Singapore blue
| Singapore blue | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Theraphosidae |
| Genus: | Lampropelma |
| Species: | L. violaceopes |
| Binomial name | |
| Lampropelma violaceopes Abraham, 1924[1] | |
The Singapore blue (Lampropelma violaceopes) is a large, arboreal species of tarantula from Malaysia and Singapore. These spiders have been known to grow in excess of 9 inches (23 cm) across. The legs are an intense blue with a brown or gold carapace. The male is usually not as vibrant, exhibiting sexual dimorphism.
Food
Diet consists primarily of beetles, cockroaches, crickets, young mice, birds and other small animals. During feeding, the abdomen (opisthosoma) will often increase its size two-fold.
In captivity
Singapore blues are common as pets because of their beautiful colours. Caution should be taken as these are very defensive animals. They will defend themselves using their venom transferred via fangs.
Recommended feeding includes four to six live crickets every few weeks. Gut loading, or providing prey with vitamins and other nutrients, provides tarantulas with a healthy meal. Uneaten prey should be removed after one day. Fasting, or not eating, for days or weeks at a time is sometimes an indication of an upcoming moult. A water dish should be supplied and maintained, shallow enough for the tarantula to drink from.
See also
References
- ↑ "Taxon details Lampropelma violaceopes Abraham, 1924", World Spider Catalog (Natural History Museum Bern), retrieved 2016-04-04
- Samuel D. Marshall (2001). Tarantulas and Other Arachnids (2nd ed.). Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0-7641-1463-2.