• A mature female Barylestis occidentalis, a huntsman spider species known as the West African huntsman spider, poses on natural cork bark.
1 1

Buddha Bugs

Barylestis occidentalis (West African huntsman spider) 0.33"

Barylestis occidentalis (West African huntsman spider) 0.33"

$15.00 USD
$20.00 USD $15.00 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Species Overview

Barylestis occidentalis, referred to here as the West African huntsman spider and more commonly circulated in the hobby as the Cameroon crab spider, is a large arboreal huntsman spider native to sub-Saharan Africa. Mature specimens have a broad, flattened build and laterally oriented legs adapted for rapid movement across bark and other vertical surfaces. Their coloration is predominantly golden tan to ochre, with a narrow dark line running along the center of the carapace, bold curved black markings near its posterior margin, and a tawny abdomen patterned with a dark anterior band, paired black spots, and short longitudinal markings. The legs are tan to orange-brown with strongly contrasting dark bands and nearly black distal segments. Mature males are more slender and proportionally longer-legged.

In captivity, B. occidentalis readily occupies narrow spaces behind cork bark, between overlapping pieces of décor, or against the walls of its enclosure. It generally remains concealed during the day before becoming active after dark, when it waits near its retreat or moves across exposed surfaces in search of prey. This species does not construct a prey-capture web and instead relies on speed to pursue and overpower prey. Although individuals usually attempt to retreat rather than defend themselves, they can accelerate suddenly and pass through surprisingly narrow gaps, making a securely constructed enclosure and cautious maintenance essential.

  • Common Name: West African huntsman spider
  • Native Range: CĂ´te d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan; likely more broadly distributed across western and central Africa
  • Life Habit: Arboreal
  • Adult Size: 4–4.5 inches in diagonal leg span
  • Lifespan: Males 1–2 years; females 2–3+ years under optimal conditions
  • Temperament: Fast and skittish
  • Care Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Barylestis occidentalis Care

Barylestis occidentalis does well in vertically oriented enclosures with good ventilation, moderate humidity, and abundant climbing opportunities. Cork bark, branches, and broad-leaved live or artificial foliage increase usable surface area while providing elevated cover and narrow retreats similar to those occupied in the wild.

  • Enclosure: 7-dram vial or equivalent for spiderlings, upgraded as needed with growth; 7” x 7” x 10” or larger for adults
  • Substrate: Coconut fiber, peat moss, or a similar moisture-retentive substrate; include vertical cork bark, branches, broad-leaved live or artificial plants, and overlapping pieces of dĂ©cor that create narrow elevated retreats
  • Temperature: 72–82°F
  • Humidity: Moderate ambient humidity is generally sufficient. Approximately 25–50% of the substrate should retain moisture to provide a humidity gradient while allowing the remaining substrate to stay drier. Maintain adequate ventilation and avoid consistently wet or stagnant conditions.
  • Diet: Fruit flies, crickets, cockroaches, and other appropriately sized feeder insects
  • Feeding: Spiderlings can be offered appropriately sized prey one to two times weekly, with smaller specimens often benefiting from more frequent offerings. Juveniles and adults are typically fed every 7–14 days, with feeding frequency adjusted based on prey size, growth rate, and the condition of the individual animal.
  • Water: Lightly moisten part of the substrate as needed and provide water droplets on foliage, enclosure walls, cork bark, or other surfaces through regular light misting. This species readily drinks from these surfaces.
  • Routine Maintenance: Remove uneaten prey, monitor moisture levels, and spot-clean when necessary.

Natural History

Barylestis occidentalis was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1887 as Isopeda occidentalis from a syntype series bearing locality information for Assinie in present-day Côte d’Ivoire and Congo. The species was later placed in Torania before being transferred to Barylestis. Formally examined material has also been documented from Uganda and the Imatong Mountains of present-day South Sudan. Citizen-science observations include Barylestis specimens closely resembling B. occidentalis across a much broader portion of Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic. Taken together with the widely separated published localities, these observations suggest that the species may have an extensive distribution across western and central Africa and into portions of eastern Africa. However, closely related members of Barylestis may be difficult to distinguish reliably from photographs alone, and these additional country records have not been confirmed through examination of diagnostic genital morphology. The broader distribution suggested by these observations, including the species’ apparent presence in Cameroon, is therefore plausible but remains formally unconfirmed.

For many years, hobby specimens were distributed as Barylestis scutatus. That identification appears to have been based on the population’s reported Cameroonian origin and the longstanding association of true B. scutatus with that country. Examination of a mature male from the imported hobby population and comparison of its palpal bulb with published illustrations indicated that the examined specimen matched B. occidentalis rather than B. scutatus, supporting the reidentification of the captive population. Most breeders and sellers now use the corrected identification, although the former name remains common in older care information and some current sales listings.

We coined the common name West African huntsman spider for this species. It reflects the meaning of the species epithet occidentalis, meaning western, as well as the species’ documented and probable occurrence in western Africa. The more widespread hobby name Cameroon crab spider remains useful for recognition and may correspond to part of the species’ actual range, but “crab spider” can create confusion with the true crab spiders of the separate family Thomisidae.

Shipping

Shipping method for live animal orders:

For orders containing live animals, shipping is offered throughout the continental US (48 states) through FedEx Priority Overnight. Orders containing both live and non-live products may be shipped together or seperately, depending on the items in the order, their sizes, and whether everything can fit in a single shipment. Orders with live and non-live products which need to be shipped seperately will incur additional shipping costs for the separate USPS shipping of the non-live items. Shipments containing live animals are dropped off on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for next-day arrival. By default, we ship all packages held for pickup to the closest FedEx Ship Center to the order address, requiring in-person pickup at that FedEx Ship Center. Home delivery of live animal orders is possible; however, packages shipped for delivery rather than held for pick up are not eligible for LAG, and doing so is against our advisement and at the customer's risk. This does not apply to customers who do not have a FedEx Ship Center near them that is authorized to accept live animal shipments; in these cases, orders will be shipped for home delivery, and LAG will be honored.

We also offer expo pickup and a DFW local meet-up option so you can save on shipping. See Expo Schedule for details. 

Shipping method for non-live orders:

For shipments containing no live animals, shipping is available to all 50 states via USPS Ground Advantage or USPS Priority Mail. Non-live shipments will be sent directly to the address listed on the order, typically on the day the order is placed or the following day. 

What to expect after placing an order:

After you place an order on our website, we will contact you within 12 hours to provide the delivery date and the FedEx pickup location. Please respond and let us know if that works for you. The package will NOT be shipped until we have your confirmation. A tracking number will be provided on the day of shipment.

There will be times when shipping must be delayed due to weather, our schedule, or if a tarantula you ordered has recently molted or appears to be about to molt. You will be notified if that happens, and we will work out another date. 

Carrier delays happen, so please ensure you or someone you know will be available to pick up your package, even if it's 1-3 days late. 

Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG):

Buddha Bugs offers LAG but ONLY when the following conditions are met:

  • "Freebies" are not covered by LAG.
  • For the safety of the animals and to ensure the best chance of live arrival, orders must be shipped to your nearest authorized FedEx Ship Center and held for pickup to be eligible for LAG. This does not apply to customers who do not have a FedEx Ship Center near them that is authorized to accept live animal shipments; in these cases, orders will be shipped for home delivery, and LAG will be honored.
  • The package must be picked up from FedEx on the day it arrives; any time during the store’s opening hours is fine. Please bring a valid ID. Picking up packages on any day other than the day of arrival will void the LAG. 
  • In the unlikely event of a DOA, we require notice and evidence within 3 hours of pickup. You must provide a clear photo/video of the deceased specimen. Refunds will not include shipping costs, and replacements may not always be available.
  • ANY DEVIATION OF THIS CAN RESULT IN LAG VOID

Home delivery is available upon request, but LAG is not offered for shipments sent for home delivery if there is an authorized FedEx Ship Center within 60 miles of the customer's zip code, due to the unpredictability of this shipping method. This does not apply to customers who do not have a FedEx Ship Center near them that is authorized to accept live animal shipments; in these cases, orders will be shipped for home delivery, and LAG will be honored.

Due to the risk to the animals, even in circumstances where the customer accepts LAG being voided for home delivery shipments, we will not ship animals for home delivery at or above 90°F or at or below 35°F.

Please remember that FedEx DOES NOT reimburse Buddha Bugs for lost packages or the loss of any live animals. We take every precaution we can to ensure your new pets arrive safely. 

Returns & Refunds

 

Returns & Refunds:

We DO NOT accept returns on live animals.

Non-live animal products may be returned for a refund within 14 days of delivery. The product must be unused and in its original packaging. After we receive your return, refunds will be processed within 5-10 business days. Refunds will not include shipping costs. Used products will be rejected and shipped back to the customer when possible. 

You will be refunded immediately if any animal in your order arrives dead. Please see our Shipping Policy for LAG details.

For online purchases with local pickup, pickup at a show, or for purchases made at a show, the customer is responsible for inspecting the purchased items and verifying that they are to their satisfaction. If they are not, they must express any dissatisfaction before the sale is completed, as all sales are final. We are not liable for damages after the customer receives their items due to issues including but not limited to the customer mishandling transport and/or overheating animals. 

Cancellations:  

We require a ~3% cancellation fee on all cancellations. For card payments, the fee is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction; different payment methods may have slightly higher or lower fee amounts. This is a non-recoverable fee we are charged when processing your payment, and it is not refunded to us by Shopify when an order is canceled or a refund is issued. Canceling orders creates extra labor and costs on our end and reduces available stock for others who may be interested, so please make sure you are committed before placing an order.

If a product in your order is out of stock, we will contact you and offer the option to cancel part or all of your order. There's no extra fee for this; we apologize for any inconvenience.

Some Poecilotheria species cannot be shipped across state lines, as clearly stated in the product titles and product details. Please do not purchase if you live outside of Texas, or that portion/your whole order will be canceled and refunded immediately; you will also be charged a 10% cancellation fee, which will be deducted from the refund.

View full details