Caribena versicolor (Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula)

Caribena versicolor (Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula)

The Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula, or Caribena versicolor (ex Avicularia versicolor) to keepers who go by the Latin, is an arboreal tarantula native to the island of Martinique in the eastern Caribbean. Adults have red legs, a blue to green carapace (head), and a red abdomen, with purple hues showing throughout, creating a stunning and unique coloration in the tarantula world. Spiderlings hatch out a bright blue, nicknamed blueberries in the hobby, and that adult purple, red and green pattern comes in around three inches, while the species only grows to about 5 to 6 inches in diagonal leg span, with growth running medium to fast for the genus. Females live an impressive 10 to 15 years, with males maturing faster and typically living only 2 to 3 years. This species is also fast moving but genuinely docile, rarely defensive even when startled, appealing to keepers who want serious color without an aggressive animal. Grab this docile new world tarantula for sale today, offered here across every size from spiderling through juvenile female.

Why do hobbyists keep the Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula?

• Stunning Coloration: Adults have red legs, a blue to green carapace (head), and a red abdomen, with purple hues showing throughout, creating a stunning and unique coloration in the tarantula world.
• Dramatic Color Change: Spiderlings hatch out bright blue, nicknamed blueberries in the hobby, then shift into the full adult purple, red and green by about three inches, almost like raising two different animals in one.
• Arboreal Heavy Webber: Builds thick, elaborate silk tube retreats at the top of the enclosure. Watching the webbing develop is a big part of the experience.
• Great Display Species: Once settled, it stays visible near the entrance of its retreat and spends plenty of time out in the open.
• Docile Temperament: One of the more forgiving arboreals. Still fast and can jump when startled, but rarely defensive compared to old world species.

How should Caribena versicolor be kept?

• Adult Size: These hatch out around half an inch to three quarters of an inch (0.5 to 0.75 inch) and reach a max size of about 5 to 6 inches at full leg span, one of the larger and most in demand arboreals in the hobby. That is a lot of growing to watch, with the color changing right alongside the size.
• Enclosure: This is an arboreal species that wants height and climbing surface rather than floor space, with vertical cork bark and foliage to support webbing at every size. We run three enclosures across a lifetime and size each one for where the animal is headed rather than where it sits today. The exact inches and substrate depth for the animal you are buying are on that size's own listing.
• Rehousing: Three enclosures for life, two rehouses total, from a spiderling setup through a mid grow out to a 12 by 12 by 18 inch adult enclosure. Growth runs medium to fast, so figure roughly 2 to 4 years to full size overall. The measurements for each step are on the individual size listings.
• Temperature: Keep between 75 and 85 degrees F.
• Humidity: Maintain moderate to high humidity with slightly moist substrate at every size, leaning on ventilation rather than heavy misting to get there. Slings of this genus run a little more sensitive than adults, but the formula stays the same throughout: cross ventilation, light moisture and prey placed where the animal will find it. Good ventilation is critical. Cross ventilation works best, but ample top ventilation can also be effective as long as the enclosure is not over-misted.
• Water: Provide a shallow water dish placed in an elevated position if possible. This is more natural for arboreal species and helps prevent crickets from falling in and drowning.
• Diet: Prey length should run about a quarter of the leg span, which is roughly the width of the carapace (head), so it scales up as the animal grows. Crickets, roaches and similar feeders all work, with slings feeding best when prey is placed directly on the webbing. Feed at least once a week at every stage. The exact prey measurement for the size you are buying is on that listing.
• Temperament: Docile and one of the more forgiving arboreals in the hobby. Still fast and capable of jumping when startled, but rarely defensive, especially compared to old world species.

Which size Caribena versicolor should I choose?

• Spiderling, around 0.5 to 0.75 inch: About the size the species hatches at, so it is your cheapest way to collect this species, still in its full bright blue with the entire transformation ahead of it.
• Spiderling, around 0.75 to 1 inch: A well started sling past the very first stretch, still fully blue with the whole color change still ahead.
• Juvenile, around 1 to 1.5 inches: Still in its blue stage at this size, well before the color change begins.
• Juvenile, around 2 inches: Well past the sensitive sling stretch and still mostly blue, with the color change a bit further ahead.
• Juvenile female, around 2.5 inches: Sexed and confirmed female, right at the size where the color change begins, with a decade or more of life ahead.
• Pick your size: Pick the size you want above. Each size still has its own care guidance and its own price behind it, so what you see for that size is exactly what ships.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for Caribena versicolor?

• Real Cork Bark Matters: Real cork bark or sterile wood from the sling stage helps this species settle in and web faster than any other setup we have tested. Our dry goods selection has options sized right for this.
• Sizes Explained: Every size we list is diagonal leg span, measured corner to corner across the outstretched legs, which is the standard way tarantulas are measured in the hobby.
• Solitary Species: House individually. Attempts at cohabitation can end in cannibalism, so one animal per enclosure.
• Lifespan: Females live 10 to 15 years, with growth running medium to fast for the genus. Males mature faster and typically live only 2 to 3 years, which is worth knowing if you are choosing a sexed animal for the long run.
• Captive Bred: All Tarantulas are 100% captive bred.

Listing Notes

• This is the Species Hub for the Caribena versicolor Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula, the page that links every size we have of it. Each size we carry has its own listing with its own enclosure guidance, prey size and price, so pick the size above and that page will tell you exactly what the animal in front of you needs. Every size is unsexed with roughly a 50/50 chance of male or female unless a listing says otherwise, and all sizes given anywhere on our site are diagonal leg span.