Greenbottle Blue Tarantula

Overview

The Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (GBB) is the most colorful spider in the hobby - metallic blue legs, a green carapace and a flame-orange abdomen that looks computer-generated. 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