Avicularia avicularia
-Guyana Pink Toe

Description

Scientific Name: Avicularia avicularia

Common names: Guyana Pink Toe | Common Pink Toe | South-American Pink Toe

Welcome to the world of Avicularia species. Probably one of the cutest and best species in the entire hobby to own and care for, and we mean for anyone from a complete beginner to the most experienced keepers (who always have one or two hiding somewhere). An absolute must for any collection, and we don’t mean this Pink Toe, we mean any Pink Toe from the Avicularia, Caribena or Ybyrapora species. Simply adorable.

The “Pink Toe” naming already suggests something cute and Avicularia avicularia, the common pink toe, doesn’t disappoint. Many Avicularia sp. start out as slings with pink legs that have little black boots on them as well as a metallic carapace and a pretty tiger pattern on their abdomen/opisthosoma. These colors all fade as the sling grows, developing into metallic obsidian and ebony with hidden blue, green and purple tones. They are really colorful when inspected up close.

They are a gentle and docile species which, although we don’t encourage it, many hobbyists elect to handle because the chance of being poo’d on (you read it correctly), or smeared with urticating hairs/bristles is going to happen 100 times over before one of these decide to deliver a bite or get defensive. As mentioned, when this species gets annoyed, it will aim it’s abdomen in the direction of whatever is annoying it and squirt a poo in that general direction, hilarious to witness. They are also jumpers, people that handle them will find that they often jump to get off the alien landscape that is our bodies, so take precautions to ensure they don’t fall to their death.

With all the Avicularia, Caribena or Ybyrapora species, high humidity in the region of 80% must be maintained where possible along with good cross-flow ventilation to ensure a safe and comfortable habitat for these species. However, care should be taken to ensure that it’s not too wet, humid and warm, which will quickly stifle and kill your tarantula.