Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus (Rose Gold Tarantula)

Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus (Rose Gold Tarantula)

The Rose Gold Tree Spider, or Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus, is a New World arboreal tarantula from South America. Adults have an iridescent rose gold coloration across the body with a reddish abdomen, colorful throughout its life. Even from spiderlings the species is colorful, hatching out with black and orange striped abdomens and blue legs, then gradually building into that full rose gold adult shimmer as it grows. This species only grows to about 5 to 6 inches in diagonal leg span, with a fast growth rate, one of the fastest growing genera in the hobby. Females live about 10 years while males typically live only 2 to 3. This is a fast, alert species that keeps you on your toes rather than a calm handler's pet, and we recommend it for keepers who already have some arboreal experience. Grab this new world tarantula for sale today, available here in a range of sizes.

Why do hobbyists keep the Rose Gold Tree Spider?

• Rose Gold Coloration & Colorful Spiderlings: An iridescent rose gold body with a reddish abdomen as an adult, and a completely different black and orange striped, blue legged look as a sling.
• Great Feeding Response: Fast, eager, and fun to watch take down prey.
• Heavy Webber: Builds dense, visible web retreats that become part of the display.
• Fast Growth Rate: One of the fastest growing genera in the hobby.

How should the Rose Gold Tarantula be kept?

• Adult Size: This species hatches at around 0.5 to 0.75 inch and grows to about 6 inches in diagonal leg span as an adult, so the enclosure gets upsized twice along the way.
• Enclosure: Enclosure dimensions scale with each size, from a 4 by 4 by 6 inch starter enclosure up to a 12 by 12 by 18 inch adult enclosure. Each size page below gives the exact dimensions for that animal.
• Setup Tips: Real cork bark or wood pieces make a significant difference for this species at every size, helping it settle in faster and giving it natural climbing surfaces and webbing anchor points.
• Rehousing: Expect two rehouses on the way to adulthood, with each enclosure lasting roughly 6 to 8 months at this species' fast growth rate.
• Temperature: 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the optimal range for most tropical arboreal species like this one. Cooler temperatures are survivable, but increase the odds of trouble molting and growing, so we recommend staying in this range for the best results. Most keepers do not need any extra heating to hit it.
• Humidity: Moderate humidity around 65 to 75 percent with good cross ventilation keeps this species comfortable at every size.
• 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. A weekly misting is suggested as well, so the animal can drink off the side of the enclosure or its own webbing if it prefers that to the dish, as long as you are wetting surfaces rather than soaking the substrate.
• Diet: We recommend prey size from 1/8 inch up to a 1/2 inch cricket depending on the size you choose, offered at least once a week.
• Temperament: Fast and alert with a confident, feisty streak, this species rewards a keeper who wants a quicker, more active arboreal tarantula to watch rather than a slow, reclusive one.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for the Rose Gold Tarantula?

• Captive Bred: All tarantulas at Exotics Unlimited are captive bred.
• Experience Level: This species does best with a keeper who already has some arboreal tarantula experience, given how quick and alert it is.

Which size should I choose?

• 0.5 to 0.75 inch spiderling: This is about the size the species hatches at, the earliest point to start raising one of your own.
• 0.75 to 1 inch spiderling: A well-started spiderling past the very first, most delicate stage, with its first rehouse already behind it.
• 1 to 1.5 inch spiderling: A well-started sling at the top of the spiderling range, growing quickly toward its first color changes.
• 2 inch juvenile: Past the spiderling stage entirely, settled into a steady growth routine and already showing more of its adult presence.

Looking for similar species?

Browse our New World and Arboreal collections for more species like this one.