Red Island Bird-Eating Spider

The Red Island Bird-Eating Spider (scientific name: Phormictopusatrichomatus), also known as the Dominican Blue Tarantula, is native to the tropical rainforests of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region. It is a relatively rare species in this genus, with a dark red metallic color on its dorsal carapace. The juveniles of this species are almost identical to the Haitian Brown Bird-Eating Spider, which belongs to the same genus. Therefore, they also have the inaccurate Chinese name "Dominican Blue". When they grow to a size of over 5 centimeters, some differences can be observed. The abdomen of the Red Island Bird-Eating Spider has red hairs, while the Haitian Brown Bird-Eating Spider does not. In adult individuals, the dorsal carapace of the Red Island Bird-Eating Spider is dark red with a metallic luster, while the Haitian Brown Spider is purple. The difference is obvious. Due to the difficulties in breeding under captivity and the limited production, this species has relatively low visibility in the pet tarantula market, hence the relatively higher price.

The adult Red Island Bird-Eating Spider has a body length of 18 to 20+ centimeters, with a leg span. The suitable temperature for its habitat is 25 to 27℃, and the humidity should be around 75%. It is recommended to use moist peat, coconut brick, or clay as the substrate. It is crucial to maintain humidity during captivity because species from tropical rainforests generally cannot tolerate extremely dry environments, which may result in dehydration or unsuccessful molting.

Due to their tendency to flick urticating hairs and their moderate aggressiveness, they are classified as advanced species. If you prefer a pet tarantula that has a metallic luster appearance, or a larger species with a good coloration, they would be a good choice.

Love climbing pet crowd suggested breeding, because they are relatively easy to kick hair and have some aggressiveness, they are also listed as advanced species. If you like the metallic luster of pet bird-eating spiders, or you like a larger size and good color species, they will be a good choice.

Feeding and caring for the Red Island Bird-Eating Spider is similar to the Haitian Coffee Bird-Eater. It is important to maintain humidity, as most species from tropical rainforests cannot tolerate very dry environments, which could cause dehydration or failed molting.

If you keep spiders at home, you can catch a spider to keep as a pet. Generally, it is unlikely to catch venomous spiders in homes, so you can rest assured to keep them. Of course, there are also many venomous spiders available for purchase on the market. Spiders have a diverse diet and enjoy eating various kinds of insects, such as different kinds of crystalline insects. So how often should spiders be fed? Spiders have a strong ability to resist hunger and can survive for a month without eating anything. The frequency of feeding spiders depends on their size. The larger the spider, the less often it needs to be fed. The size of the insects fed to spiders should be about one-third of their body length. If the insects are too large, the spiders may overeat and die. The space for keeping spiders does not need to be too large because spiders themselves are not very big. Spiders do not like bright places, so it is best to keep them in dark areas.