Origin And Natural Habitat
The Peruvian green velvet tarantula originates from Peru and is naturally found in the rainforests and tropical regions of the country, particularly in places with lots of moisture and dense plant growth. They prefer living on the ground and usually dig burrows or shelters in the soil, among fallen leaves, and around rocks and plants.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum | Chelicerata |
| Class | Arachnida |
| Order | Araneae |
| Infraorder | Mygalomorphae |
| Family | Theraphosidae |
| Genus | Thrixopelma |
| Species | Thrixopelma Pruriens |
Species Overview
| Common Name | Peruvian Green Velvet Tarantula |
| Origin | South America |
| Category | New World |
| Lifestyle | Terrestrial |
| Temperament | Docile |
| Minimum Tank Size | 40 × 30 × 30 cm. |
| Temperature | 70°-85°F |
| Humidity | 60-70% |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Leg Span | Up to 4 inches |
| Urticating Hairs | Yes |
| Venomous | Yes |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Lifespan | Females: 15 – 20 years Males: 3-4 years |
| Experience Required | Intermediate |
Appearance And Size
The Peruvian green velvet tarantula has a really cool look. Its carapace is olive-green to gold, which stands out against the red hairs on its belly. These tarantulas can get pretty big, too, with the females growing up to about four inches, while the males are smaller and usually grow to around two to three inches.
Housing
To create a comfortable living space for the Peruvian green velvet tarantula, it’s important to set up its enclosure carefully. This tarantula is terrestrial and really enjoys making its own burrows. So, make sure to choose an enclosure with enough room on the bottom for a good amount of bedding material. They can become a bit picky if they can’t burrow, so giving them the chance to do this is super important for their well-being. It’s a good idea to pick an enclosure that’s at least 40 × 30 × 30 cm in size. This way, your tarantula will have plenty of space to do its thing inside the enclosure. Just make sure that whatever enclosure you choose lets you see inside well and also lets air flow through easily. All these factors are significant for making a good home for this type of tarantula. You could even make your own enclosure if you want something extra special or to save money. Just remember to design it so that there’s enough air flowing through and it’s big enough for your tarantula to live comfortably.
However, you can house the Peruvian green velvet spiderlings in vials or small jars that have lids. But it’s essential to ensure that whatever container you pick lets enough air in for the spiderlings to stay healthy. One good way to do this is to make small holes in the container. Aside from vials and small jars, you can also house them in shoeboxes and deli cups.
Enclosure’s Decorations
To make the best home for your Peruvian green velvet tarantula, adding different decorations to their enclosure is essential. Include at least two cork bark pieces your tarantula can use as hiding spots. These tarantulas like having private spaces, and having somewhere to go to can help them feel safe and relaxed. Adding artificial and natural plants to the enclosure can also help. They give the environment inside the enclosure a realistic touch and help your tarantula feel like it’s in its natural habitat.
Substrate
You should also put a few inches of slightly damp substrate in your tarantula’s enclosure. This substrate can be made by mixing coconut coir, sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, and regular organic soil. It’s better to make the substrate significantly deep if your tarantula is an adult. 10 cm is a good enough depth level for adult Peruvian green velvet tarantulas. This gives them the space to dig burrows whenever they feel like it.
Water And Humidity
Keeping your Peruvian green velvet tarantula healthy involves maintaining the humidity levels in its enclosure between 60% and 70%. You can easily keep the humidity in the correct range by regularly spraying the enclosure and substrate. Also, make sure there’s a shallow water dish in the enclosure. This way, your tarantula always has water to drink and won’t get thirsty. It’s important to spray the bedding often because this keeps it damp, and your young tarantula can drink the water droplets. Young tarantulas can’t use water dishes like the adults can since they are too small. Spraying the enclosure also stops it from getting overly wet, which keeps fungus and mites away. You can use small containers like bottle caps instead of water bowls for your young tarantulas, too.
Heating And Temperature
Peruvian green velvet tarantulas come from warm tropical areas and don’t do well in cold surroundings. That’s why it’s essential to keep their cage warm always, just how they like it. You can use a small heat mat under the cage as a constant heat source to achieve this. Make sure to position the heat source in a way that one part of the cage is noticeably warmer than the other. This setup lets your Peruvian green velvet tarantula move around and find the temperature it prefers at any given time.
In the case of younger Peruvian green velvet tarantulas, it might be a bit tricky to place a heat mat or heat lamp in their smaller enclosures, as they’re tinier than the ones used for adult tarantulas. If that’s the case, you can put the enclosure you’re using for your tarantula inside a larger, heated enclosure.
Remember to buy a thermometer so you can check the temperature in your tarantula’s enclosure whenever you want. Using a thermometer is the simplest way to make sure the cage isn’t too hot or too cold but just right. Keeping the temperature at 70°F to 85°F is important to keep your pet Peruvian green velvet tarantula comfortable.
Diet And Nutrition
The Peruvian Green Velvet tarantula has quite an appetite and is, as such, very voracious when it comes to food. To start, you can feed them small crickets and earthworms and then introduce them to bigger meals like adult dubia roaches when they grow older. It’s best to feed them at least two to three times a week.
Also, try not to leave any uneaten food in the cage for too long once your tarantula is done with the food. Keeping your tarantula enclosure clean is very important.
Social
Peruvian green velvet tarantulas are solitary beings that prefer to live alone. Therefore, it’s essential to house them separately in their own enclosures.
Behavior And Temperament
Peruvian Green Velvet tarantulas possess many urticating hairs, which can be utilized both defensively and offensively. Despite their intimidating appearance, this species is not typically aggressive. Instead, they are generally gentle but also quite nervous and jumpy when startled.
Handling
Peruvian Green Velvet tarantulas can flick their urticating hairs and are also quite venomous. Which means it’s not exactly a good idea to handle them.
Health And Lifespan
Male Peruvian Green Velvet tarantulas usually have a lifespan of 3 to 4 years, while females can live much longer, reaching up to 15-20 years. Taking care of them is pretty simple – just ensure they have access to store-bought feeders and clean water and ensure their enclosure is always clean.
Price
Peruvian Green Velvet tarantulas are quite common in the pet trade. Their price ranges from approximately $40 to $80 each, making them relatively affordable to purchase.
