Iridopelma oliverai (Red Velvet Pink-Toe Tarantula) RARE USA FIRST PRODUCTION! 0.5-0.75"

The Red Velvet Pink-Toe Tarantula, or Iridopelma oliverai, is an arboreal tarantula from Brazil. Adults are a bright, gorgeous red across the body, with a reflective, velvet textured abdomen in both sexes. Spiderlings hatch out pink and black, then gradually shift into that fully bright red adult color as they grow, with a stunning rosy red coloration on the abdomen showing up along the way. This species only grows to about 4.5 to 5 inches in diagonal leg span, with a medium to fast growth rate. As with most pink toe tarantulas, expect females to live 10 to 15 years, while males typically live only 2 to 3. This species is docile like the rest of the genus, though still quick and capable of sudden movement like most arboreals, and it is perfect for hobbyists who love pink toes but want something a little less common. Grab this docile new world tarantula for sale today, offered here as a spiderling.

Why do hobbyists keep the Red Velvet Pink-Toe Tarantula?

• Colorful Spiderlings: Spiderlings hatch out pink and black, a striking early look in its own right well before the adult color takes over.
• Drastic Color Change: The shift from a pink and black spiderling to a fully bright red adult with a reflective velvet abdomen is one of the more dramatic transformations in the genus.
• Heavy Webber: This species is a heavy webber and builds thick retreats in the upper part of the enclosure, giving it plenty of presence even when it is tucked away.
• Docile Temperament: Iridopelma oliverai is usually docile, though still quick and capable of sudden movement like most arboreals.
• US First Captive Breeding: This species was first bred in captivity in the United States right here, making it an uncommon animal to add to a collection.

How should Iridopelma oliverai be kept?

• Adult Size: Hatchlings start around 0.5 to 0.75 inch, and the species only grows to about 4.5 to 5 inches in diagonal leg span as an adult, so there is plenty of growing left ahead of it at every size we carry.
• Enclosure: A young Iridopelma oliverai like this one does well in an enclosure around 4 by 4 by 5 inches, with cross ventilation and vertical cork bark, foliage, and multiple anchor points for webbing. At least 1.5 inches of substrate at every stage keeps humidity steady without turning the enclosure into a swamp.
• Setup Tips: Real cork bark or wood pieces make a big difference for this species. They help it settle in faster and give it natural climbing surfaces and webbing anchor points at every size, spiderling included.
• Rehousing: From here, plan on two more moves: an 8 by 8 by 10 inch enclosure, then a 10 by 10 by 16 inch enclosure as an adult. At this species' medium to fast growth rate, each enclosure typically lasts around 8 to 14 months, with full size reached in about 2 to 4 years.
• Temperature: 75 to 85°F, the optimal range for most tropical species like this one. Cooler temperatures are survivable, but increase the odds of trouble molting and growing, so we recommend staying in this range for the best results. Most keepers do not need any extra heating to hit it.
• Humidity: Never let the substrate dry out completely. This is a tropical species and it likes things a little wetter than most terrestrials, so keep it slightly damp and top it up before it goes dry rather than after.
• Water: In the wild, arboreal tarantulas get most of their water from rainfall, drinking droplets off leaves, webbing, and enclosure walls rather than standing water. Misting the enclosure once a week is required, not optional, since it's this species' primary water source. A shallow water dish placed up on a piece of cork rather than on the floor is still worth keeping as a backup, and keeps crickets from drowning before they get eaten, but it should never replace regular misting.
• Diet: A pinhead to 3/16 inch cricket is the right size to start, offered at least once a week.
• Temperament: Iridopelma oliverai is usually docile. It can move quickly when startled, but it is not a defensive species.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for Iridopelma oliverai?

• Pink Toe Spiders? Like every tarantula, this arachnid gets called a pink toe spider in casual conversation. Tarantulas and true spiders are both arachnids, though tarantulas are the heavy bodied, long lived branch of the family, and a pink toe's habit of showing off its brightly colored feet while it walks is exactly why the nickname stuck.
• US First Captive Breeding: This species was first produced in captivity in the United States right here at Exotics Unlimited, which is part of why it is still so uncommon in the hobby.
• Captive Bred: All tarantulas at Exotics Unlimited are captive bred.
• Not Eating? If this tarantula ever skips a meal, try prekilling the prey item and placing it up high in the enclosure rather than leaving live prey to wander. Dehydration is one of the most common reasons any tarantula, arboreal species especially, will refuse food, so keeping up with misting and a full water dish is usually the fastest way to get it back on track.

Looking for similar species?

• Browse our Arboreal Tarantulas and New World Tarantulas collections to explore related care profiles.

Frequently asked questions about the Red Velvet Pink-Toe Tarantula?

• What do I do when I first get my tarantula? As soon as it arrives, mist the enclosure so there is clear moisture on the webbing, substrate, or enclosure wall, and keep an eye on it until you actually see it take a drink. Shipping is dehydrating, and an arboreal especially will not settle in or start eating until it has rehydrated properly, so this is the one step worth not skipping on day one. Once you have seen it drink, let it settle in undisturbed for a few days before offering its first meal.

Listing Notes

• This listing is for an Iridopelma oliverai Red Velvet Pink-Toe Tarantula spiderling measuring around 0.5 to 0.75 inch in diagonal leg span, which is the size given in the title, unsexed, with roughly a 50/50 chance of male or female. This is about the size the species hatches at, so it is showing its pink and black sling color, well before the fully bright red adult color comes in. This is also a USA first captive production, so it is still uncommon to find.