Psalmopoeus pulcher (Panama Blonde Tarantula)

Psalmopoeus pulcher (Panama Blonde Tarantula)

The Panama Blonde, or Psalmopoeus pulcher, is a New World arboreal tarantula from Panama. Adults have blonde hairs covering the body and legs, contrasting sharply against jet black markings on the abdomen, colorful throughout its life. Even from spiderlings the species is colorful, carrying that contrast from hatch and building toward the full blonde and black 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, available here in a range of sizes.

Why do hobbyists keep the Panama Blonde?

• Blonde & Black Coloration + Colorful Spiderlings: Blonde hairs against jet black abdomen markings, a sharp contrast that shows from the spiderling stage.
• 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 Psalmopoeus pulcher be kept?

• Adult Size: This species hatches out at around 0.5 to 0.75 inch and grows to about 6 inches in diagonal leg span as an adult, so plan on sizing up the enclosure more than once as it grows.
• Enclosure: Enclosure size depends on which size you choose below, each size page lists the exact dimensions for that animal.
• Setup Tips: Real cork bark or cork tubes give this species a vertical surface to post up on and webbing anchor points right away, which helps it settle in faster at every size.
• Rehousing: A fast grower, this species moves through three enclosures on the way to adulthood, each one lasting roughly 6 to 8 months before the next upsize.
• Temperature: Keep it between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the optimal range for most tropical rainforest 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 works well, with good cross ventilation 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 5/8 inch depending on the size you choose, offered at least once a week.
• Temperament: Fast and alert with plenty of personality, this species rewards a keeper who already has some arboreal experience, moving deliberately and keeping the enclosure secure since it can move quickly when it wants to.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for Psalmopoeus pulcher?

• Captive Bred: All tarantulas at Exotics Unlimited are captive bred.
• Locality: This species is native to Panama, and we recommend a secure, tightly fitting lid given how quickly it can move around its enclosure.
• Other Names You May See: You may also see this species listed as P. pulcher or simply the Panama blonde.

Frequently asked questions about the Panama Blonde Tarantula?

• Is Panama Blonde the only common name for this species? Yes, within our catalog the Panama blonde name belongs to Psalmopoeus pulcher specifically. Other Psalmopoeus species we carry are not referred to as blonde, so if you searched for a blonde Psalmopoeus this is the one.
• Is this a tarantula or a spider? Both, technically, though not the way most people mean it. Every tarantula is an arachnid in the spider order, but this one is a true tarantula, the heavy bodied, hairy, long lived branch of that family, not a true spider in the narrower sense.

Which size should I choose?

• 0.5 to 0.75 Inch Spiderling (Free With Qualifying Purchase): Ships free with a qualifying invertebrate purchase of $150 or more, which includes tarantulas, spiders, centipedes and scorpions.
• 0.5 to 0.75 Inch Spiderling: A small spiderling, still early in its growth and a great way to raise one from close to the start.
• 0.75 to 1 Inch Spiderling: A step past the smallest size, already a little more settled in.
• 1.5 to 2 Inch Juvenile: An unsexed juvenile that has already cleared the spiderling stage and is growing quickly.
• 2 to 2.5 Inch Juvenile: A larger unsexed juvenile for a keeper who wants to skip the earliest stages entirely.