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Trinidad mahogany
tarantula (Tapinauchenius plumipes)
A
native of Trinidad and also Surinam, this spider
was first described by the famous arachnologist
C.L.Koch.
The spider lives in tropical
plantations where it makes silken
tubes under the bark of the trees found there. It
is described as being 'basically brown, with a
reddish abdomen. The males are smaller than the
females, both are inclined to be fast moving and
quite aggressive.
One keeper of this species has
reported that they are great escapologists that
would make Houdini look like a bumbling amateur.
This is considered an aggressive
species, handling is definitely not recommended!
The requirements in captivity
are:
As for keeping them as pets, many
people keep these in large 12x12x12 (inches)
tanks.
Like the other arboreal (tree
living) species they require high humidity levels
(above 80%).
As these are arboreal spiders,
you must make provision for a retreat, such as a
piece of cork bark glued to the side of the tank,
or some other suitable materials, such as twigs
for their tubular webs to be attached to.
Substrate for the cage should be of
peat/vermiculite mix, should be at least 1 inch
deep.
An open water dish is a must, as
is regular spraying of the tank with a plant
mister. On no account should the humidity level
fall below 70 percent!
Food: All standard invertebrates
Type: Arboreal (Tree Living)
Aggressiveness: Considered
aggressive!
Venom Effect: Unknown, expected
to be low-toxicity.
Geographic Range: Trinidad and
Surinam
Requirements: 78 Fahrenheit
Humidity: 80%
Substrate: 1 inches
Shelter: Cork bark or suitable
sterilised twigs.
Water: Open water dish, and
regular mistings.
Longevity: Females are estimated
to live for up to 12 years. Males mature at
around the age of two years.
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