Exotic Pet Pink-toed tarantulas are a group of tropical and subtropical rainforests of Central and South America. Almost all of these tarantulas display incredible blue, pink, purple, and red colors with their signature pink toes. As pets, they need housing that mimics their natural habitat with live prey. And although some people handle their spiders, these animals are more for your enjoyment when you watch their interesting behaviors. Beginners often research care for Pink-Toed Tarantula before getting one as a pet.

Native to South America, these fast, agile creatures live in trees where they spin elaborate webs. As pets, they need housing that mimics their natural habitat with live prey. And although some people handle their spiders, these animals are more for your enjoyment when you watch their interesting behaviors. This guide explains the basics of care for Pink-Toed Tarantula, including feeding and enclosure setup.

They make an excellent species for beginners due to their more gentle nature. Pink-toned tarantella makes wonderful pets to interact with and observe. Pinkies rarely pluck or bite an itchy hair, they are more prone to running away from danger. Their gentle nature does not mean they are lazy. They are flighty and fast, so when moving around them make sure to move them slowly and smoothly so they don’t get spooked. In this article, we will explain completely how to take care of your exotic pet pink-toed tarantula. 

Care Tips For Pink Toed Tarantula

Housing

Pink-toed tarantulas need tall enclosures. They love to climb. Plastic enclosures are great for keeping them moist. Ventilation is important. Front or side opening enclosures are preferable. They need lots of vegetation and hiding places. Humidity should be 75-85%. Use moss, coconut coir, or potting soil for the substrate. Measure humidity and temperature. Keep the wall warm but away from windows.

Handling

Pink-toed tarantula can be handled, but it must be done carefully.  While this species will tolerate occasional handling, it is easily scared. Even the feeling of your breath can startle it and cause your tarantula to run or jump.  This can be catastrophic if the tarantula is held too high in the air and hits the ground.  Falling from a height over 3 feet can cause their exoskeleton to rupture and is often fatal.  While handling them, allow them to walk on and through your hands.  Make sure you are close to the floor while handling and don’t handle for more than 5 minutes to prevent stress.

Size information

The pink-toed tarantula stretches about 3.5 to 5 inches. Females are slightly larger than males.

Molting

Pink-toed tarantulas go through a color change as they grow. This is part of their molting process. When they are young, they are mostly pink with black toes. As they get older, they become mostly dark with pink toes. If your tarantula is not eating, seems lazy, or has a smaller belly, it might be sick.

Pink Toed Tarantula Diet

Pink-toed tarantulas are carnivorous and have a diet consisting of live insects. The core of the live food diet should be high in protein and relatively easy to digest.

Feeder Insects

• Crickets
• Dubia Roaches
• Mealworms

Feeding Tips

• Gut-load feeders
• Shake feeders into the terrarium
• Remove uneaten feeders
• Spot-clean enclosure

Behavior and Temperament

Pink-toed tarantulas are a bit skittish. They might flick hairs or jump if startled. Bites are rare and not very painful. They also have a funny way of defending themselves: they shoot poop!  This is common for all Avicularia species. Tarantulas are still okay to handle, but be careful. They might jump or run suddenly.

Common Health Problems

Pink Toed Tarantulas are generally healthy but watch for changes in behavior. Molting can be mistaken for sickness. Some signs, which indicate that the spider is about to shed its skin include; appetite loss and reduced activity. The process of molt takes hours while the process of recovery can take weeks. If molting is hard or it takes longer than the expected time then one should seek the help of a vet. 

Some of the health problems that are likely to affect common pink-toed tarantula include; 

When it comes to pink-toed tarantulas, they can be healthy most of the time, however, this does not mean that one should neglect any illnesses that may develop. Some possible remedies for common problems are:

Melting difficulties

• Ensure proper humidity and temperature: Relative humidity is important for the procedure of thawing: the higher the humidity in the environment the better. Ensure that your enclosure has the right humidity and temperature for the enclosure. 

•  Provide a safe hiding place: It also means that your tarantula should not be too aggressive or active when it is time to molt because it requires a calm environment to perform the process in the right manner. 

•  Avoid handling during molting: Stressful factors such as disturbance in the level of the tarantula’s enclosure can cause it to molt. 

Some of the symptoms that are exhibited are;

Lethargy and loss of appetite 

• Monitor closely: Some behaviors indicate that your tarantula is nearing the molting stage; these include lethargy and loss of appetite. 

• Check for parasites or other health problems: If the symptoms continue try to seek the help of a veterinarian to determine whether there is any other problem. 

• Provide fresh food and water: It is also important to feed your tarantula with foods that contain high nutritional value and water.

Unusual behavior

• Assess the enclosure:

Is it too crowded? Are there enough hiding places? Is it too hot or too cold?

• Provide a more suitable environment:

Make the enclosure bigger if it’s too small. Add more hiding places like rocks or plants.

Make sure the temperature is right for your tarantula.

• Consult a veterinarian:

This is especially important if your tarantula starts behaving unfamiliar or if you notice something wrong it should be taken to the vet. 

Well, the vet will be able to tell you what is wrong or what seems to be wrong with the animal.

Conclusion

The pink-toed tarantulas are good for individuals who would like to start with tarantulas as pets. They are most often fond of people and very obedient; They require little attention and are often playful. Just make sure to treat them with respect and provide a comfortable environment. You’ll have a fascinating and low-maintenance companion!