Also known as the heather crab spider.
The Flower Crab Spider is a gorgeous, sit-and-wait ambush predator known for its color-changing camouflage.
 
0.5-1cm in size and unsexed.
 
Thomisus onustus (the Pink/Heather Crab Spider) is generally safe to handle, but it is generally recommended to avoid doing so, or to handle them with extreme care, as they are fragile and can easily be injured. 
 
🌸 Basic Overview
Common name: Flower Crab Spider
Family: Thomisidae
Lifespan: ~1 year (females longer than males)
Temperament: Shy, defensive only if disturbed
Venom: Mild, not medically significant to humans
⚠️ Best suited for observation, not interaction.
 
🏡 Enclosure Setup
Type:
Small terrarium, ventilated plastic container.
Size:
~15 × 15 × 20 cm (6 × 6 × 8 in) is plenty
Substrate:
Not strictly necessary
Optional: thin layer of soil, coco fiber, or paper towel
 
Decor (very important):
Live or artificial flowers (daisies, marigolds, chamomile work great)
Thin twigs or stems for climbing
Vertical elements matter more than floor space
💡 This species spends almost all its time on flowers, not the ground.
 
🌡️ Temperature & Humidity
Temperature: 18–26°C (65–79°F)
Humidity: 50–70%
Light misting 1–2× per week (do not soak)
 
🦗 Feeding
Diet:
Small flying insects
Fruit flies (Drosophila)
Small house flies
Tiny moths
 
Feeding frequency:
1–2 prey items every 3–5 days
🕷️ They ambush prey—if it doesn’t fly or move near the flower, they may ignore it.
💧 Water
They drink from dew droplets
Lightly mist flowers or enclosure walls
Never use open water dishes (drowning risk)
 
🎨 Color Change (Normal!)
Can shift between white, yellow, or pink
Triggered by:
Flower color
Light exposure
Hormonal state
⏳ Color change takes days, not hours.
 
🧬 Molting & Behavior
Molts are infrequent and subtle
Spider may stay still for days—this is normal
Do not feed during a molt
🕸️ Web use is minimal—don’t expect classic spider webs.
 
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Handling & Cohabitation
Handling: Not recommended
Cohabitation: ❌ Never (highly cannibalistic)
If disturbed, they may drop and play dead—this is a stress response.
 
🥚 Breeding (Advanced)
Females guard egg sacs aggressively
Spiderlings disperse quickly after hatching
Not recommended unless you have a release or rehoming plan