Antilles Pink Toed Tarantula

Distribution:
   This tarantula known as the Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula, Antilles Pink-toed Tree Spider, or Martinique Red Tree Spider is found in Martinique, off the coast of South America. The Avicularia genus is the most widespread group of spiders in the Americas and contains about 20 species. This genus was also the very first of the tarantulas to be described by science

Description:
   The Antilles Pink-toed Tree Spider is a medium sized spider, reaching about 4 1/2 - 6"(11- 15 cm). As juveniles they are a metallic steel blue-black coloring, changing to more dramatic colors as adults. Adults have a metallic green carapace, an abdomen covered with red hairs, and long furry black legs swathed in reds, pinks, and browns.
   As with most tarantula species, the males of the Antilles Pink-toed Tree Spider or Martinique Red Tree Spider are thinner and have long, furry legs. A female remains bulky and less spindly as she grows.

Care and Feeding:
   The Antilles Pink-toed Tree Spider or Martinique Red Tree Spider is an aggressive feeder. It will eat a variety of insect prey including adult crickets, grasshoppers, roaches, and especially flying insects such as wax moths. In nature, they will also feed on small lizards such as Anolis species, but they are not typically fed vertebrate prey in captivity.

Environment:
   In the wild all the Avicularia species are primarily arboreal, They will live in human structures or on plants rather than on the ground. The Antilles Pink-toed Tree Spider or Martinique Red Tree Spider should be kept in a large, vertically oriented enclosure. They need a well ventilated enclosure but with relatively high humidity. A modified aquarium with parts of the sides having screens and a screen on top works best. If the enclosure becomes too dry, the spiders will not do well.
   One way to overcome the dilemma of high humidity and high ventilation is to use a deep (4 to 5”) substrate of damp sand and peat moss and provide several live plants within the enclosure. These plants can be placed in the enclosure still in their pots or can be planted in the deep substrate. Live plants will not only provide excellent places for the spiders to establish homes, they will provide excellent areas for breeding and egg-laying.
   Add one or two shallow water dishes and mist the entire enclosure once a day to every other day, depending on the conditions of the room in which the enclosure is located. The cage should be allowed to dry out in between mistings.

Temperature and Humidity requirements:
   This species will do best if you maintain the enclosure at 78° to 82° F with a humidity level of 75 to 85%.

Social Behavior/Activities:
   In their natural setting, most of the Avicularia spiders will live in colonies, but the Antilles Pink-toed Tree Spiders or Martinique Red Tree Spiders are not so social In captivity. Though there have been short term successes keeping them with others of the same species, they are best housed individually.

Handling:
  This species of the Avicularia genus, though generally docile, are quite a bit more high-strung and nervous than the more common Pink-toed Tarantula A. avicularia. They seem to jump more frequently and I know of several bites from this species. (All were inconsequential and only localized swelling was noticed.) These spider don’t enjoy handling and should be considered display animals. They should only being handled and prodded when you are cleaning their enclosures or when they are being bred.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The males of the Antilles Pink-toed Tree Spider or Martinique Red Tree Spider are equipped with hooks on his first pair of legs. These hooks are used to grapple with the female’s fangs during courtship and mating.
   An adult male should be carefully introduced into the female’s enclosure after he has produced a sperm web. The male can be protected with a piece of cardboard or other tool if he is to be used for further breeding attempts. Once mating occurs, the female should be fed more heavily and with a variety of prey items. The spiderlings will require close attention and will need an environment with good ventilation and adequate humidity to rear them successfully.

Ailments:
   Tarantulas are generally quite hardy and adaptable if they are provided with the right environment. A few signs that may indicate that your pet is not acting or feeling normal are a loss of appetite, lethargy, looking overly skinny, or pacing the enclosure.
   (A tarantula on its back is probably NOT sick.  Most tarantula species flip onto their backs during molting.  Though this is a very stressful and delicate time for tarantulas, if the humidity and warmth levels are correct, they will molt their exoskeleton, roll over, harden up, and within a week or two be ready for their next meals.)

• Molting: One of the most common reasons for your pet to demonstrate unusual behavior is due to a molting period. As they outgrow their existing skin all tarantulas regularly go through an extensive molt, shedding their entire skin as well as the linings of their mouth, respiratory organs, stomach and sexual organs.
     The process starts well before the actual molt. For several weeks prior to shedding they will be growing a new skin under their old one. During this time it is not unusual for a tarantula to get quite lethargic and even stop eating. There may also be lots of web spinning activity as they prepare to molt.
     When they begin to molt, they lay on their backs with their legs up in the air looking as if they are dead. Be sure not to disturb your tarantula when you see this. The shedding process goes quickly and smoothly as long the environment has adequate humidity.
     Once they have shed, their new skin is pale and very soft. The amount of time it takes for your pet to fully recover and be back to eating well will vary from a day or so up to several weeks depending on its size. Smaller spiders recover much quicker than larger ones.
• Other Problems: Other problems are usually the result of some type of environmental stress. There may be a drop in the temperature of the enclosure, there may be parasites, or the tarantula may just not be comfortable with the depth of its hiding place. These things can be easily adjusted or changed, or you can try moving your pet to a new enclosure.

Availability:
  The Antilles Pink-toed Tree Spider or Martinique Red Tree Spider are being bred in some numbers in Europe and sporadically by US breeders. As one of the most beautiful and most popular species, the spiderlings sell quickly when they are available. Due to their popularity, most spider dealers tend to keep them in stock most of the time.

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