Ecuadorian Purple (Avicularia purpurea)

Quick stats:
Type: Arboreal
Size (approx): 2 @ 2¼"? unsexed
Feeding: Small to medium crickets
Enclosure: 16 oz. Spice jars
Substrate: 1½" deep bed-a-beast
Furnishings: Cork bark for climbing
Temp/Humidity: 80-84° F, 70-80% humidity
Temperment: Somewhat speedy, but gentle so far
Recieved From: Arachnocentric on 08/10/2000

The A. purpurea's photo album

  The A. purpurea
Aren't they adorable little guys?!

Species Information:
These purple Avicularia are sometimes called Purple Pink Toes. They're native to Ecuador (as their name would suggest). They're fairly rare in the hobby (particularly in the US), and are considered to be more fragile than most other Avicularia.

Feeding:
They get small crickets.

Housing:
These spiders live in 16 oz. tall spice jars. They have 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 bed-a-beast. 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.

They've each constructed a small web near the top of the cage between the cork and the side of the jar.

Temperment:
They should be gentle but speedy when grown up. Moving them in to their jars was a simple affair. They were easily prodded in the right direction, and then lept right into the jars as they reached the edge. They float like feathers.

Molting:
#1
 Date  Old LS  New LS 
 09/05/2000  ¾"?  1"? 
 10/11/2000  1"?  1¼"? 
 11/03/2000  1¼"?  1½"? 
 12/03/2000  1½"?  1¾"? 
  - Notes: Abdomen chevrons faded.
 01/03/2001  1¾"?  2"? 
  - Notes: Abdomen chevrons pretty much gone, VERY BLUE!
 02/16/2001  2"?  2¼"? 
  #2
 Date  Old LS  New LS 
 09/09/2000  ¾"?  1"? 
 10/14/2000  1"?  1¼"? 
 11/09/2000  1¼"?  1½"? 
 12/09/2000  1½"?  1¾"? 
  - Notes: Abdomen chevrons faded.
 01/10/2001  1¾"?  2"? 
  - Notes: Abdomen chevrons pretty much gone, VERY BLUE!
 02/25/2001  2"?  2¼"? 

Copyright ©1999-2010 Thomas Schumm