A fast, semi-arboreal New World tarantula with a velvety black body and vivid orange chevron markings on the abdomen and legs. It lacks urticating hairs and is quick and defensive, so it suits keepers ready for an Old-World-like temperament in a New World spider.
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Medium-large; leg span about 5-6 in (13-15 cm), slender arboreal build.
Lifespan
4–12 years
Social needs
solo
Native region
Venezuela (tropical forest)
Origin
New World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Theraphosidae
Genus
Psalmopoeus
Part of the Tarantulas
Theraphosid spiders kept as low-maintenance display invertebrates. New World species are generally docile with mild venom but bear irritating urticating hairs, while Old World species lack those hairs but tend to be fast, defensive, and have more potent (though rarely life-threatening) venom.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Juvenile / sub-adult arboreal
8 × 8 × 12 in (juvi) → 10 × 10 × 14 in (sub-adult)
Tall enclosure with vertical cork-bark slabs reaching most of the height, cross-ventilation, 2–3 in of substrate, and a water dish. Arboreals web a tube-retreat against the bark rather than burrow. Sun tigers (Psalmopoeus irminia) are fast new-world arboreals — secure lid is critical; they will bolt the moment you open the enclosure.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Adult arboreal vivarium
12 × 12 × 18 in, vertical
Vertical footprint with multiple cork verticals, plants or fake foliage for cover, and front-opening access. Humidity is maintained via substrate moisture and a deep water dish, not by sealing off airflow.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Planted arboreal bioactive
12 × 12 × 24 in+, bioactive planted
Tall bioactive vivarium with live plants, dense cork-bark verticals, leaf litter, and a springtail/isopod cleanup crew. Cross-ventilation panels at top and bottom prevent stagnant air, which arboreals are intolerant of.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
These invertebrates lay eggs — often in a guarded clutch, a silk sac (spiders), or a brood (carried by female isopods). The eggs are small and soft and develop without a true larval or pupal transformation.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles hatch as miniature versions of the adult and grow by molting their exoskeleton (or, in snails, by enlarging the shell). They gain size, segments, or leg pairs and gradually take on adult coloration with each molt.
Adult
Adults reach full size and reproductive maturity with the species' mature form and coloration. Many arachnids and myriapods continue to molt as adults, and sexes can differ in size or in specialized appendages.
Habitat & enclosure
House one spider alone in an arboreal-style enclosure taller than it is wide, with secure vertical cork bark and a hide. A footprint around 12x12x18 in (30x30x45 cm) suits an adult. Provide anchor points for webbing and a shallow water dish. Keep at 75-82F (24-28C) with moderate humidity: keep part of the substrate lightly moist, mist occasionally, and ensure good ventilation to avoid stagnation. No UVB or special lighting is required.
Substrate
Use 2-4 in (5-10 cm) of a coco-fiber and topsoil mix at the base, kept lightly moist on one side. Activity is mostly vertical, so prioritize tall cork-bark slabs and anchor points for the silk tube retreat the spider builds off the ground.
Equipment & setup
No heater is usually needed at normal room temperatures; if required, use a thermostat-controlled side-mounted heat mat. No UVB. Provide a tall, well-sealed arboreal enclosure (escapes are a major risk), vertical cork bark, webbing anchors, and a shallow water dish. A hygrometer helps maintain moderate humidity.
Diet
An opportunistic insectivore and an aggressive, fast feeder. Feed appropriately sized crickets, dubia roaches, and the occasional larger feeder for adults; slings take flightless fruit flies and pinhead crickets. Slings eat 2-3x weekly, juveniles weekly, adults every 1-2 weeks. Remove uneaten prey within 24 hours and withhold food during premolt. Always provide clean water.
Behavior & temperament
Like its relative the Trinidad chevron, this New World species lacks urticating hairs and behaves like an Old World tarantula: extremely fast, skittish, and quick to bolt or throw a threat posture if cornered. It is a defensive, hands-off display species. Its venom is among the more potent of New World tarantulas; while not regarded as life-threatening, a bite from its long fangs can be very painful and has been documented to cause local burning and swelling, and potentially systemic effects such as muscle cramping or nausea. Always work over a contained surface and keep a catch cup ready.
Health
Hardy and fast-growing when humidity and ventilation are balanced. Main risks are escapes (it is very fast), dehydration if kept too dry, and mold or mites if kept soggy and stagnant. Keep the water dish full and provide good airflow. It will web up and refuse food before molting; never disturb a molting spider, which often occurs in its elevated silk retreat.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Perform all maintenance over a bin with a catch cup ready, since this spider can dash out of an open enclosure instantly. Never handle it. Give it tall vertical structure and it will spin an attractive silk-lined tube retreat that shows off its orange markings when it emerges. An excellent introduction to fast, defensive husbandry for keepers stepping up from docile terrestrials, but respect its speed and potent bite.
