Mike's Basic Tarantula

A Basic Site for the Tarantula enthusiast

Psalmopoeus langenbucheri

All rights reserved, ©

All photos on this website are courtesy of Mike Basic Tarantula unless stated otherwise. It's prohibited to copy without permission of author.

Common name: Venezuelan Chevron

Indigenous: Venezuela

Habitat: The climate of Venezuela is tropical on the Llanos and along the coast and temperate in the mountainous regions. The average temperature in Venezuela is 21.1 °C (70 °F). The warmest average max/ high temperature is 27 °C (81 °F) in March, April, May, August, September. The coolest average min/ low temperature is 14 °C (57 °F) in January & February. The month with the driest weather is March. The relative humidity for an average year is recorded as 80.7% and on a monthly basis it ranges from 76% in March to 84% in November.

Most precipitation falls from May through November, with the northern mountain slopes receiving less rain than those on the south.

Temp/humidity: I keep the temperature between 72°-78°F (22.2°-25.6°C) and the humidity at 70%-80%. The substrate in the terrarium is kept more on the damp side and monthly I wet the substrate, than allow it to dry out completely.

Enclosure: This is an arboreal tarantula. As spiderling or juvenile, I put a twig in the vial so it may climb, but they normally spend most of the time webbed in at the base of the twigs. When they get between three and four inches (7.76cm-10.16cm), I housed them in their permanent enclosures. They should be given a hollow vertical branch or cork to climb into. Their enclosure should be vertical. I have observed that, if the terrarium is decorated with plants, live or artificial, it will encourage the tarantula to venture out of its hide periodically.

Substrate: Use one inch (2.54cm) of substrate in vial, deli cup  for spiderlings, and two inches (5.06cm) in a terrarium for sub-adult to adult. (I use a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, coconut fiber and dirt for firmness, as the substrate).

Retreat/Hide: Place a ten inch (25.4cm) vertical barreled bark leaned against the cage.

Food Consumption: I introduced one-forth inch (.635cm) baby crickets to the spiderlings. Now I give my one (1) -one inch B. dubia roaches or three (3) adult crickets weekly. For variety, I give my girl one (1) house gecko  It appears that from the strategy it uses to catch a lizard, in the wild, lizards are a normal part of their diet.

Water Requirements: I glued a small bottle cap to the bark that is leaning against the cage for water and I also mist.

Growth Rate: This is a medium growing tarantula. I bought her at one inch (2.54cm). The first year she attained a leg length of three inches (7.76cm).

Adult Size: I read that this tarantula is the smallest species in the Genus and that it only reaches a leg length of four inches (10.16cm). My girl is a relaxed three inches (7.62cm).

Temperament: This can be a fast moving spider if startled. It is not what I would consider a defensive tarantula, but will probably bite if provoked. It has not given me a threat pose and would rather flee than fight.

Comments: This is a seclude species and is rarely visible. If not given the proper hide, it will web up its enclosure, but this process take a while and it will hover up in a corner of the cage. It will eventually web a hammock, settle in and become more visible, but the process looks stressful on the spider. The common name of this tarantula is derived from the.