Okefenokee Giant Fishing Spider for sale from Big Z's (Dolomedes okefinokensis). Spice-rated keeper notes, care guidance, and live-arrival packing where eligible.
The biggest fishing spider in North America, and it walks on water
Dolomedes okefinokensis, the Okefenokee Giant Fishing Spider, is the largest Dolomedes species on the continent: females carry a body over an inch long with a leg span past 3 inches. It hunts by reading the water, sensing ripples from the edge of a still pool, then striding straight out onto the surface to snatch prey. Watching one walk on water is the whole show, and it is as dramatic as spider keeping gets.
Bites are rare and not medically significant to most people, but the size and speed make this one of the most striking display animals we carry, and one of the easiest to get right. It is a Spice 2, beginner-friendly keeper with one real requirement: a genuine water feature, not just a dish, so it can actually do what it does best. Give it real water and room, and it performs every time. The care guide has the build and the boundaries.
The numbers live in the care guide. Enclosure size, temps, humidity, feeding schedule, premolt signs, handling boundaries: it's all in the care guide for this exact fella. Start with the full Advanced guide, or click for the quick Open the Simple version →
Spider
Okefenokee Giant Fishing Spider (Dolomedes okefinokensis) care guide Read shipping & LAG
Okefenokee Giant Fishing Spider for sale from Big Z's (Dolomedes okefinokensis). Spice-rated keeper notes, care guidance, and live-arrival packing where eligible.
The biggest fishing spider in North America, and it walks on water
Dolomedes okefinokensis, the Okefenokee Giant Fishing Spider, is the largest Dolomedes species on the continent: females carry a body over an inch long with a leg span past 3 inches. It hunts by reading the water, sensing ripples from the edge of a still pool, then striding straight out onto the surface to snatch prey. Watching one walk on water is the whole show, and it is as dramatic as spider keeping gets.
Bites are rare and not medically significant to most people, but the size and speed make this one of the most striking display animals we carry, and one of the easiest to get right. It is a Spice 2, beginner-friendly keeper with one real requirement: a genuine water feature, not just a dish, so it can actually do what it does best. Give it real water and room, and it performs every time. The care guide has the build and the boundaries.
The numbers live in the care guide. Enclosure size, temps, humidity, feeding schedule, premolt signs, handling boundaries: it's all in the care guide for this exact fella. Start with the full Advanced guide, or click for the quick Open the Simple version →
Dolomedes okefinokensis - Spice 2: Beginner. Large terrestrial setup with an added water feature; no dedicated Buddy line for semi-aquatic species yet
Dolomedes okefinokensis
Big Z's Quick Verdict: The largest fishing spider in North America. Females reach a 3+ inch leg span and hunt right off the water's surface. Bite is not considered medically significant, striking size, needs a water feature to thrive.
| Temp | 72-80°F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | High ambient (75-85%) with airflow across the water surface; moist land substrate, open pool |
| Setup | Semi-aquatic terrestrial spider with a water feature |
| Substrate | Moist substrate with a stable water dish/shallow pool and emergent perches |
| Feeding | 3/8-1/2" crickets/roaches (no larger than body length), occasional small feeder fish for adults; weekly, offered at dusk near the water |
| Handling | Not recommended |
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%+
Current Big Z's catalog: Yes
Dolomedes okefinokensis
Keeper Snapshot: The largest fishing spider in North America. Females reach a 3+ inch leg span and hunt right off the water's surface. Bite is not considered medically significant, striking size, needs a water feature to thrive.
| Temperature | 72-80°F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | High ambient (75-85%) with airflow across the water surface; moist land substrate, open pool |
| Setup Type | Semi-aquatic terrestrial spider with a water feature |
| Substrate | Moist substrate with a stable water dish/shallow pool and emergent perches |
| Feeding | 3/8-1/2" crickets/roaches (no larger than body length), occasional small feeder fish for adults; weekly, offered at dusk near the water |
| Care Difficulty | Spice 2: Beginner |
| Handling | Not recommended |
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%+
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