Care guide
Vietnamese Vinegaroon
Thelyphonus sp.
A hardy humid oddball with low venom concern, but it still deserves no-handling respect.
Thelyphonus sp.
Identity confidence: provisional. This is a genus, group, or trade name rather than a confirmed species. Treat it as the closest match we can stand behind, and use the more conservative end of any range.
Vietnamese Vinegaroon: Advanced Care Guide
Keeper Snapshot: A hardy humid oddball with low venom concern, but it still deserves no-handling respect.
Group: Spiders & Other InvertsDifficulty: Spice 2-3: Beginner / IntermediateSetup: Humid terrestrial burrowerHandling: Not recommended. They can spray vinegar-like acid; protect eyes and face.
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 | 74-82 F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | Moderate-High ambient (70-80%) with cross ventilation at substrate level; evenly moist burrow layer |
| Setup Type | Humid terrestrial burrower |
| Substrate | 4-6 in moist burrowable substrate with cork bark and leaf litter. |
| Feeding | 1/4-1/2" roaches/crickets (no larger than body length); every 7-10 days, offered at dusk |
| Care Difficulty | Spice 2-3: Beginner / Intermediate |
| Handling | Not recommended. They can spray vinegar-like acid; protect eyes and face. |
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
- Juvenile: small humid cup with shallow burrow.
- Adult: low terrestrial with deep moist substrate.
Warnings First
- Can spray acidic defensive liquid.
- Avoid eyes, face, and bare-hand handling.
- Do not let the enclosure dry out fully.
- A moist burrow with no cross ventilation goes stagnant and moldy. Vents low on two opposite walls keep the burrow layer connected to fresh air.
Simple Care
- Keep substrate evenly moist, not flooded.
- Cross ventilation low on two opposite walls, at the substrate line, so the burrow layer keeps exchanging air.
- Provide cork cover and leaf litter.
- Shallow water dish with pebbles in it so small instars cannot drown.
- Use a catch cup for transfers.
Advanced Keeper Notes
Enclosure & Microclimate
- Vinegaroons appreciate a secure burrow and dark cover.
- Ventilation should prevent mold while retaining humidity.
- That balance is decided by where the vents sit. Put them low on two opposite walls, at or just above the substrate, so air crosses the burrow and leaf litter layer horizontally. That clears stale air from where the animal actually is without pulling moisture out of the deep substrate, which lid venting cannot do: it dries the surface while leaving saturated, motionless air down in the burrow.
- Ventilation and ambient humidity trade against each other. Hold 70 to 80% by keeping the substrate evenly moist and running a water dish, with the vents flowing, rather than sealing the enclosure to retain humidity.
- Judge by hand rather than by gauge. Substrate moist enough to hold a burrow shape when squeezed with no free water, surface allowed to look slightly drier, no sour smell from the burrow.
- Keep a shallow water dish with pebbles or coarse grit so the waterline sits below the rim. Vinegaroons are heavy-bodied and clumsy around open water, and small instars drown in dishes the adults use safely. It also means fewer maintenance visits to an animal that sprays acid.
- Mist under the cork and into the leaf litter rather than over the whole surface. That maintains the humid microclimate in the burrow and under cover while the open surface stays free to dry and re-air.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Feeding: roaches or crickets no larger than the vinegaroon's body length, roughly 1/4-1/2in for this smaller species. Offer every 7-10 days in the evening, when it naturally emerges to hunt.
- Growth: several molts to maturity over a year or more; lifespan several years in captivity.
- Maintenance: remove uneaten prey within 24-48 hours, keep the substrate humid enough to hold a burrow, and stop feeding entirely at the first signs of premolt (hiding, refusing food) until it re-emerges on its own. Never dig one out mid-molt.
Possible Origin / Range
- Likely native range: Vietnam/Southeast Asia, but species-level ID is unresolved.
- Habitat translation: Warm humid forest floor with burrows and cover.
Advanced Keeper Details
- Use the exact product label, size, and behavior in front of you before adjusting care.
- Heat should be measured at the animal's level, not guessed from the room or lid.
- Sources: the full Big Z APA 7 reference list lives at References.
Thelyphonus sp.
Identity confidence: provisional. This is a genus, group, or trade name rather than a confirmed species. Treat it as the closest match we can stand behind, and use the more conservative end of any range.
Vietnamese Vinegaroon
Big Z's Quick Verdict: A hardy humid oddball with low venom concern, but it still deserves no-handling respect.
Group: Spiders & Other InvertsDifficulty: Spice 2-3: Beginner / IntermediateSetup: Humid terrestrial burrowerHandling: Not recommended. They can spray vinegar-like acid; protect eyes and face.
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 Care Snapshot
| Temp | 74-82 F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | Moderate-High ambient (70-80%) with cross ventilation at substrate level; evenly moist burrow layer |
| Setup | Humid terrestrial burrower |
| Substrate | 4-6 in moist burrowable substrate with cork bark and leaf litter. |
| Feeding | 1/4-1/2" roaches/crickets (no larger than body length); every 7-10 days, offered at dusk |
| Handling | Not recommended. They can spray vinegar-like acid; protect eyes and face. |
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%+
Recommended Big Z's Setup
- Burrow Buddy
- Tropical burrow mix
- Leaf litter
- Cork hide
Critical Notes
- Can spray acidic defensive liquid.
- Avoid eyes, face, and bare-hand handling.
- Do not let the enclosure dry out fully.
- A moist burrow with no cross ventilation goes stagnant and moldy. Vents low on two opposite walls keep the burrow layer connected to fresh air.
Care Basics
- Keep substrate evenly moist, not flooded.
- Cross ventilation low on two opposite walls, at the substrate line, so the burrow layer keeps exchanging air.
- Provide cork cover and leaf litter.
- Shallow water dish with pebbles in it so small instars cannot drown.
- Use a catch cup for transfers.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Feeding: roaches or crickets no larger than the vinegaroon's body length, roughly 1/4-1/2in for this smaller species. Offer every 7-10 days in the evening, when it naturally emerges to hunt.
- Growth: several molts to maturity over a year or more; lifespan several years in captivity.
- Maintenance: remove uneaten prey within 24-48 hours, keep the substrate humid enough to hold a burrow, and stop feeding entirely at the first signs of premolt (hiding, refusing food) until it re-emerges on its own. Never dig one out mid-molt.
Current Big Z's catalog: Yes
Thelyphonus sp.
Identity confidence: provisional. This is a genus, group, or trade name rather than a confirmed species. Treat it as the closest match we can stand behind, and use the more conservative end of any range.
Vietnamese Vinegaroon: Advanced Care Guide
Keeper Snapshot: A hardy humid oddball with low venom concern, but it still deserves no-handling respect.
Group: Spiders & Other InvertsDifficulty: Spice 2-3: Beginner / IntermediateSetup: Humid terrestrial burrowerHandling: Not recommended. They can spray vinegar-like acid; protect eyes and face.
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 | 74-82 F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | Moderate-High ambient (70-80%) with cross ventilation at substrate level; evenly moist burrow layer |
| Setup Type | Humid terrestrial burrower |
| Substrate | 4-6 in moist burrowable substrate with cork bark and leaf litter. |
| Feeding | 1/4-1/2" roaches/crickets (no larger than body length); every 7-10 days, offered at dusk |
| Care Difficulty | Spice 2-3: Beginner / Intermediate |
| Handling | Not recommended. They can spray vinegar-like acid; protect eyes and face. |
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
- Juvenile: small humid cup with shallow burrow.
- Adult: low terrestrial with deep moist substrate.
Warnings First
- Can spray acidic defensive liquid.
- Avoid eyes, face, and bare-hand handling.
- Do not let the enclosure dry out fully.
- A moist burrow with no cross ventilation goes stagnant and moldy. Vents low on two opposite walls keep the burrow layer connected to fresh air.
Simple Care
- Keep substrate evenly moist, not flooded.
- Cross ventilation low on two opposite walls, at the substrate line, so the burrow layer keeps exchanging air.
- Provide cork cover and leaf litter.
- Shallow water dish with pebbles in it so small instars cannot drown.
- Use a catch cup for transfers.
Advanced Keeper Notes
Enclosure & Microclimate
- Vinegaroons appreciate a secure burrow and dark cover.
- Ventilation should prevent mold while retaining humidity.
- That balance is decided by where the vents sit. Put them low on two opposite walls, at or just above the substrate, so air crosses the burrow and leaf litter layer horizontally. That clears stale air from where the animal actually is without pulling moisture out of the deep substrate, which lid venting cannot do: it dries the surface while leaving saturated, motionless air down in the burrow.
- Ventilation and ambient humidity trade against each other. Hold 70 to 80% by keeping the substrate evenly moist and running a water dish, with the vents flowing, rather than sealing the enclosure to retain humidity.
- Judge by hand rather than by gauge. Substrate moist enough to hold a burrow shape when squeezed with no free water, surface allowed to look slightly drier, no sour smell from the burrow.
- Keep a shallow water dish with pebbles or coarse grit so the waterline sits below the rim. Vinegaroons are heavy-bodied and clumsy around open water, and small instars drown in dishes the adults use safely. It also means fewer maintenance visits to an animal that sprays acid.
- Mist under the cork and into the leaf litter rather than over the whole surface. That maintains the humid microclimate in the burrow and under cover while the open surface stays free to dry and re-air.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Feeding: roaches or crickets no larger than the vinegaroon's body length, roughly 1/4-1/2in for this smaller species. Offer every 7-10 days in the evening, when it naturally emerges to hunt.
- Growth: several molts to maturity over a year or more; lifespan several years in captivity.
- Maintenance: remove uneaten prey within 24-48 hours, keep the substrate humid enough to hold a burrow, and stop feeding entirely at the first signs of premolt (hiding, refusing food) until it re-emerges on its own. Never dig one out mid-molt.
Possible Origin / Range
- Likely native range: Vietnam/Southeast Asia, but species-level ID is unresolved.
- Habitat translation: Warm humid forest floor with burrows and cover.
Advanced Keeper Details
- Use the exact product label, size, and behavior in front of you before adjusting care.
- Heat should be measured at the animal's level, not guessed from the room or lid.
- Sources: the full Big Z APA 7 reference list lives at References.