Caribena versicolor (Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula)

Caribena versicolor (Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula)

The Caribena versicolor, the Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula, is one of the most recognizable and colorful New World Tarantula species in the hobby, showing striking coloration through every stage of its life. Spiderlings begin as a vivid metallic blue, often referred to as “blueberries,” with a soft, fuzzy appearance that immediately stands out. 

As they transition into juveniles, they develop a noticeable mix of blue and orange, especially in the abdomen, creating a strong contrast that signals the upcoming adult shift. As they grow, they transform into a rich combination of red to pink body tones, purple hues in the legs, and a green carapace that can appear almost teal or sky blue depending on lighting.

This Caribbean arboreal species has a long-legged, lightly built frame and a very full, plush look, especially when freshly molted. It is known for heavy webbing behavior, often building dense, layered retreats high in the enclosure, and once established, it tends to stay visible, especially when the enclosure provides proper structure.

Why Hobbyists Keep the Caribena versicolor

• Color: This species is colorful throughout its entire life. Spiderlings are bright metallic blue, juveniles show a blue and orange transition, and adults display a mix of red, pink, purple, and green with strong contrast and depth.
• Temperament: Generally docile, though quick and capable of sudden movement, especially as spiderlings and juveniles.
• Webbing behavior: Heavy webbing behavior, often creating thick, layered retreats and web tunnels in elevated areas.
• Adult size: Reaches around a 5 inch leg span, making this a mid size species. 
• Feeding response and activity level: Typically a strong feeder with an active presence, especially noticeable during growth stages and web maintenance.

Care Overview

• Enclosure: As an arboreal species, provide an enclosure with roughly 2 times the leg span as the footprint and 3 times the leg span as the height, including vertical cork bark and foliage to support webbing. Spiderlings should be kept in smaller enclosures that allow them to establish webbing easily and feel secure.
• Temperature: Keep between 65 to 75°F with stable conditions.
• Humidity: Maintain moderate to high humidity with slightly moist substrate, while ensuring strong cross ventilation. Avoid overly damp or stagnant conditions.
• Diet: Feed 2-3 appropriately sized insects once a week such as crickets or roaches, no larger than the length of the tarantula’s carapace (head). For spiderlings, placing prey directly onto the webbing often improves feeding consistency. 
• Temperament: Typically docile, but fast-moving and capable of jumping when startled.

Additional Notes or Considerations

• Spiderlings are more sensitive than juveniles and adults and benefit from tighter setups with plenty of anchor points like cork bark and artificial foliage to encourage early webbing (espeically cork bark). 
• Ventilation is critical for this species. High humidity without airflow can lead to poor outcomes, so balancing moisture with fresh air is key.
• Avoid screen top enclosures, as they can make humidity harder to maintain and create unnecessary risk for climbing species.
• This species tends to stay higher in the enclosure and may ignore prey on the ground, especially when young, so feeding technique can make a noticeable difference in consistency.
• Weekly feeding with consistent access to water is recommended, with an elevated water dish often working best for this species.