Avicularia Sp.

[robc]

Avicularia Versicolor
Antilles Pinktoe Tarantula

Care sheet created by Robc - All pictures and videos are mine unless stated otherwise.


Mature Male (brighter coloring)                 Female (slightly duller coloring)

Scientific Name: Avicularia Versicolor

Common Name: Antilles Pinktoe Tarantula

Range/Location: Martinique and Guadeloupe Islands in the Antilles Island chain.

Appearance: A. Versicolor are among the most beautiful tarantulas in the hobby. They have a metallic green carapace, rusty red to bright red abdomen and greenish legs with purple hairs and pink tarsi (toes - hence the common name). The males tend to look very similiar to the females except they are slightly brighter in color and have longer legs.

Size Range: A. Versicolor typically range in size from 4 1/2" to 6".

Growth Rate: A. Versicolor is a moderately fast growing tarantula with females reaching maturity in 22-30 months and males maturing in 14-18 months. The growth rate of the A. Versicolor depends on it's habitat, diet, and temperature. An individual kept at lower temperatures will tend to grow slower than an individual kept at slightly higher temperatures.

Life Span: Females typically have a life span of 10 to 12 years, with the occasional, rare, 15 year old specimen. Males usually live approximately 12 to 18 months after reaching maturity - depending on temperature and feeding practices. The typical life span of a male A. Versicolor is 2 1/2-4 years.

Diet: In captivity the A. Versicolor diet should consist of B. Dubia roaches, large crickets, superworms, though their favorites are flying insects such as moths and flies. Use caution when collecting insects from the wild to avoid exposing the tarantula to pesticides.

Temperament/Defense: A. Versicolor tend to be fairly docile though slightly skittish at times and will run. They are also known to shoot feces if threatened and have excellent aim - they can hit a target up to a foot and a half away. They do possess urticating hairs though they are unable to kick them, they will drop them instead. Below is a video of me handling my mature male A. Versicolor:

A. Versicolor Handling Video:

Wild Habitat: An arboreal species, the A. Versicolor is found mainly in thick tube webs in trees and other vegetation.

Keeping in captivity: When keeping A. Versicolor in captivity, I recommend using at least a 5-10 gallon tank vertically with 3-4 inches of substrate to increase humidity levels. I would also recommend having several live plants (I highly suggest using Pothos plants), this will add to the humidity and also give the A. Versicolor a place to web if they desire. Though, for their den, you could include a real bark or cork bark tube placed several inches into the substrate. This species will most likely build a tube web at the top of the enclosure so I strongly suggest having several branches available for the tarantula to attach it's tube web to. A. Versicolor come from a very humid area so I suggest using sliding lid partially covered (80%) with plexiglass or a full plexiglass lid with ventilation holes to keep in humidity but still have adequate ventilation. They do not require a water dish though I think it's best to have one available. I also strongly suggest having a backdrop in the enclosure as they do love to climb and this gives them more area to safely climb and mate. See below for videos of my A. Versicolor enclosure, and how to build a plexiglass lid for a vertical enclosure.

A. Versicolor Enclosure Video:



Plexiglass Lid Tutorial Videos:

Temperature: Temperatures in A. Versicolor native habitat range from 77-90+ degrees during the day and 70-75 degrees at night. I recommend a temperature of 75-82 degrees when keeping them in captivity. I strongly suggest not getting heat from any type of heat pad - this can cause severe burns and death in a tarantula.

Humidity: Humidity in the wild is 85-95%. In captivity, I suggest keeping the A. Versicolor at 80-90% humidity. This can be achieved by using a room humidifier or by misting the enclosure 3 times a week and using a plexiglass lid with ventilation holes or by partially covering a screen lid (80% of it) with plexiglass. Every three weeks, I do an "ultimate mist", moistening the entire enclosure. A key sign that the enclosure is too dry is when the top 1" of substrate is dry all over and the tarantula is hovering near the water bowl.

Tibial Spurs: The mature males of this species does have tibial spurs though they are quite small and covered by hairs.

Breeding: When attempting to breed the A. Versicolor, make sure first that the mature male has recently made a sperm web and that the female is no more than 2-3 months into her molt cycle or she will molt out the sperm deposit before producing an egg sac.
Though female A. Versicolor is relatively docile, there is still a chance that she may attack the male once mating is complete so I suggest standing by with a ruler or small piece of plexiglass to seperate them in the event that the female attacks. I suggest making sure both male and female are well fed before mating.
Upon being introduced to the females enclosure, the male will cautiously approach the female and begin vigorously tapping his front legs to announce his intention at mating and that he is not a prey item. The female will then typically signal back, though not as vigorously as the male.
Once the female A. Versicolor is gravid, she will more than likely seal herself into her tube web. It is very important to leave the female alone and not stress her out.
The A. Versicolor usually has an egg sac of 80-200 spiderlings. I suggest removing the sac from the female at 32-40 days. Below are some video's of a A.Versicolor mating.

A.Versicolor mating video's:

MM signaling to the female (drumming):



Mating:



Pulling A. Versicolor sac:



Time Lapse video of A. Versiclor slings emerging from eggs to spiderlings:




Pics of A. Versicolors sling devolopment:

Emerging into 1st instars:



1st instars turning black & about to molt:



1st instars molting into 2nd instars:







2nd instars:

Communal: Though some species in the Avicularia can be kept somewhat communally, the Versicolor is not among them. Keeping them communally will certainly result in cannibalism.

Additional Recommendations: I recommend acquiring captive bred Isopods to put in the A. Versicolor enclosure. They will eat feeder remains and decaying plant matter thus keeping mites and mold to a minimum. They are also reported to eat mite eggs so they can be beneficial if you are worried about a current mite infestation.

[robc]

Avicularia Avicularia
Common Pinktoe Tarantula

Care sheet created by Robc - All pictures and videos are mine unless stated otherwise.

Scientific Name: Avicularia Avicularia

Common Name: Common Pinktoe Tarantula

Range/Location: Found in open forests in tropical areas of Brazil, Trinidad, Guyana, French Guyana, Surinam, Venezuela, and throughout the Amazon Basin.

Appearance: Adults are black with bright to dull pinkish pads on the tips of their legs. Males are very similiar to the females except they are slightly more slender in build.

Size Range: A. Avicularia typically range in size from 4 1/2" to 6".

Growth Rate: A.avicularia is a moderately fast growing tarantula with females reaching maturity in 22-30 months and males maturing in 14-18 months. The growth rate of the A.avicularia depends on it's habitat, diet, and temperature. An individual kept at lower temperatures will tend to grow slower than an individual kept at slightly higher temperatures.

Life Span: Females typically have a life span of 10 to 12 years, with the occasional, rare, 15 year old specimen. Males usually live approximately 12 to 18 months after reaching maturity - depending on temperature and feeding practices. The typical life span of a male A.avicularia is 2 1/2-4 years.

Diet: In captivity the A.avicularia diet should consist of B. Dubia roaches, large crickets, superworms, though their favorites are flying insects such as moths and flies. Use caution when collecting insects from the wild to avoid exposing the tarantula to pesticides.

Temperament/Defense: A.avicularia tend to fairly docile though slightly skittish at times and will run. They are also known to shoot feces if threatened and have excellent aim - they can hit a target up to a foot and a half away. Below is a video of my son handling his female A.avicularia:

A.avicularia Handling Video:

Wild Habitat: An arboreal species, the A.avicularia is found mainly in thick tube webs in trees and other vegetation.

Keeping in captivity: When keeping A.avicularia in captivity, I recommend using at least a 5-10 gallon tank vertically with 3-4 inches of substrate to increase humidity levels. I would also recommend having several live plants (I highly suggest using Pothos plants), this will add to the humidity and also give the A.avicularia a place to web if they desire. Though, for their den, you could include a real bark or cork bark tube placed several inches into the substrate. This species will most likely build a tube web at the top of the enclosure so I strongly suggest having several branches available for the tarantula to attach it's tube web to. A.avicularia come from a very humid area so I suggest using sliding lid partially covered (80%) with plexiglass or a full plexiglass lid with ventilation holes to keep in humidity but still have adequate ventilation. They do not require a water dish though I think it's best to have one available. I also strongly suggest having a backdrop in the enclosure as they do love to climb and this gives them more area to safely climb and mate. See below for videos of my son's A.avicularia enclosure, and how to build a plexiglass lid for a vertical enclosure.

A. avicularia Enclosure Video:



Plexiglass Lid Tutorial Videos:

Temperature: Temperatures in A.avicularia native habitat range from 77-90+ degrees during the day and 70-75 degrees at night. I recommend a temperature of 75-82 degrees when keeping them in captivity. I strongly suggest not getting heat from any type of heat pad - this can cause severe burns and death in a tarantula.

Humidity: Humidity in the wild is 85-95%. In captivity, I suggest keeping the A.avicularia at 80-90% humidity. This can be achieved by using a room humidifier or by misting the enclosure 3 times a week and using a plexiglass lid with ventilation holes or by partially covering a screen lid (80% of it) with plexiglass. Every three weeks, I do an "ultimate mist", moistening the entire enclosure. A key sign that the enclosure is too dry is when the top 1" of substrate is dry all over and the tarantula is hovering near the water bowl.

Tibial Spurs: The mature males of this species does have tibial spurs.

Breeding: When attempting to breed the A.avicularia, make sure first that the mature male has recently made a sperm web and that the female is no more than 2-3 months into her molt cycle or she will molt out the sperm deposit before producing an egg sac.
Though female A.avicularia is relatively docile, there is still a chance that she may attack the male once mating is complete so I suggest standing by with a ruler or small piece of plexiglass to seperate them in the event that the female attacks. I suggest making sure both male and female are well fed before mating.
Upon being introduced to the females enclosure, the male will cautiously approach the female and begin vigorously tapping his front legs to announce his intention at mating and that he is not a prey item. The female will then typically signal back, though not as vigorously as the male.
Once the female A.avicularia is gravid, she will more than likely seal herself into her tube web. It is very important to leave the female alone and not stress her out.
The A.avicularia usually has an egg sac of 80-200 spiderlings. I suggest removing the sac from the female at 32-40 days. Below are some video's of a A.avicularia mating.

A.avicularia mating video's:

Mating:

Communal: Though Avicularia can be kept somewhat communally, the outcome is usualy canabalisim.

Additional Recommendations: I recommend acquiring captive bred Isopods to put in the A.avicularia enclosure. They will eat feeder remains and decaying plant matter thus keeping mites and mold to a minimum. They are also reported to eat mite eggs so they can be beneficial if you are worried about a current mite infestation.

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