Greenbottle blue (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) Quick stats: Type: Semi-arboreal (tends to build webbed and sometimes burrowed retreats on or near the ground) Size: Various (see molting section) Feeding: Large crickets, medium roaches Enclosure: Pet-pals, rubbermaid tubs Substrate: 2" deep potting soil Furnishings: Some cork chunks, water dish Temp/Humidity: 80-84°F, 50-65% humidity Temperment: Skittish, hair kicker, sometimes defensive Recieved From: West Coast Zoological on 02/05/2000, Arachnocentric on 12/06/2000 Speck's photo album

Fresh after a molt!

Species Information: Speck was purchsed from West Coast Zoological at the same time as Sparky (Grammostola mollicoma). The others were recieved as a breeding group from Arachnocentric on 12/06/2000. Common names include Greenbottle Blue, Bottlebrush and Orange Bluebottle. Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is a scrubland, dry forest species from Venezuela and the Paraguana peninsula. As an adult, they are one of the more colorful tarantulas, with blue legs, a green carapace and a bright red/orange abdomen. Though they're not usually considered terribly aggressive, they tend to be somewhat nervous and skittish and are known for webbing up their cages extensively in captivity.

Feeding: They're all big enough to handle large crickets. They have a fairly strong appetite and are growing quickly.

Eating crickets is fun.

Housing: Speck is in a extra-large pet-pal (bigger than the 2.5 gallon size). There's a couple inches of potting soil for bedding and some cork pieces to anchor its webbing against. He webs all over the cage. The two females and one of the other males are similarly set up in rubbermaid tubs. The smallest male is in a medium sized pet-pal. They like it dry, and high humidity or moisture can be dangerous for this species. Smaller spiderlings are more tolerant though. 50-65% seems OK. Temp is about 80-84°F.

Temperment: Speck's extreemly skittish and likes to kick hairs to ward me off. He's run out of the cage when bothered (though it does take some prodding to get this to occur), and he frequently tries to kick hairs at me. He's even run up the paintbrush and up my arm. Sometimes he'll go into a threat posture and snap at the paintbrush. I think this is probably atypical for this species, as the others don't seem nearly as prone to threaten or bite (though some kick hairs without much provocation).

He's not happy with me sometimes.

Molting: Speck (Male #1)   Date   Old LS   New LS     02/07/2000   ¾"?   1"?      - Notes: Molted shortly after arrival.   03/04/2000   1"?   1¼"?     04/11/2000   1¼"?   1¾"?     05/16/2000   1¾"?   2"?      - Notes: Big color change (bright!)   06/16/2000   2"?   2½"?     07/24/2000   2½"?   3¼"?     09/13/2000   3¼"?   4"      - Notes: Sexed as male, abdomen tigering almost gone.   11/15/2000   4"   4½"?     03/09/2001   4½"?   5"?      - Notes: Mature male!   Harvey (Male #2) (2-3")   Date   Old LS   New LS     01/06/2001   2"?   2½"?     03/23/2001   2½"?   3"?     Philo (Male #3) (2-3")   Date   Old LS   New LS     01/08/2001   3"?   3½"?   Teri (Female #1) (5"+)   Date   Old LS   New LS     01/24/2001   4½"?   5"?     Esther (Female #2) (4-5")   Date   Old LS   New LS     01/06/2001   4"?   4½"?

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