Egyptian Camel Spider (Paragaleodes sp. Egypt)

Egyptian Camel Spider (Paragaleodes sp. Egypt)
Also called sun spider, wind scorpion, or fluffy camel spider. Solifuges — not spiders and not scorpions.

A fast, terrestrial hunter from arid North Africa. They use the first pair of legs as feelers and take prey with very large chelicerae. Not venomous, but they can bite hard and tend to hang on. Short-lived and high-strung in captivity compared to tarantulas.

Wild-caught. Captive-bred stock is not something we expect to offer on this species. Adults of this locale stay on the smaller side for camel spiders (roughly 3–4 inches leg span). They are nocturnal, extremely quick, and will eat other solifuges. Keep them one to an enclosure.

NO LIVE ARRIVAL GUARANTEE. Solifuges ship poorly. Transit is stressful, they often pace until they crash if they cannot hide, and they are simply hard to keep. Buy only if you already keep arid inverts and can accept the risk.

Care overview

Secure, escape-proof enclosure with a tight lid — they can climb smooth surfaces. Opaque sides help. Deep sandy or sand/soil substrate (several inches) so they can burrow, plus real hides (cork, bark, half-pots). If one is pacing in the open all day, it needs more cover, not more handling.

Warm and dry: about 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a night drop, low humidity (~50%), and good ventilation. Surface should stay dry; a slightly damp pocket at one end or at depth is enough. No water dish required if prey is reasonably hydrated; a tiny, shallow dish is optional and must not flood the burrow.

Feed appropriately sized live insects (crickets, roaches, mealworms) when the animal is active. Remove leftovers. They often fast or sit dormant for long stretches — do not keep digging them up. No calcium or vitamin dusting.

Do not handle.