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Terrestrial invert.TerrestrialIntermediate

Haitian Brown Tarantula (Phormictopus cancerides)

Phormictopus cancerides

The Phormictopus cancerides, famous as 'Haitian Brown Tarantula'. It is an island terrestrial giant (up to 7.9-8.7 inches legspan) admired for its frightening size and marvelous chromatic reflections. Although the name indicates 'Brown', the adults (especially the males) sport incredible Purple, Copper and Plum reflections under direct light. Has an iron reputation: it is extremely defensive, neurotic and possesses a 'food response' (reactivity to food) that borders on pure aggressiveness. Requires large spaces, a robust den and keepers ready to face a tarantula that almost never backs down.

Taxonomy

Class:Arachnida

Order:Araneae

Family:Theraphosidae

Subfamily:Theraphosinae

Genus:Phormictopus

Species:Phormictopus cancerides

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

70 - 85 %

Day temperature

23 - 27 °C

Night temperature

21 - 24 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: The World Spider Catalog reports Caribbean to Brazil as the distribution of Phormictopus cancerides. This recovery makes no habitat statement beyond that cited distribution.

Taxonomy and Genetics: The World Spider Catalog identifies Phormictopus cancerides (Latreille, 1806) as an accepted species in the genus Phormictopus and family Theraphosidae. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond those cited taxonomic facts.

Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural statement beyond the cited facts.

Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: This proposal does not establish a terrarium setup.

Lighting and Heating: This proposal does not establish lighting or heating parameters.

Humidity and Hydration: This proposal does not establish humidity or hydration parameters.

Feeding and Supplementation: In a controlled study, juvenile Phormictopus cancerides were assigned to two groups fed once every 5 or 30 days while resting metabolic rate and foraging activity were measured. Metabolic rate increased in the well-fed group and remained constant in individuals fed once a month. In feeding trials, food-limited individuals reached prey more quickly and a significantly higher proportion of the 30-day group ate; locomotory activity and prey-detection distance were inconclusive. These are results for the study's juvenile groups and feeding schedule, not a feeding interval, diet, or supplementation recommendation.

Compatibility and Coexistence: This proposal does not establish compatibility or cohabitation guidance.

Health and Common Diseases: This proposal does not make a clinical, disease, or veterinary claim.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Caraibi (Foreste tropicali secche e arbusteti di Haiti, Repubblica Dominicana, Cuba).

Origin

Extra-Amazon South AmericaCentral America and Caribbean

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet: No verified data available
Life expectancy: No verified data available
Adult size: 20 cm
Lifestyle/Microhabitat: No verified data available
Activity cycle: No verified data available
Sociality: No verified data available
Reproduction: No verified data available
Venom level: No verified data available
Handling tolerance: No verified data available
Brumation: No verified data available
Molting: No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Recommended companions

Compatible cards from coherent ecosystems with matching parameters.

Similar care

Cards with similar requirements, difficulty, habitat, and husbandry profile.

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Blue Fang Skeleton Tarantula (Ephebopus cyanognathus)

Colombian Lesserblack Tarantula (Xenesthis immanis)

Indian Violet Tarantula (Chilobrachys fimbriatus)

Lesser Goa Mustard Tarantula (Thrigmopoeus truculentus)

Recommended companions

False Tomato Frog

Argentine Horned Frog

Chacoan Horned Frog (Pacman Frog)

Clown Tree Frog

Similar care

Puerto Rican Brown Tarantula (Cyrtopholis portoricae)

Colombian Giant Redleg (Megaphobema robustum)

Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula (Aphonopelma seemanni)

Pumpkin Patch Tarantula (Hapalopus formosus)