help get these beautiful arachnids into hobbyist homes.

unboxing

Be sure to locate the white ID card(s) in your shipping box and keep these for your records. Each spider will have its own card. Upon arrival, ensure your ogre(s) are alive and well. If there are any noticeable issues such as unresponsiveness and/or curled in legs, please contact us right away. Shipping is a stressful event for all animals, so consider setting up its new enclosure if you haven’t already done so and getting them out of the shipping containers ASAP. Once re-housed, give the enclosure(s) a light misting so the spider(s) have fresh water droplets to drink. They will likely be thirsty after their journey. DO NOT handle or offer food to your spider(s) after unboxing. It will likely take them a few days to settle in and get comfortable with their surroundings. 

enclosure design

At this lifestage, your ogre(s) should be housed individually in a well ventilated enclosure roughly 4” x 4” x 7” (LxWxH). ogres seem to enjoy a bit more open space than other true spiders, so keep this in mind as they grow. As adults, we house them individually in enclosures measuring 8” x 8” x 12”. For decor, we use a combination of heat-treated natural twigs and sticks for anchor points and dead leaves that the spiders use as camouflage. Artificial silk & plastic plants can be used instead. A little bit of substrate in the bottom of the enclosure (we prefer a bioactive soil) can be provided as a humidity bank and to help absorb odor from old boluses. Substrate depth is not important.

maintenance

humidity / moisture
We recommend misting your Ogre enclosures at this lifestage LIGHTLY every day so they have droplets to drink. You can very gently mist the spider directly with a fine mister, as they will consume the water from their legs while they preen. We do not provide a water dish. As a result of frequent mistings, humidity levels will naturally rise and fall. DO NOT stress trying to maintain a specific level of humidity. Just ensure your spiders are hydrated and they will do just fine. *NOTE* As a defense mechanism, the spiders can drop to the ground and play dead when startled. Everything is fine, just let them be. They’ll return to their perch once they feel safe, usually only a few seconds later.

lighting / temperature
These spiders do need a day / night cycle in order to know when it’s time to rest and when it’s time to hunt and be active. We use LED grow/shop lights (5000-6500k) and set our light timers to go off an hour before the sun sets and turn on an hour after the sun rises. This replicates a dawn and dusk period and makes the transition much easier on their eyes. Remember, their eyes are extremely photosensitive at night. A dark room with low to no light levels is ideal at night. Avoid turning the room lights on after lights out. Our temperatures range from 72F - 82F during the day and 66F - 72F at night.

feeding
The best part about the net-caster is they show you when they’re ready to eat! After the lights go out, the ogres will build the photosensitive membrane in the eye to improve their night-vision and will start constructing a net to catch prey. Preferred prey items are banded crickets and red-runner roaches. They can also catch bottle flies! You can carefully place a prey item in their net or you can let them catch the insect on their own. Remove boluses after they have been discarded. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you only feed ONE prey item at a time, and ensure it is eaten or remove it the next day. A rogue cricket or roach can potentially eat a molting Net Caster. If your spider’s abdomen appears very large, consider skipping a feeding until it slims down a bit or it molts.

breeding

Breeding will be covered in a separate care guide and video series.

As always, if any questions arise that are not covered in this care guide, please reach out to us!