Tarantula tank and accessories

Common name: Pinktoe

Scientific name: Avicularia avicularia

Appearance: Pinktoe tarantulas are furry,dark black to metallic gray overall with deep violet to reddish hues to the abdomen and leg hairs. And the tips of their legs are pink, giving them their name!

Origin: Brazil, Trinidad, Guyana, French Guyana, Surinam, Venezuela, and the Amazon Basin.

Type: New world, Arboreal

Size: 4.5 to 5 inches.” fully grown legspan

Life span: 4-8 years

Attitude: Pinktoe tarantulas are docile, active and fast-moving.

Defensive behavior: Avicularia are quite docile if not handled roughly. They do tend to be nervous and jittery when handled and are prone to jumping. Pinktoes also like to shoot a small spray of fecal matter as a defense.

Bite danger: All tarantulas have venom, but luckily Pink toes’ venom isn’t very potent. Most humans don’t have systemic effects from this spider’s bite. Most symptoms include localized pain, itching, and burning – however every person reacts differently. Unless you are allergic to the spider’s bite (which you unfortunately won’t know until after the fact), a bite from this tarantula will just be a little irritating.

Handling: Pinktoes are extremely docile but are very fast.

Diet/Nutrition: Pinktoe avicularia tarantulas can eat crickets, moths, flies, other large insects, and an occasional small lizard or pinkie mouse. Spiderlings can eat flightless fruit flies, pinhead crickets, and other small insects.

Housing:

• Substrate: 2 – 3 inches of peat moss, potting soil, or wood chips.
• Decor: Pinktoe avicularia should be kept in a large, vertically oriented enclosure. Keep the enclosure dry and spray it lightly with water every few days. Several live plants within the enclosure can be helpful – this species likes to climb.
• Humidity: The humidity should be 65 to 75%
• Ventilation: This species needs a tank with ventilation to ensure that the high humidity and light spraying doesn’t create a bacterial environment.
• Water: A small, shallow water dish should always be present.

Temperature: The ideal temperature for Pinktoes is 78° – 82°F.

Fun facts: Unlike many tarantulas, pinktoe avicularia tarantulas can be kept communally in a large, well-planted terrarium with its own kind.

Cool Pinktoe websites: email a suggestion to info@tarantulaheaven.com!

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