Ecuadorian Woolly Pinktoe Tarantula

1 Overview

The Ecuadorian woolly pinktoe is an uncommon pinktoe species; adults reach a leg span of 19 cm and closely resemble the genus’s most common species, the Guyana pinktoe.

Chinese Name: Ecuadorian Woolly Pinktoe Tarantula

Scientific Name: Avicularia huriana

Origin: Southern Ecuador (tropical rainforest)

Genus: Avicularia

2 Physical Characteristics

The Ecuadorian woolly pinktoe is one of the larger species in the genus Avicularia, with adults reaching 16–17 cm in leg span. However, its spiderlings are very fragile and need special care.

Adults resemble the common Guyana pinktoe but differ clearly in color: golden hairs cover a pale green body, giving it a perpetually fluffy look. The small spiderlings are also similar in color to the Guyana pinktoe, yet the difference is still recognizable at a glance.

3 Husbandry & Enclosure

The spiderlings can be very fragile, so during captive care attention must be paid to humidity and ventilation in the enclosure; otherwise young individuals may die.

The ideal temperature is 26–28°C and humidity about 85%. Slightly moist peat, coconut fiber, or clay is recommended as substrate. The enclosure should be arranged as for a typical arboreal species, with a piece of bark essential for climbing and web-building.

4 Feeding

This is an uncommon pinktoe whose spiderlings are far harder to raise than the adults, so prospective keepers should bear this in mind.

For feeding, choose prey no larger than one-third of the body to avoid the spider feeling unable to capture it and giving up. Use slightly moist peat, coconut fiber, or clay as substrate, and arrange the enclosure as for a typical arboreal species.