Cuban bronze tarantula (Phormictopus auratus)

Short answers

Cuban bronze tarantula: How big does the enclosure need to be?

40×40×35 cm (floor area over height, deep substrate).

Cuban bronze tarantula: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Cuban bronze tarantula: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed (nocturnal).

Cuban bronze tarantula: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females 12–15 years, males approx. 3 years.

Cuban bronze tarantula: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

70–80 %

UVB

No UVB needed (nocturnal)

Enclosure

Minimum size

40×40×35 cm (floor area over height, deep substrate)

Substrate

A moisture-retaining coco humus or soil mix, 10–15 cm deep; a cork hide, a water bowl

Feeding

Food

Insects (house crickets, roaches, crickets, locusts)

Feeding interval

adults approx. 1×/week or every 10–14 days, juveniles 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

15–18 cm leg span (body ~7–8 cm)

Life expectancy

females 12–15 years, males approx. 3 years

Origin

Cuba

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; no special registration duties

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Single housing. Solitary and cannibalistic; no pair/group housing. The reason is not conflict but predation: these animals take anything that fits in their mouths, and a second animal in the enclosure is included.

Notes

Bronze-coloured with a metallic sheen; the young are often violet. It grows quickly and feeds heavily. Skittish and defensive — it goes into a threat posture quickly, and is not one for beginners.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Amazon birdeater (Iridopelma hirsutum) – Intermediate
• Arizona blonde tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes) – Beginner
• Pinktoe tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) – Beginner
• Cobalt blue tarantula (Cyriopagopus lividus) – Expert
• Gooty sapphire ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica) – Expert
• Peruvian blue tarantula (Thrixopelma cyaneolum) – Beginner
• Singapore blue tarantula (Omothymus violaceopes) – Expert
• Blue foot baboon tarantula (Idiothele mira) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Cuban bronze tarantula (Phormictopus auratus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (40×40×35 cm (floor area over height, deep substrate)), substrate (A moisture-retaining coco humus or soil mix, 10–15 cm deep; a cork hide, a water bowl), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.