Trinidad Chevron Tarantula
Psalmopoeus cambridgei (Araneae: Theraphosidae)
The Trinidad Chevron Tarantula,
as its name implies, is native to Trinidad and Tobago. This tarantula
lacks the urticating hairs of other New World species. In fact, it belongs to
the same subfamily (Selenocosmiinae) as the old world Poecilotheria.
Spiderlings may show some burrowing behavior, but this species is considered
arboreal. Captives grow quickly and web profusely in their enclosures.
Captive Requirements
| Housing: | Upright cage, taller than wide |
| Communal: | Possibly when young |
| Diet: | Crickets, cockroaches, or flying insects |
| Substrate: | Soil, peat moss, or vermiculite |
| Decor: | Cork bark upright against side of cage, water dish |
| Temperature: | 23.9 to 29.4° C (75 to 85° F) |
| Humidity: | High |
| Temperament: | Skittish and extremely fast |
| Considerations: | May not be suitable for beginners |
***Chessa***
I got Chessa during the summer of 2003 as a trade for some millipedes. She had a sibling, Tiger, who somehow disappeared. I don't think she could have escaped, so it is a mystery; perhaps a hungry cricket devoured her. Chessa is the namesake of my old dog, Chessie, who died in August of 2002. Not much of a similarity between the two, though.
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| Aug.? 2003 Spiderlings 18 days
old Photo by Susan Terry |
Sept. 18, 2003: Just a little thing! | |||
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| Jan. 6, 2005: She's sure grown
hasn't she? Chessa decided to run up my pants leg while I was taking pictures. I took the pants off to get her out; the photo with the quarter is her still in the pants. |
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Copyright © 2005-2006 By Emily Tenczar
LINKS:
Trinidad Chevron Tarantula caresheet (Arachnophiliac)