Citharacanthus cyaneus
Orange and Violet Dwarf Tarantula: Advanced Care Guide
Keeper Snapshot: A small Cuban tarantula with orange and violet color. Give it a few inches of soil, a hide with a starter burrow and a lightly damp lower layer, and keep the feeding steady.
Group: TarantulasDifficulty: Spice 2: BeginnerSetup: Terrestrial, light burrower with a hideHandling: Not recommended, small and quick to bolt
Use This Guide Safely
- Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
- Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
- Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Snapshot
| Temperature | 72-80°F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | 50-65%: lightly damp lower layer, dry top |
| Setup Type | Terrestrial, light burrower with a hide |
| Substrate | Soil/coco mix 3-4 in, starter burrow under cork |
| Feeding | Small prey weekly while growing |
| Care Difficulty | Spice 2: Beginner |
| Handling | Not recommended, small and quick to bolt |
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Enclosure Format / Size Class
- Slings (about 0.33-0.5 in): Baby Buddy with damp lower layer and a starter hole.
- Juveniles and adults: Burrow Buddy footprint works for a small terrestrial this size.
Warnings First
- Small and quick. Open the lid slowly and keep vent gaps tiny.
- May kick urticating hairs. Keep your face back and wash up after.
- Don't let a tiny sling's soil dry out completely, and don't flood it either.
Simple Care
- House it alone.
- 3-4 in of soil with a starter burrow under cork.
- Lightly damp lower layer, dry surface.
- Bottle-cap dish once it can use one.
- Small prey sized to the abdomen.
Advanced Keeper Notes
Enclosure & Microclimate
- Terrestrial that will burrow if given a start. Poke a hole under the cork and let it take over.
- Floor space over height, and short drops.
- Cross ventilation keeps the damp lower layer from going stale.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Slings: tiny prey weekly. Juveniles and adults: weekly to every 10 days.
- Pull leftovers within a day; skip feeding around a molt.
Possible Origin / Range
- Likely native range: Cuba.
- Habitat translation: Cuban ground cover becomes a few inches of soil with a starter burrow under cork, a lightly damp lower layer and a dry, ventilated surface.
Advanced Keeper Details
- Originally described as Cyrtopholis cyaneus; now in Citharacanthus.
- Retailer size figures range from 2.5 to 4 in; your animal sets the enclosure size.