Guyana Pinktoe Tarantula

1 Overview

Also called the Guyana giant pinktoe, this is a classic tarantula species and one of the most common arboreal types. Gentle and unlikely to flick urticating hairs, it is ideal for beginners.

Chinese Name: Guyana Pinktoe Tarantula

Scientific Name: Avicularia avicularia

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

2 Physical Characteristics

The juvenile is a favorite among many keepers: as a spiderling it has two red stripes on the abdomen and slender, pale-pink legs, making it very charming. It is also relatively easy to keep, suitable for first-time keepers.

The carapace and legs are blue-green, the toes pink, and the black abdomen has two pink-haired stripes on the sides. With a gentle temperament and no hair-flicking, it is a hardy species, perfect for beginners trying an arboreal tarantula.

3 Care Guidelines

An entry-level species, it is mild-tempered, rarely flicks hairs, generally not aggressive, and has low venom, making it ideal for beginners. How should its enclosure be set up?

Pay attention to humidity and ventilation; keeping the substrate moist raises air humidity, and even lower humidity does not affect it much. Peat or coco soil is recommended as substrate. Being arboreal, provide some branches in the enclosure.

4 Feeding Requirements

A classic tarantula, ideal for beginners trying an arboreal species. After setting up a suitable enclosure, what is best to feed it?

In the wild it preys mainly on insects, generally ground-dwelling insects. Occasionally it takes small vertebrates such as small lizards, snakes, small rodents or birds—hence the name ‘bird eater,’ though this is rare. Overall it is an opportunist, eating whatever it catches. In captivity, feed it crickets, roaches and the like; larger individuals can occasionally take pinky mice.