How visible is this species?
Togo Starbursts are arboreal and may spend long periods inside a webbed retreat around cork or another raised surface. A secure Heteroscodra maculata may be visible at the entrance but still choose to stay hidden for much of the day.
Do not judge the welfare of Heteroscodra maculata by how often the spider is on display. A secure retreat is part of good husbandry even if it means seeing the animal less often.
Life stage
With Heteroscodra maculata, young Togo Starbursts and recently rehoused spiders often hide more than settled adults. Premoult can also keep a Togo Starburst out of sight for an extended period.
With Heteroscodra maculata, a sudden change in visibility is more useful than a simple count of how many hours the spider spends outside its retreat.
Enclosure design
Give Heteroscodra maculata a retreat that suits its arboreal lifestyle and position routine care items so you do not have to disturb that retreat for every water change or feeding.
A display enclosure for Togo Starbursts can still look attractive, but with Heteroscodra maculata, husbandry comes first. A spider that feels secure is often easier to observe over the long term.
Do not disturb a hidden spider
Do not dig out or uncover a Togo Starburst simply to make it visible. With Heteroscodra maculata, hiding can be linked to normal retreat use, premoult or recent disturbance.
For Heteroscodra maculata, leave established burrows and webbed retreats intact unless there is a genuine enclosure problem that requires intervention.
When a change matters
If a normally visible Togo Starburst suddenly disappears, check water, temperature, recent disturbance and premoult signs before changing the Heteroscodra maculata enclosure.
If Heteroscodra maculata is otherwise well and the enclosure is sound, give the spider time. Visibility by itself is a poor measure of health.