Things You Must Know About a Pinktoe Tarantula’s Care

Pinktoe Tarantula, scientifically called Avicularia avicularia, hails from South America. They can be your first go-to for an exotic pet, mainly because they are well ‘spiders’. Their silence and ease of care make them a great choice as a pet.

They are also called Antilles tree spiders, named so because of their aesthetic pinkish-orange toes poking out from their furry black legs. When it comes to caring, they should have housing that mimics their natural habitat and live prey. Here are a few facts you have to know, which will help you take care of the docile beauty.

Set up a Cozy Habitat

The height of the enclosure is essential for the Pinktoe Tarantula. Being an arboreal species, an adult spider will require a spacious 12”x 12”x 18” enclosure. Younger and smaller spiders can be housed in a more compact enclosure.

An enclosure with the opening lid in the bottom would be the best choice as Pinktoes usually stay on the top of their home. A bottom lid would be easily accessible without any shakes to the webs and escape scares.

Pick Out the Right Substrate

As they don’t spend much of their time on the ground, not much substrate is needed to house them.  Pinktoe Tarantula thrives in warm and humid enclosures. So, you can go for substrates like peat moss, vermiculite, coconut fiber, Coco husk, and other organic Arthropod leaves and soil.

To clean easily and remove uneaten foods, go for shallow substrates. Shallow substrates also prevent bacterial growth and mold problems. Refrain from cedar bedding, as the oil in it is toxic and harmful.

Keep a Check on Humidity Levels and Water

Water should always be available in the enclosure. Choose an easy usable water dish for the spider. Commonly people use big water bottle caps. You can either place it on the substrate or glue it to the bark.

As they do well in warm and tropical conditions, always keep an eye on the enclosure’s humidity range. The ideal humidity range you can maintain is 70% to 80%, and make sure it doesn’t go below 60%.

If needed, mist the enclosure 2 -3 times a day, or you can even add reptile moss. Keep a hygrometer handy.

Feeding Check

They love insects. A standard food that will keep your tarantula comfortable and healthy is crickets. The size of the insect is an important factor. For juveniles, small crickets in the size of ¼” are recommended, while adult crickets can be fed to grown-up spiders.

You can feed them as often as they eat but be cautious during their molting. Make sure to dust the feeders with calcium D3 beforehand.

Monitor Their Health

Pinktoes are generally healthy and robust species. But just like other arthropods, they are prone to health complications at any time. Some common issues can be dehydration due to low humidity, broken exoskeleton, stress due to too much handling, and drowning in big water holders.

But it can be avoided and easily cured just by constant vigilance and checkups from time to time.

Before you buy the Pinktoe from any seller, make sure you get the complete history and health conditions.