Avicularia avicularia (Pink Toed Tarantula)
Last updated: May 8, 2026
This is not a care guide. If you are interested in keeping this species, please research its husbandry thoroughly before purchasing. Tom's Big Spiders has species-specific husbandry notes that are a solid place to start.
Avicularia avicularia, commonly called the Pink Toed Tarantula or Guyana Pink Toe, is a South American arboreal species and one of the most popular arboreals in the hobby. The name comes from the distinctly pink-tipped toes on an otherwise dark, velvety body. It is a beautiful spider and a genuinely interesting one to keep.
The species is native to a broad range across South America and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Trinidad, and Tobago. The Avicularia genus has had its taxonomy revised several times over the past decade, and some animals sold under this name in older collections may technically be a different species. Animals sold as A. avicularia by reputable vendors today are generally well-identified.
How It Defends Itself
The pink toe has a characteristic defensive behavior that sets it apart from most tarantulas you may have kept: instead of biting or going into a threat display, it tends to jump and flee, or flick frass. This makes it one of the less intimidating arboreals to work with during maintenance. That does not mean you should be careless, but it does mean the interaction profile is different from a defensive old world or even a reactive new world like P irminia.
The Ventilation Thing Matters
Avicularia species have a well-documented sensitivity to stagnant, overly humid conditions. The pink toe needs good cross-ventilation. The conventional wisdom is a moisture gradient: damp at the bottom, drier toward the top, with good airflow on multiple sides, ideally acrylic with drilled vent holes. Set the enclosure up correctly from the start and this species is very manageable. Ignore the ventilation and you will have problems.
Is This a Good Fit for You?
If you have been keeping terrestrial tarantulas and are curious about arboreals, the pink toe is a natural next step. Its gentle temperament and moderate adult size (around 4 to 5 inches in legspan) make it approachable compared to many other arboreal options. The care is different enough from terrestrial keeping to be interesting without being overwhelming.
If you want to watch a tarantula actively use a three-dimensional space, climbing and moving through a well-decorated vertical enclosure, the pink toe delivers on that consistently. If you want something to sit on the ground and be easy to observe at eye level, a terrestrial species would be a better fit.
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FAQs
Do Avicularia avicularia bite?
Bites from this species are rare. The typical defensive response is to jump, flick frass, or simply move away quickly. A bite is possible if the spider is cornered and has no other option, but it is uncommon. The pink toe has a well-earned reputation as one of the more docile arboreal species available.
This species does have type II urticating hairs. Unlike the hairs of most new world terrestrials, they cannot be kicked off into the air, but they can be rubbed against skin during contact and cause irritation. It is a different kind of defense than what you would expect from a terrestrial hair-kicker, but worth being aware of.
What kind of enclosure does Avicularia avicularia need?
A vertical enclosure with good cross-ventilation and climbing opportunities. A cork tube or piece of cork bark is ideal for hiding and anchoring webbing. The key thing most new keepers miss is airflow: this species does not tolerate stagnant, overly humid conditions well. Acrylic with small drilled vent holes on multiple sides is ideal.
Is Avicularia avicularia good for beginners?
It can be, with an important caveat: the enclosure setup is different from terrestrial species in ways that matter. If you understand the ventilation requirements and set things up correctly from the start, it is a manageable and rewarding species. It is regularly cited as a good beginner arboreal for a reason. Just do not assume it can be kept the same way as your terrestrial spiders.
Why does my pink toe keep sitting at the bottom of its enclosure?
This can be a sign that conditions are not right, particularly that humidity is too high and airflow is too low. A healthy pink toe should be spending most of its time off the ground. If yours is consistently on the substrate, evaluate the ventilation and see if conditions need to be adjusted.