Avicularia merianae
-Tarapoto Pink Toe

Common names: Tarapoto Pink Toe

Adult Size: 12-14cm

Type: New Word, arboreal.

Growth Rate: Medium/Fast

Temperament: Docile but jumpy.

Lifespan: Females (10 to 12 years) | Males (2 to 3 years)

Recommended Climate: San Martín: Tarapoto. 24-26°C (day), 20-25°C (night).

Recommended Humidity: 70-80% with cross flow ventilation.

Basic Enclosure Requirements: Arboreal setup with at least 4 x the size of the spider in vertical space, 5cm to 10cm of substrate. The enclosure must have good cross-flow ventilation with vertical structure of any kind as these arboreal tarantulas tend to create intricate webbed homes of their own. Don’t forget the customary water dish.

Photo Credit: Chase Campbell, CEC Arachnoboards

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Description

Scientific Name: Avicularia merianae

Common names: Tarapoto Pink Toe

Maria Sybilla Merian's famous illustration: Merian’s drawing of a tarantula devouring a hummingbird was criticized as impossible during the Victorian era, only to later be confirmed.
Maria Sybilla Merian’s famous illustration: Merian’s drawing of a tarantula devouring a hummingbird was criticized as impossible during the Victorian era, only to later be confirmed.

One of the new species, Avicularia merianae, is named after Maria Sybilla Merian (1647-1717), a pioneering scientist and a remarkable artist who made the famous illustration of a spider eating a bird. In fact, it was her work that gave birth to the popular name used for a whole group of spiders, also known as birdeaters or bird spiders.

If we could collect every species of Pink Toe, we would. Avicularia, Caribena and Ybyrapora species all exhibit the same docile and goofy behavior as slings which is simply adorable, not to mention the explosive feeding responses of most pink toe tarantulas.

When it comes to arboreal species, the Pink Toes are truly very rewarding to keep. They are heavy webbers in most cases and web intricate and thick silk lairs from which they stalk their prey. Decent amounts of plants or structure should be made available in their vertical enclosures as they use this to anchor their webbed palace.

They do not enjoy a blank open enclosure or an enclosure that is too large and spacious with too little structure in the upper areas of the enclosure.

Remember, as with most Pink Toe species, high humidity with good cross flow ventilation are crucial to ensuring a suitable environment for these tarantulas. So always ensure that you have ventilation holes in your enclosure that cover different heights so the it promotes the natural flow of air in and out of the enclosure.

Apologies this is the best video we have found so far: