SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, the Green-Bottle Blue

I love that when I discuss tarantulas with people who do not keep them, how amazed they are that some species are actually beautiful. In my experience, the majority of the people that I talk to think tarantulas are big, brown, hairy spiders. I am guessing that they think of Goliath bird-eaters as what all tarantulas look like. How wrong they can be.

I am constantly floored by the beauty of these eight-legged creatures. Though I believe that the Goliath bird-eaters are beautiful in their own right, the species that feature blue and green colorations are those that garner the best reactions.

Chromatopelma cyaneopubscens, the green-bottle blue, is one of the most beautiful tarantulas in the world. This species was discovered in 1907 and is named due to their metallic blue legs and blue-green carapace. They are very active and fast-growing tarantulas that are particularly attractive to hobbyists. They are native to the Paraguaná Peninsula.

This species is readily available from most dealers and is a great addition to every collection. They are aggressive eaters, often taking food larger than you would think they can handle. They are also fast growers, especially when well fed. Females can live anywhere from 12 to 14 years, with males only living 3 to 4 years.

These New World spiders tend to be nervous, so handling is not recommended. They are very fast and can also flick urticating hairs. They make great display animals as well. Not only are they prolific webbers, they also spend a lot of time out in the open. It is recommended to provide a lot of enclosure furniture, such as fake plants, giving the spider plenty of areas to attach their extensive webs to.

Every stage of the green-bottle blue’s life is beautiful. Even the earliest of instars feature great coloration and markings. The adult colors are just stunning, especially in natural light. The carapace and chelicerae are metallic green, surrounded by metallic-blue legs. The abdomen is black, with long orange hairs.

Their bodies can reach 2.75″ with a leg span up to 6″. They prefer a drier environment and humidity should be kept at 40-50%. A water dish and an occasional spraying of the web should more than suffice. The temperature should be kept at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is one of those species that you will always want in your collection. Between the beauty of the spider and the amazing webbing that will occur, this in one spider even the biggest arachnophobe will want to check out.

~David Albaugh