Psalmopoeus cambridgei (Trinidad Chevron Tarantula)

Psalmopoeus cambridgei (Trinidad Chevron Tarantula)

The Trinidad Chevron, or Psalmopoeus cambridgei, is an arboreal tube dweller tarantula from Trinidad. Adults have a beautiful blonde coloration, with striping on the abdomen and orange highlights on the legs, colorful throughout its life. Even from spiderlings the species is colorful, hatching out with a striped abdomen and striping on the legs as well, then building into that full blonde and orange adult look 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, with every size we carry available right here.

Why do hobbyists keep the Trinidad Chevron?

• Blonde Coloration: A beautiful blonde base with striping on the abdomen and orange highlights on the legs.
• Colorful Spiderlings: Even from spiderlings the species is colorful, hatching out with a striped abdomen and striped legs rather than starting out plain.
• 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.

Which size should I choose?

• 0.5-0.75 inch Spiderling: This is about the size the species hatches at, the earliest point we offer this species, and a great way to watch its full growth and color journey from the very start.
• 0.75-1 inch Spiderling: A well-started spiderling past the most delicate early stage, already growing fast.
• 0.75-1 inch Spiderling, free with a qualifying purchase: Ships free as part of a qualifying invertebrate purchase.
• 1.5 inch Juvenile: A juvenile with more size and confidence already established, closer to showing off its full blonde and orange look.

How should Psalmopoeus cambridgei be kept?

• Adult Size: Hatches around 0.5 to 0.75 inch and reaches about 5 to 6 inches in diagonal leg span as an adult, so plan on upsizing the enclosure as it grows.
• Enclosure: Each size we carry has its own enclosure guidance sized to that stage, from the first small spiderling setup through the adult-sized enclosure, so pick the size below and that page will tell you exactly what fits.
• Setup Tips: Real cork bark or wood pieces make a significant difference for this species, helping it settle faster and giving it natural climbing surfaces and webbing anchor points at every size.
• Rehousing: With a fast growth rate, this species reaches full size in about 1 to 2 years, with each enclosure typically lasting 6 to 8 months before the next upsize.
• Temperature: 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the optimal range for this tropical rainforest species. 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: Never let the substrate dry out completely. This is a tropical species and it likes things a little wetter than most terrestrials, so keep it slightly damp and top it up before it goes dry rather than after.
• 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: Each size page gives the exact prey measurement for that animal's current leg span, offered at least once a week.
• Temperament: Success with this species comes down to three things: confident and decisive husbandry, a secure arboreal enclosure it can retreat into, and respecting its speed during maintenance. Keepers who do this find it a rewarding, highly active arboreal to watch.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for Psalmopoeus cambridgei?

• A Blend Of Two Looks: This species sits in an interesting middle ground within the genus, carrying a bit of the Venezuelan Suntiger's bold contrast and a bit of the Panama Blonde's lighter coloring in one animal.
• Captive Bred: All tarantulas at Exotics Unlimited are captive bred.

Looking for similar species?

• Browse our New World Tarantulas and Arboreal Tarantulas collections to explore related care profiles.