Gresham Pet Supply Pet Care Guide
Pink Toe Tarantula
Avicularia avicularia
Why We Love Them: The Pink Toe is the quintessential beginner arboreal (tree-dwelling) tarantula. They are incredibly fluffy, pitch black, and have distinctive, bright pink "toes" that make them look like they are wearing tiny socks. They are very docile, build beautiful web hammocks, and have a unique defense mechanism: if scared, they can jump several inches through the air!
Lifespan
Females live much longer than males
Adult Size
5-6 inch leg span
Enclosure
12x12x18 Arboreal Terrarium
Warm / Basking
72°–80°F
Cool Side
68°–72°F Night
Humidity / Water
65-75% (Moderate)
Species Profile & Temperament
| Trait | Overview |
|---|---|
| Origin | High in the rainforest canopies of South America |
| Diet Type | Insectivore (Crickets, Roaches) |
| Activity | Nocturnal (Builds tubular web "hammocks" near the top of the enclosure) |
| Temperament | Very docile, but skittish and prone to jumping short distances. |
| Handleability | Best as a display pet; if handled, work low over a soft surface. They are famous for jumping. |
| Venom | Ask your doctor about any bite. Wash a bite that breaks the skin with soap and water. |
| Urticating Hairs | Yes (However, rather than kicking them into the air, they rub them directly onto threats) |
| Difficulty | 2/5 — Easy (Care is straightforward, provided ventilation is perfect) |
| Hardiness | 2/5 — Delicate (Extremely susceptible to stagnant, swampy air) |
Safety & Husbandry Warnings (CRITICAL)
S.A.D.S. (Sudden Avicularia Death Syndrome): Historically, Pink Toes were known to randomly die for "no reason" in the hobby. We now know that S.A.D.S. is caused by keepers trying to replicate a rainforest by making the enclosure hot and swampy. Pink Toes absolutely despise stagnant, wet air. If you put them in an enclosure with poor ventilation and soak the dirt, they will die. Cross-ventilation is the single most important part of their care. Keep the dirt dry and provide a water dish.
Handling & Jumping: A fall can still hurt them, so always work low over a soft surface. They are also famous for teleporting and jumping off hands. Handle with caution over a soft surface to prevent losing them.
Housing & Enclosure
Enclosure Type & Size
- Type: Arboreal. The enclosure must be taller than it is wide.
- Minimum: An 8x8x12 inch cross-ventilated arboreal enclosure for an adult (taller than wide, with side vents).
- Ventilation: Excellent cross-ventilation (vents on the sides) is absolutely mandatory.
Substrate
- Recommended: Coconut fiber (Eco Earth) or organic topsoil.
- Depth: 2 inches. They live high up in the canopy and will rarely, if ever, touch the ground.
- Moisture: Keep the substrate mostly dry. You can slightly dampen one tiny corner near the water dish if needed, but do not spray the entire tank.
Décor & Enrichment
- Anchor Points (CRITICAL): They build their web retreats at the very top of the enclosure. You must provide a tall piece of cork bark leaning against the glass, surrounded by fake foliage (like a silk vine). Without these high-up anchor points, they will be stressed and unable to build their web.
- Water Dish: Provide a small water dish. If possible, glue or magnetize it to the side of the glass so they can drink without descending to the floor.
Temperature
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 72–80°F (22–27°C) |
- Heating: Room temperature is perfect. Never use a heat lamp. If necessary, use a small heat pad on the side of the glass, but keep it far away from their web hammock at the top.
Humidity
- Target Range: 60–70% (Moderate).
- How to Maintain: Do not mist the spider or the web. The only humidity they need will evaporate naturally from their water dish. Stagnant air kills Pink Toes faster than low humidity ever will.
Diet & Nutrition
Primary Diet
- Live crickets or dubia roaches. Because they live in webs at the top of the tank, you will often need to drop the cricket directly into their web or hold it with tongs so they can grab it.
Feeding Schedule
| Life Stage | Frequency | Prey Size |
|---|---|---|
| Spiderling (Sling) | Every 4–5 days | Flightless fruit flies or pinhead crickets |
| Juvenile | Every 7 days | Small/Medium crickets |
| Adult | Every 10–14 days | 2-3 Large crickets or 1 Large Roach |
Molting
During the Molt
- DO NOT disturb or handle the spider. They will molt suspended in their web hammock, often hanging upside down.
- Remove any live crickets from the enclosure immediately.
Post-Molt Care
- Wait until the new fangs harden and turn black before offering food.
What We Use & Recommend
These are products we use and recommend for this species. Stock varies by store, so ask us what we have in store today.
| Category | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Exo Terra 12x12x18 Glass Terrarium | Perfect arboreal size with good front ventilation |
| Substrate | Zoo Med Eco Earth (Coco Fiber) | Use completely dry |
| Anchor Points | Zoo Med Natural Cork Bark (Tall) & Fluker's Repta-Vines | Essential for them to build their web hammock |
| Tools | Zoo Med 10-inch Feeding Tongs | For dropping food into their web |
| Water Dish | Magnaturals Magnetic Water Dish | Allows you to put the water dish high up on the glass |
Last updated: 2026-08-04
How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply
- Oregon Winter Furnace Air vs. Molting Humidity: When Pacific Northwest furnaces kick on from October through April, indoor room humidity drops fast and dries out small enclosures from the top down. Rather than misting the spider or invert directly (which stresses terrestrial species and invites stagnant mold), we keep Pink Toe Tarantula with strong cross-ventilation, mostly dry substrate and a water dish it can reach. We never mist the spider or its web, and we never let the air go stagnant.
- Safe Room Heating in the Willamette Valley: If your house drops below 65°F on winter nights, never put a heat pad under the tank. Use a low-wattage side-mounted heat mat on a digital thermostat, away from the web, or warm the room ambiently to
72°–80°F. - Shopping at Newberg & Gresham: For enclosures, cork bark, substrates, springtails and feeders at Critter Cabana (Newberg) and Gresham Pet Supply, ask us what we have in store today.
Common Questions (FAQ)
How do I keep my Pink Toe Tarantula warm and humid enough during an Oregon winter?
Target 72°–80°F room temperature with no heat lamp and 60-70% humidity. Keep strong cross-ventilation, mostly dry substrate and a filled water dish. Never mist the spider or its web. Never put a heat mat underneath the enclosure.
What size enclosure does a Pink Toe Tarantula need?
An adult Pink Toe Tarantula thrives in an 8x8x12 inch cross-ventilated arboreal enclosure with secure ventilation. For terrestrial tarantulas and scorpions, floor space and deep substrate matter most (keep open fall height low so a fall cannot hurt your spider); for arboreal species, prioritize vertical cork bark tubes and cross-ventilation.
Can I put isopods in a Pink Toe Tarantula bioactive enclosure?
Around molting tarantulas and scorpions, skip big, hungry isopods and stick to springtails, so a soft, newly molted animal is never nibbled.
Where can I find Pink Toe Tarantula, cork bark, and feeder insects in Oregon?
Ask us what we have in store today at our two exotic animal stores: Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) and Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606).
Shop supplies for this animal
Everything for your Pink Toe Tarantula setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
