Typhochlaena seladonia 

SKU: 0013 Category:

Description

Scientific Name: Typhochlaena seladonia

Common Names: Brazilian Jewel Tarantula, Candy Shop Spider, Jeweled Pink Toe

Type: New World, Arboreal, Trapdoor

Endemic Location: Bahia and Sergipe, Brazil, Rainforest

Adult Size: 2-2.5″

Temperament: Generally more docile, although some individuals may display defensiveness. Not recommended for beginners due to fragility and specific care requirements. Handling is discouraged.

Housing: As trapdoor arboreals, seladonia requires special housing with a tall arboreal setup, emphasizing height and cross-ventilation. The recommended setup includes cork bark with holes for trapdoor construction, shredded moss, or leaf litter. Maintain lightly damp substrate and dry leaf or moss litter. Encourage drinking by misting the sides and dripping water onto the substrate.

Diet: Crickets, roaches, and mealworms

Feeding: Tong feed with patience, gently lifting the trapdoor with a Q-tip. Use appropriately sized feeders, provoking the tarantula to recognize prey. Monitor their response; refusal to open the trapdoor may indicate disinterest. Experiment with a variety of food if needed.

About: Found in Brazilian rainforests, seladonia creates trapdoors in tree bark, camouflaging them with leaves and bark. Swift and agile, they capture prey by popping out of their doors. Possessing urticating hairs, they rarely use them.

Enclosure Design: Considered a dwarf species, adult females reach 1.5-2″ diagonal legspan. Use  enclosures for adults that emphasizing cross-ventilation. Provide porous decor like cork bark for trapdoor construction. Create a varied substrate mix for trap sites, including leaf litter, moss, lichen, and bark.

Maintenance: Maintain a thermal gradient of 76 to 82°F with top warming. Ensure proper ventilation, using a fan to prevent stagnant conditions. Spritz lightly for drinking and humidity, dribble water onto the trap door, and add water to substrate for live plants. Monitor abdomen sizes weekly, releasing prey for adults if not molting soon. Spiderlings require food every 5-7 days.

Extra Notes on Behavior: Seladonia is rarely seen due to trapdoor shelter. Molting occurs within the trap, and discarded molts are normal. Rehousing may be necessary after molting for a better trap site. Avoid interference; they may eat outside the trap. Seladonia is not a handleable species; minimal disturbance is advised.

Fun Fact: Typhochlaena seladonia belongs to a select group of tarantulas known for trapdoor construction, including other Typhochlaena species and Idiothele mira.

 

Additional information

Quantity

1, 3, 5, with Sling Crib enclosure