Psalmopoeus irminia spiderling • 1″ (Venezuelan suntiger)

Description

Listed for sale is Psalmopoeus irminia, the Venezuelan suntiger. The suntiger is dear to many of us for it was one of our first tarantulas. It’s not a bad choice for a first tarantula. It’s smartly colored and patterned, and hardy enough to be worth considering for first-time keepers. In captivity, P. irminia makes a hide at the substrate-wall interface, mainly from web and debris. At the entrance it sits in wait for passing prey.

P. irminia is from eastern Venezuela and neighboring Guyana. The area is famous for massive plateaus, called tepuis. Climate is tropical, hot and humid year-round. Keeping parameters for P. irminia spiderlings are as follows:

Spiderlings are always less drought tolerant than adults. We suggest keeping your P. irminia spiderling on slightly dampened substrate (1 part water:1o parts dry substrate) and limiting ventilation enough to allow humidity to build. Juveniles through adults may do better with less dampness and humidity, perhaps with a water dish to avert dehydration.

Although we classify P. irminia as arboreal, it doesn’t have the same tree-climbing and webbing tendencies as classic arboreal tarantulas (Avicularia for instance), at least not in captivity. As mentioned above, in an enclosure, P. irminia tend to web at the ground-wall interface. Adults may web upward along adjacent vertical structure however.

Psalmopoeus tarantulas don’t flick hairs, a plus especially for keepers with skin sensitivities.

Photos: 1-specimen in web hide (wawritto); 2,3-immature females (ArachnoEden)

Care highlights:

• slightly dampened substrate for spiderlings
• elevated humidity +/- water dish support
• room temperature (68-72F) up to 80F
• arboreal, specimens may use vertical structure
• consider forest litter and plantings for enrichment