Enclosure shape and space
Togo Starbursts are arboreal, so the enclosure should provide useful height, an upright cork retreat and several secure webbing points. The upper half should feel structured rather than empty, with enough room for Heteroscodra maculata to turn and move without being pressed against the walls.
Do not put a small Togo Starburst straight into an adult-sized enclosure simply because the species eventually reaches around 12–15 cm (5–6 in). Match the setup to the spider's current size so it can find prey, reach water and settle into a retreat without disappearing into a large amount of unused space.
Substrate and retreat
Substrate still matters for Heteroscodra maculata, but the main retreat belongs above ground. Arrange the cork and other anchor points before the spider goes in, then leave the webbed retreat alone once it has settled.
Young and adult Togo Starbursts may spend much of their time inside a webbed retreat. That is normal. If the spider webs over an entrance or chooses a position that makes it harder to see, leave the retreat intact unless there is a genuine husbandry problem.
Moisture and ventilation
For Togo Starbursts, maintain moderate moisture with strong ventilation. Keep lower substrate slightly moist and surfaces able to dry. You do not need every part of the substrate to be equally wet. Adjust the amount of water to how quickly the enclosure actually dries.
Ventilation is just as important for Heteroscodra maculata as moisture. Persistent condensation, a stale smell or substrate that stays wet for days usually means the enclosure needs less water, more airflow, or both.
Water dish and access
Every Togo Starburst should have access to fresh water. For Heteroscodra maculata, use a shallow, stable dish and place it somewhere you can reach without dismantling the spider's retreat.
For Heteroscodra maculata, leave enough clear space near the opening to add prey, remove food remains and refill the water safely. If every basic job means pulling apart webbing, moving cork or disturbing a burrow, change the layout.
Temperature and placement
A practical temperature range for Heteroscodra maculata is 22–27°C. Put the enclosure somewhere the room temperature changes gradually, away from direct sunlight, radiators and electronics that create local hot spots.
Do not attach a heat mat directly to the Heteroscodra maculata enclosure. If the room is genuinely too cold, warm the room instead of creating one concentrated hot surface against the container.
Security and maintenance
An individual Togo Starburst can react differently from another of the same species, so check where the spider is before opening the enclosure. Make sure doors and lids close securely and that ventilation holes are too small for Heteroscodra maculata to escape through.
When maintaining Heteroscodra maculata, use long tools when they make the job safer and keep a catch cup ready for rehousing. Handling is not necessary for routine care, and a well-planned enclosure should let you do most jobs without putting your hands near the spider.
When to rehouse
Rehouse a Togo Starburst when the enclosure has genuinely become cramped or difficult to maintain. For Heteroscodra maculata, a retreat that no longer fits the spider, too little substrate for normal behaviour or awkward access to water are better reasons to move than the spider simply touching a wall.
Prepare the new enclosure completely before moving Heteroscodra maculata. Add the substrate, retreat and water dish first, check the lid and ventilation, and make sure any cork or decoration is stable before the transfer begins.
What a good setup should achieve
A good enclosure for Heteroscodra maculata lets the spider behave normally and lets the keeper carry out basic care without repeatedly disturbing it. The enclosure shape, substrate and retreat should all suit the same arboreal lifestyle.
Once a Togo Starburst has settled in, resist the urge to keep rearranging the enclosure for appearance. With Heteroscodra maculata, if the spider is secure, fresh water is easy to provide and the moisture and ventilation are working well, the setup is doing its job.