This caresheet has proven applicable to Cynortoides, Sclerobunus, Stygnomma, and Libitioides thus far, and is likely applicable to a wide variety of genera in Laniatores. Some parts of this caresheet may be applicable to other suborders of Opiliones as well.
Housing:
Generally it's recommended to start these harvestmen out in an approximately one gallon enclosure, moderately ventilated. You can increase the enclosure size as the colonies grow.
There should be about an inch of substrate, which can consist of coconut fiber, potting soil, sphagnum peat, etc., preferably topped with bark chips, bits of moss and leaf litter, chunks of wood, etc., for females to lay eggs on/under. Most of these harvestmen prefer high humidity.
Plenty of hides in the form of leaf litter, bark slabs, eggcrate, and cardboard rolls should be provided, preferably varying in size, with lots of smaller crack and crevices that immatures can hide in. While these harvestmen tend to be fairly communal when well fed, they should have PLENTY of hiding spots for multiple life stages to peacefully coexist.
Diet:
Most species will feed on large/medium springtails (such as Coecobrya, Entomobrya, Willowsia, etc.) and fruit flies, along with larger prekilled, soft bodied invertebrates, fish food, dog/cat food, and fresh fruits. Some species lean more towards being predatory vs opportunistic scavengers, and vice versa, but all will appreciate a mix of the two diet types for best results.
Temperature:
Most of the southern ranging genera like it warm year round, 75-85F°. Some of the more northern genera (like Sclerobunus) like it quite cool though, and may even require winter diapauses.
Breeding/Life Cycle:
Adults typically live at least a year, and lay eggs sporadically throughout their lives. These eggs are usually adhered to objects on the ground in moist areas (sometimes covered in substrate/frass), and typically take a month or so to hatch. The resulting offspring take 4-6 months to mature on average, depending on the species, temperature, and food availability. Most species can be kept communally at all life stages, though cannibalism can occur if there's not enough space, proper hiding places, or enough live prey available.
Species Notes:
Cynortoides quadrispinosa:
This species was somewhat recently introduced to Florida, and has become well established there. They evaded detection for a while though, despite their relatively large size and colorful patterning, because they look very much like the native Vonones spp. also found in FL. They differ in being flatter and broader than Vonones, darker in color, and adults have four short spines on their backs, compared to the two spines on V.ornata, and no spines on V.sayi.
One of the easiest to keep and most prolific species of Laniatores, all life stages generally get along great, and they don't seem to rely heavily on live prey, preferring to scavenge instead.
Sclerobunus nondimorphicus:
While these will feed on a variety of foods, they definitely seem to prefer having live springtails and other tiny prey items regularly available. They are also very heat sensitive and prefer temps below 73F° at all times, and likely need a cold winter diapause possibly dropping to the 40-50F° range.
Stygnomma sp. "Big Pine Key, FL":
These little cuties are pretty easy to keep, they rarely seem to cannibalize and are relatively fast breeders as well being a tropical species. Larger individuals will eat micro-roaches, and younger instars prefer springtails and baby micro-roaches. All life stages will also scavenge on other food sources just fine. Being a smaller species, these can be started out in a fairly small enclosure, half a gallon or so works great.
Libitioides ornata:
Ex. Vonones ornata.
This species is one of the most well known harvestmen species, period. Very popular in culture, though often confused with L.albolineata. True ornata are restricted to FL, and have two spines on their backs.
Typical care for this suborder, however while they can get along communally when kept optimally, live prey is ESSENTIAL to them, otherwise they'll cannibalize and kill each other quite quickly. A constant supply of springtails and/or fruit flies works just fine, and in addition they'll also still scavenge on larger prekilled inverts, fruits, and dog/cat/fish food.
Libitioides sayi:
Probably THE most commonly kept harvestmen, very often mislabeled as L.ornata (however unlike true V.ornata, this species lacks any spines on their backs when mature). Quite widespread in the Eastern and Southern US, and comes in a few color forms.
This species is more of an opportunistic scavenger than ornata and much less cannibalistic, though they still seem to love feeding on springtails and the like. Overall a more forgiving species than V.ornata. Though, some more northern strains may require a winter diapause for yearly reproduction.
