{"product_id":"tapinauchenius-plumipes-purple-tree-tarantula-for-sale","title":"Tapinauchenius plumipes (purple tree tarantula) 0.75\"","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cb\u003eSpecies Overview\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTapinauchenius plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e, commonly known as the purple tree tarantula or purple tree spider, is a medium-sized arboreal tarantula native to Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil. Adult females and immature specimens of both sexes have a dark ground color with strongly light-dependent iridescence. The carapace ranges from silvery or greenish gray to charcoal and bears fine pale hairs along its margin and radiating grooves. The chelicerae are dark with contrasting gray hairs. Under neutral or diffuse lighting, the legs and pedipalps appear charcoal-gray to nearly black, while cool, directional light reveals conspicuous lavender, violet-blue, or indigo iridescence. The largely unpatterned abdomen shows the greatest change, shifting from velvety blue-black to saturated violet-purple as the lighting direction and viewing angle change.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMature males are markedly dimorphic, becoming much slimmer and proportionally longer-legged while losing most of the violet iridescence. The carapace ranges from pale olive-gray to bronze-brown, while the legs are grayish brown with long pale to copper-colored setae and the abdomen is muted tan to gray-brown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn captivity, \u003ci\u003eT. plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e grows relatively quickly, feeds readily, and constructs a dense silk-lined retreat behind vertical cork bark or within other elevated cover. Established specimens often remain concealed during the day and emerge after dark or wait near the entrance of the retreat for prey. Like other \u003ci\u003eTapinauchenius\u003c\/i\u003e, it lacks urticating hairs and usually retreats rapidly when disturbed, although cornered individuals may assume a defensive posture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/b\u003e Purple tree tarantula; purple tree spider\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/b\u003e Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLife Habit:\u003c\/b\u003e Arboreal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/b\u003e 4–4.75 inches in diagonal leg span\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/b\u003e Males 3–4 years; females 10–12+ years under optimal conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/b\u003e Fast and generally reclusive; potentially defensive when exposed or cornered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCare Difficulty:\u003c\/b\u003e Easy to Moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTapinauchenius plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e Care\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTapinauchenius plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e requires a secure, vertically oriented setup with good ventilation and enough structure to support a concealed arboreal retreat. A vertical piece of cork bark should extend nearly the full height of the enclosure, with artificial foliage, additional bark, or other anchor points placed around it. The primary retreat should ideally be positioned away from the door so routine feeding and watering can be performed without forcing the spider into the open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eEnclosure:\u003c\/b\u003e 25-dram vial or equivalent for spiderlings, upgraded as needed with growth; 8” x 8” x 12” or larger for adults\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSubstrate:\u003c\/b\u003e Coconut fiber, peat moss, topsoil, or a similar moisture-retentive substrate; provide sufficient depth for juveniles to excavate and include vertically oriented cork bark, a hollow cork tube, or another protected retreat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/b\u003e 72–82°F\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/b\u003e Moderate ambient humidity is generally sufficient. Approximately 25–50% of the substrate should remain slightly moist to create a humidity gradient, while allowing the rest to stay comparatively dry. Small spiderling enclosures should not be allowed to dry completely, but avoid saturated substrate, persistent condensation, and poor ventilation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDiet:\u003c\/b\u003e Crickets, cockroaches, and other appropriately sized feeder insects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/b\u003e Spiderlings can be offered appropriately sized prey once or twice weekly. Juveniles and adults are typically fed every 7–14 days, with feeding frequency adjusted based on prey size, growth rate, and the condition of the individual animal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWater:\u003c\/b\u003e Lightly moisten part of the substrate as needed and provide water droplets on enclosure surfaces and webbing for spiderlings; larger specimens should have access to a water dish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eRoutine Maintenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Remove uneaten prey, monitor moisture levels, and spot-clean when necessary.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cb\u003eNatural History\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe species was originally described from Suriname as \u003ci\u003eMygale plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e in 1842 and later became the type species of \u003ci\u003eTapinauchenius\u003c\/i\u003e. A major revision published in 2022 placed \u003ci\u003eTapinauchenius violaceus\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eT. purpureus\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eT. concolor\u003c\/i\u003e, and the true \u003ci\u003eT. gigas\u003c\/i\u003e in synonymy with \u003ci\u003eT. plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e. Consequently, the purple tree spider long maintained in captivity as \u003ci\u003eT. violaceus\u003c\/i\u003e is now correctly classified as \u003ci\u003eT. plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOlder records of \u003ci\u003eT. plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e from Trinidad were reassigned to \u003ci\u003eT. latipes\u003c\/i\u003e, making “Trinidad mahogany tarantula” an inappropriate current common name for \u003ci\u003eT. plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e. The familiar hobby animal historically circulated as \u003ci\u003eT. gigas\u003c\/i\u003e represents a separate case: that identification was based on material that did not match the true \u003ci\u003eT. gigas\u003c\/i\u003e types, and the captive species was described as \u003ci\u003eAmazonius germani\u003c\/i\u003e in the same revision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTapinauchenius plumipes\u003c\/i\u003e inhabits humid tropical forests across the Guianas and northern Amazonia. Although detailed species-specific field observations remain limited, specimens have been recorded from bromeliads, beneath bark, and under palm leaves or other protected vegetation. These elevated shelters are reinforced with silk and provide protection during the day. Individuals emerge primarily after dark to wait near the retreat entrance or move across nearby trunks and vegetation in search of prey.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Buddha Bugs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53448084095285,"sku":null,"price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/4259\/9477\/files\/tapinauchenius-plumipes-purple-tree-tarantula.jpg?v=1788383923","url":"https:\/\/buddha-bugs.com\/products\/tapinauchenius-plumipes-purple-tree-tarantula-for-sale","provider":"Buddha Bugs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}