Trinidad Chevron Tarantula Care Guide

Background Information

The Trinidad Chevron Tarantula is scientifically known as Psalmopoeus cambridgei. It's also sometimes called the Trinidad Chevron Tree Spider. This tarantula is an arboreal species native to the tropical island of Trinidad. Adults of this species range from 4-7 inches and feature chevron markings on their abdomen, and a brown or olive coloration. This species has existed in the pet trade for decades and is considered one of the original tarantulas in the trade. It may be an oldie, but it's a goodie! The juveniles behave more similarly to ground-dwelling species, but as the spider ages, they move up towards the tops of their enclosures. This species lacks the urticating hairs that the new world tarantula species generally have. They also lack the potent venom that a lot of old world species possess. That does not mean that this species is docile, or handleable! This species can be very aggressive, and their bites can range from irritating to medically significant if you are susceptible to the venom.

Habitat Setup

Being a primarily arboreal species, the height of your enclosure will be more important than the length or width. A 12”x12”x18” glass terrarium should be large enough for an adult of the species. Make sure the enclosure has a secure mesh top to allow for ventilation. Josh's Frogs sells a variety of tarantula kits that makes setup and care simple.

Substrate

Being arboreal the Trinidad Chevron tarantulas don’t make burrows, so a deep substrate is unnecessary. Coconut fiber or Josh's Frogs Dig It is enough and beneficial for controlling humidity inside of the enclosure. If you want to use a cleanup crew of springtails and isopods, or you want to use live plants, get some Josh's Frogs BioBedding Tropical.

Decor

For this species, vertical pieces of vivarium wood are required to imitate the trees that these spiders live on in the wild. Cork bark is an excellent choice as it doesn’t promote mold or bacterial growth, and doesn’t break down as easily as other types of wood. Include at least two different pieces of cork bark, and ideally, have one of them as a cork bark tube to allow the spider an easy hiding place to feel safe in.

Water & Humidity

These are tropical spiders and require a higher level of humidity and 78-82% relative humidity is ideal for these species. It is recommended that you have both a digital hygrometer and thermometer in your enclosure to monitor these conditions. If the enclosure gets too dry, the tarantula can have difficulty molting, and this can lead to death and disfiguring of your spider. To keep conditions humid, keep a small water dish or bottle cap full of water available at all times. The enclosure can also be misted, but be careful not to mist the spider, this can agitate the spider and result in bites or escape attempts. Misting can be down along the walls of the enclosure so it is absorbed by the substrate. Additionally, you can mist some of the webbing to allow the spider multiple places to get water. Reverse Osmosis, Distilled, or Spring water can be used. If using tap water, make sure to use a quality water dechlorinator.

Heating & Lighting

These tarantulas do not require any UV lighting or any heating lamps, just a day-night cycle. Be careful your spider's enclosure doesn't receive too much sunlight. Sunlight can cause temperatures to rise rapidly, cooking your spider in its home. A thermometer should be present in the enclosure, and temperatures should be kept around 75-80 degrees. This can be accomplished with a low wattage under tank heat pad during colder conditions.

Feeding

The Trinidad Chevron tarantula is a fast growing species, with spiderlings reaching 3 inches in a year. You will need to keep up with their fast growth when feeding. For these young spiderlings, 2 small crickets a week will suffice to help them grow. Other options include dubia roaches and other common feeders. For adults, feeding larger crickets or similarly sized prey once a week will be enough. As with all tarantula species in your care, remove any excess feeders from your enclosure after a day, and wait a week to resume feeding after your tarantula molts.

Handling

The Trinidad Chevron Tarantulas are not a docile species. Due to their lack of potent (but still potentially dangerous) venom and lack of urticating hairs, these spiders can either bite or flee to defend themselves. Providing adequate hiding places in your enclosure can help decrease the need to flee in any situation where your tarantula feels threatened. These spiders are astonishingly fast and that speed should not be underestimated. Handling this species is not recommended. If you are new to tarantulas, or like handling your animals, this species is not for you. But if you are looking for a great medium difficulty spider that will not spend all of its time underground, the Trinidad Chevron Tarantula is perfect.

Longevity

Trinidad Chevron tarantulas can be quite long lived in captivity. Males can live 2-3 years, and females can easily live over a decade if cared for properly.[button-green url="https://new.joshsfrogs.com/p/trinidad-chevron-tarantula-for-sale-jftct518" target="_blank" position="center"]Buy A Trinidad Chevron[/button-green]

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