Cyclocosmia torreya
Florida Trapdoor Spider: Advanced Care Guide
Keeper Snapshot: A rare Florida trapdoor that plugs its burrow with a hard, coin-like rear end. Give it deep, firm, evenly moist clay, a cool quiet spot and prey at the door; then leave it alone.
Group: Spiders & Other InvertsDifficulty: Spice 3: IntermediateSetup: Trapdoor burrower in firm clay soilHandling: No handling, leave the burrow alone
Use This Guide Safely
- Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
- Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
- Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Snapshot
| Temperature | 68-78°F, no strong heat |
|---|---|
| Humidity | 65-80%: evenly moist clay, never wet |
| Setup Type | Trapdoor burrower in firm clay soil |
| Substrate | Firm clay/soil mix 5-6 in+, packed, slope ok |
| Feeding | Small prey dropped by the door, every 1-2 weeks |
| Care Difficulty | Spice 3: Intermediate |
| Handling | No handling, leave the burrow alone |
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Enclosure Format / Size Class
- Juveniles and adults: Burrow Buddy-depth setup at minimum, packed with firm clay soil and a starter hole.
Warnings First
- Never dig it out. A trapdoor that loses its burrow may not rebuild well.
- Firm soil is the whole setup. Loose or dry substrate collapses the burrow.
- Cool and steady. Skip heat lamps and sunny windows.
- Rare native with a tiny known range. Keep it for life; never release it.
Simple Care
- House it alone.
- Deep, packed clay-rich soil with a starter hole.
- Evenly moist, never soggy.
- Cool room temps, out of direct light.
- Drop small prey by the trapdoor.
Advanced Keeper Notes
Enclosure & Microclimate
- It retreats head-first and seals the shaft with its flat, hardened abdomen disc. That's normal, not a stuck spider.
- Wet the soil from the edges so it wicks to the burrow without flooding it.
- A related ravine trapdoor lives in fine clay on moist, mossy, shaded slopes. This setup copies that.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Small crickets or roach nymphs dropped near the door at dusk.
- If prey is still wandering next day, remove it and try again later.
- Expect long periods with a closed door, especially around a molt.
Possible Origin / Range
- Likely native range: Northern Florida along the Apalachicola River, and southwestern Georgia.
- Habitat translation: Shady, moist ravine slopes become deep, firm, evenly moist clay soil, packed so a burrow and hinged door hold, kept cool and out of direct light.
Advanced Keeper Details
- Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN. Very little captive data exists; record what works for yours.