Neoholothele incei GCF
-Trinidad Olive Gold Form

Common Names: Trinidad Olive

Adult Size: 5-7cm (Dwarf Species)

Type: New World, Fossorial, Heavy webber, Communal setups possible.

Growth Rate: Fast

Temperament: Skittish and nervous.

Lifespan: Females (6-7 years) | Males (1-2 years)

Origin: Trinidad / Venezuela 

Recommended Climate: 25-28°C (Summer), 20-25°C (Winter)

Recommended Humidity: Summer 70-80%, Winter 65-75%

Basic Enclosure Requirements: Terrestrial setup with at least 4 x the size of the spider in horizontal space, roughly 5cm of substrate with a shelter and a water dish.

Photo Credit: Danny de Bruyne

Description

Scientific Name: Neoholothele incei Gold Form

Common Names: Trinidad Olive Gold Form | Bumble Bee Tarantula

This is the Gold Form os Neoholothele incei,  one of the smallest species in the hobby, Neoholothele incei, the Trinidad Olive. The pics of this tarantula really don’t do it justice, the gold form of this species is a warm pinkish gold that is really gorgeous to look at.

Growing no larger than 7cm and capable of being kept communally (with it’s own species), you could have an entire colony on your desk as an awesome office attraction. They are an attractive little species which in it’s standard color form (there are more) is rich with blacks and golds on it’s carapace and legs, all brought together by a “Bumble Bee” pattern on the abdomen, thus why some hobbyists give these the nickname “Bumble Bee Tarantula”.

Very skittish and extremely quick for their size, they can be a handful when enclosure maintenance in required. It’s nothing out of the ordinary to have one of these on your ear, one on your back and one on your arm because they bolt at incredible pace and cover an amazing amount of ground in a very short time with those little legs. Mostly harmless, they will rarely show any aggression or defensive qualities, however every specimen is different so as always, get to know yours. To our knowledge there are very few bite reports from this species and the few that there are report no more than mild burning at the site of bite and is usually caused by a careless keeper who let a specimen escape and was bitten trying to catch it and put it back.

We have bred and raised these easily and successfully as single spiders and as communal colonies with ease. Some cannibalism happens from time to time, but very rarely and usually in a case where too many specimens are being kept in a single enclosure. Remember that the Trinidad Olive will produce copious amounts of silk web in and around it’s home, eventually covering everything in sight, so an enclosure with a decent amount of structure and space even for this little species, especially if it will be kept communally, is a good idea.

This dwarf species is a great and interesting addition for your collection.