Mike's Basic Tarantula

A Basic Site for the Tarantula enthusiast

Davus fasciata [formally Cyclosternum fasciata]

Common name: Tiger Rump

Indigenous: Central America, Costa Rica

Habitat: The climate of Costa Rica ranges from tropical on the coastal plains to temperate in the interior highlands. Average annual temperatures range from 31.7°C (89°F) on the coast to 16.7°C (62°F) inland. A rainy season lasts from April or May to December.

Temp/humidity: 70°-85° degrees/65%-80% humidity  I keep this species temperature between 78°- 82°F (25.5°- 27.7C°) and the humidity at 70%.

Enclosure: Use a terrarium that will allow at least four inches (10.16cm) of substrate

Substrate: I use four inches of substrate. (I use a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, coconut fiber and dirt for firmness, as the substrate).

Retreat/Hide: Place a bark for a starter burrow hide

Food Consumption: I fed my new born spiderlings fruit flies. When they reached 1/2" (1.27cm), I introduced baby crickets. My Tiger Rump, I give 2 inch (5.06cm) B. dubia roaches or 5 adult crickets weekly. This species is a good eater.

Water Requirements: I keep a water dish in the tank. This species occasionally frequent the water dish. I keep the substrate in the terrarium dry on half the terrarium, and dampen the other half where the water dish is located, then allow it to dry out.

Growth Rate: The growth rate of this species is medium. I purchased this tarantula as a spiderling of 1/8" in size. After the first year she had grown to two inch (5.08cm). With constant feeding and with temperatures in the low 80's, they will reach a size of four inches within three years. After they attained a leg length of three inches (7.62cm), they tend to stay outside their burrow.

Adult Size: They get four inches (10.16cm). My girl is a solid four inches (10.16cm).

Temperament: This is a docile species. It has never kicked hair at me, nor shown a threat pose. Yet it is more on the skittish side.

Comments: A very delightful species to own. The legs on this spider are black , with a copper carapace. The abdomen is copper with black stripes, which make it an attractive species, thus the name Tiger rump. Mine has a bluish tint on the legs in direct sun light. It is a prolific webber. The care for this species is straight foRward. This is a colorful, hardy addition to a collection.

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