Mike's Basic Tarantula

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Cyriocosmus Venezuelensis

Common name: Unknown

Indigenous: Venezuela

Habitat:The climate of Venezuela is tropical . The average daily temperature range in January is 15° to 26°C (59° to 78°F) in Caracas and 23° to 32°C (73° to 90°F) in Maracaibo; in July the range is 17° to 26°C (63° to 80°F) in Caracas and 24° to 34°C (76° to 94°F) in Maracaibo. Most precipitation falls from May through November, with the northern mountain slopes receiving less rain than those on the south.

Temp/humidity: 78°-82 °, 65-75%  humidity. I keep this specie temperature at 80 degrees and the humidity at 70%. I keep one-half of the substrate in the terrarium basically dry and mist the other side once every two (2) weeks.

Enclosure: Use a spiderling vial that will allow at least three inches of substrate for burrowing and three inches (7.62cm) as sub-adult-adult.

Substrate: three inches of substrate in vial and three inches (7.62cm) in small terrarium. (I use a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, coconut fiber and dirt for firmness, as the substrate).

Retreat/Hide: This is an opportunistic burrower therefore, place a bark for a starter burrow hide

Food Consumption: I first fed her fruit flies, than when she reached one-half inch (1.27cm) I introduced baby crickets. Now I give my C. sp. "Venezuela" (2) - one-half inch (1.27cm) B. dubia roaches or one (1) one-half inch (1.27cm) crickets weekly. This species is an excellent eater.

Water Requirements: I keep a water dish in the tank. I have never seen mine drink.

Growth Rate: The growth rate of this species is fast. I purchased this tarantula as a spiderling of 1/8" (0.635cm) in size. After the first year she had grown to one inch. With constant feeding and with temperatures in the low to mid 80's, it will probably reach full size within two (2) years at this growth rate.

Adult Size: I read that they get two inches (5.08cm). Mine is only one and one-half inches (3.81cm).

Temperament: This is a docile but species. When I open the cage she doesn't run for the burrow. It has never kicked hair at me nor given me a threat pose.

Comments: I love the Dwarf tarantulas. I consider a tarantula a dwarf if it does not attain a size over two and one-half inches (6.35cm) leg length. A three inch tarantula in my opinion is not a dwarf; small, but not dwarf. This is another feisty, easy to care for species. The only visible difference I noticed between the C. perezmilesi  and this species are the leg, which are a whithish clay in color from the patella down to the toe on the C. sp. "Venezuela", and blackish grey on the C. perezmilesi. I've seen this dwarf literally tackle a cricket. You will not be disappointed with this species. Not to mention that it is a colorful tarantula.

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