Gandenameno includes many species in the genus, but their care is largely the same. Eresus sandaliatus is the only native species to the UK, but its numbers are dwindling. In general, velvet spiders get their water from prey, so spraying or water bowls are not needed and can be dangerous to the spiders. Males tend to live around 2 years, but females can double in size and live around 10 years. As slings, they look a lot like ticks, and don't get their colouring until they are mature. Sexing them is pretty straightforward; males have boxing glove-shaped pedipalps which are bright orange when they moult them for the first time. Male species in the Gandenameno genus tend to develop a white mask marking when fully mature. Most species are "tolerant" of each other; thus, in theory, they can be housed in a communal set-up if fed well. It is highly recommended to separate them when they are older, but mothers and slings tend to live together until they are old enough/matriphagy occurs.