Venezuelan Suntiger (Psalmopoeus irminia)

Psalmopoeus irminia, commonly known as the Venezuelan Suntiger, is a New World, arboreal tarantula. This tree dwelling tarantula has a deep black color with bright orange chevrons on the legs and a tiger striped pattern on the abdomen. This species is indigenous to the area of Venezuela and Guyana. Unlike most New World tarantulas, this species does not have urticating hairs, but makes up for this lack of defense mechanism by being very fast and agile and having a venom stronger than most New World species. The Venezuelan Suntiger is sexually dimorphic, meaning you can tell the females and males apart by their appearance.  Males of this species are smaller than the females and have grayish brown color instead of deep black coloration of the mature females. These T’s are fast growing. Females typically only produce 50-200 eggs per sac, but are able to double clutch, or drop another egg sac without mating a second time. 



TYPE
Arboreal

SCIENTIFIC NAME
Psalmopoeus irminia

ORIGIN
Venezuela, North Guyana, North Brazil, Paracaíma

HABITAT
Sling- Sling box or 16oz deli cup
Juvenile - 4x7x7 enclosure
Sub-Adult - 6x6x9 enclosure, 2 ½ or 5 gallon tank
Adult - 8x8x12 enclosure or 10 gallon tank
Provide them with a cork bark hide, water dish, a little sphagnum moss (optional) and straight coco fiber. However a substrate like jungle mix or creature soil which is mainly peat moss, a little soil and a small amount of sand. Coco fiber works very well and is the least expensive.

DIET
Roaches, crickets and mealworms is our recommended foods. However, superworms are also acceptable when they reach adulthood.

TEMPERATURE
74-82F, heating generally isn’t a concern with this species, and they do well at room temperature.

HUMIDITY
65%-75%, slings should stay on lightly moist substrate, adults should have a water dish and a corner of their enclosure that goes through a wet/dry cycle, moistening the substrate and then leaving it alone until it dries out.

ADULT SIZE
Adults can reach up to 6" diagonal leg span.

LIFESPAN
4-12 years (Males 4 years, with females drastically outliving them at 12+ years)

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
We do not recommend keeping tarantulas as they will cannibalize each other. Its best to keep tarantulas in individual enclosures.