How to Care for a Pinktoe Tarantula

The pink toe tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) is an arboreal species found predominantly throughout South America. The pink toe derives its name from the distinctive coloring on the tip of its legs. These spiders can vary in color, but they usually have a black to gray body. Their leg hairs can have purple to red tinting. Since pink toes prefer a tree environment, adapting an aquarium to provide as natural of a habitat as possible for this species will keep your pet spider happy.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon aquarium
  • 10-gallon (10-by-20-inch) ESU screen cover
  • Potting soil
  • Live potted plants
  • Moss
  • Cork bark
  • Tree branch
  • 2, 2-oz. condiment cups
  • Aquarium silicone sealant
  • Water
  • Duct tape
  • Live crickets
  • Live grasshoppers
  • Moths
  • Spray bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a 10-gallon aquarium and 10-gallon ESU screen cover. The ESU screen cover should have a latch door to allow you to place food and water inside your aquarium. A 10-gallon aquarium can sufficiently hold two pink toes, but until you can establish a healthy environment, place only one in your habitat.

    • 2

      Stand your aquarium vertically on its end, with the opening facing toward you. Place potting soil onto the bottom of the aquarium. Slope the soil toward the rear of the tank, suggests Tarantulas. A higher elevation allows your spider to climb while keeping soil from sloshing toward the screen entrance.

    • 3
      Pothos ivy requires little care.

      Put two small potted plants into the soil substrate. Use plants such as pothos plants, which require little lighting and watering. Add moss to your substrate and cork bark for your pink toe to crawl on. Alternatively, you can also place a small tree branch within your aquarium instead of the cork bark.

    • 4

      Adhere one 2-oz. condiment cup to the base of your aquarium with aquarium silicone sealant. Allow the sealant to dry before placing another cup inside the adhered cup. You can take out the second cup to fill with water for your pink toe. Hydration is important for this species, so refill the cup as necessary.

    • 5

      Place your screen cover over your aquarium and seal the outer screen with duct tape. Since the aquarium needs to stand vertically, the duct tape holds your screen in place. This also helps keep the screen from popping off when you need to open the latch door.

    • 6
      You can catch moths and feed them to your tarantula.

      Feed your pink toe live crickets once or twice a week, depending on its appetite. Remove what the spider doesn't eat from its cage. This keeps crickets from potentially drowning in the water. Pink toes generally like to eat larger crickets, but you can also incorporate grasshoppers and moths into your spider's diet.

    • 7

      Mist the interior of your aquarium once a day using a spray bottle. A light misting on the interior plants can help keep humidity levels up, which your tarantula requires. However, keep from spraying your tarantula directly. It won't appreciate this.

    • 8
      Keep your pink toe away from direct lighting.

      Provide an area in your home out of direct sunlight for your pink toe. Sunlight pulls away humidity levels, and overheating can harm your tarantula. An undisturbed room within your home can provide a safe environment.