Greenbottle Blue Tarantula
The Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (GBB) has metallic blue legs, a green carapace and a flame-orange abdomen.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Group guide: Tarantula
AI illustration Overview
The Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (GBB) has metallic blue legs, a green carapace and a flame-orange abdomen. Average lifespan is 12-14 years for females, and it decorates its enclosure with spectacular sheets of web. (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens.)
Origin & Habitat
The Paraguaná Peninsula of Venezuela - a harsh semi-desert of cactus scrub where it webs the base of desert vegetation.
Appearance
Legspan 11-14 cm. Cobalt-blue legs, blue-green carapace, orange abdomen with dark hairs - juveniles wear a completely different orange-and-black striped pattern.
Temperament & Handling
Skittish rather than aggressive - a GBB bolts when startled and kicks hairs more readily than a Red Knee. Strictly a look-don't-touch showpiece; fortunately it's out in the open constantly.
Enclosure
30 × 30 cm with generous anchor points (cork, fake plants, branches), because heavy webbing is the whole show. Dry substrate, shallow dish; it will carpet everything in silk within weeks.
Heating, Humidity, Lighting
22-27°C and low humidity (50-60%). Like all desert species it hates damp substrate; excellent cross-ventilation keeps the webbing crisp and the spider healthy.
Diet
An enthusiastic eater - crickets and roaches weekly, taken with dramatic speed. Its reliable feeding response is half the fun and a welcome contrast to fasting-prone species.
Health & Lifespan
Hardy when kept dry; damp, stuffy enclosures are the main killer. Fast growth to adult color by 3-4 years. Females live 12-14 years, males around 4.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The most spectacular coloration in the hobby
- Always visible: heavy webber, open sitter
- Reliable, dramatic feeding response
Cons
- Too skittish and flicky for handling
- Webs over everything, including the water dish
- Slightly pricier than beginner staples
Everyday gear for exotic pets
Links go to Amazon or a partner brand's own store and may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. An Amazon link leads to a type of gear and you choose the exact product; a card that names a store leads to that partner's own shop.
Greenbottle Blue Tarantula - frequently asked questions
Is the GBB a beginner species?
An ambitious beginner who accepts a no-handling rule can keep one - care is simple and forgiving; only the speed and hair-kicking demand respect.
Why did the webbing disappear after rehousing?
Rebuilding takes a few weeks. Provide anchor points and leave it undisturbed - a settled GBB webs constantly.
Do they burrow?
Juveniles sometimes; adults live in silk tunnels of their own making at surface level - keep substrate shallow and anchor points plentiful.
Test yourself: guess the exotic pet
Three clues from our quiz bank, each about another of our exotic pets. Can you name them?
Clue 1.This crustacean has a soft, spiraled abdomen and must borrow an empty snail shell to protect its body.
It's the Hermit Crab - read the full profile →
Clue 2.This large, hairy spider can flick irritating hairs from its abdomen as a defense and grows by shedding its entire exoskeleton.
It's the Tarantula - read the full profile →
Clue 3.Used in classrooms and films, this docile, climbing insect cannot fly and grows several inches long.
It's the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - read the full profile →