Venezuelan Red Stripe (Avicularia minatrix)

Quick stats:
Type: Arboreal
Size (approx): 2"? unsexed
Feeding: Medium crickets, small roaches
Enclosure: 16 oz. Spice jar
Substrate: 1½" deep potting soil
Furnishings: Cork bark for climbing
Temp/Humidity: 80-84°F, 70-75% humidity
Temperment: Speedy, but so far gentle
Recieved from: Realm of Inverts on 08/30/2000

The A. minatrix's photo album

  The A. minatrix
The A. minatrix

Species Information:
This uncommon Avicularia native to Venezuela looks like it never really grows out of its baby colors when it grows up.

Feeding:
Small crickets are the fare.

Housing:
This spider lives in 16 oz. tall spice jar. It has a lid with two halves, one that snaps open (designed for a spoon) and the other that just snaps open to reveal holes from which to sprinkle your spices. I just melted a bunch of small holes through the whole lid for ventilation. When I want to feed them, I just snap open the spoon side and drop the crix in. The substrate is about an inch and a half of potting soil. There's a piece of cork bark for climbing.

I try to keep the humidity around 70-75%. It's usually about 80-84°F in my spider room, where they are kept. Because they're still really too small for a water dish, humidity is maintained by misting and moist substrate.

No real webbing has been done, and the spider has remained near the top of the cage.

Temperment:
It should be gentle but speedy when grown up. Can't say for sure though when it's this small.

Molting:
 Date  Old LS  New LS 
 09/15/2000?  ¾"?  1"? 
  - Notes: Not sure of exact date.
 10/18/2000  1"?  1¼"? 
 11/12/2000  1¼"?  1½"? 
 12/14/2000  1½"?  1¾"? 
 01/24/2001  1¾"?  2"? 
 05/08/2001?  1½"?  1¾"? 
  - Notes: Not sure of exact date - also, this premolt period was very unusually long.

Copyright ©1999-2008 Thomas Schumm