Cyriocosmus sp. Cereza

Cyriocosmus sp. Cereza is a species from the genus of South American dwarf tarantulas, among the smallest members of the whole family. "Cereza" is Spanish for cherry, and in the English-speaking hobby it is sometimes offered as the "Cherry Dwarf". Its exact origin is not documented in the literature, and like several Cyriocosmus that have entered the hobby in recent years, it has yet to be formally described. The name suits it: a grown specimen (pictured) shows a glossy cherry-copper carapace, a black abdomen with a pale patch and dark legs covered in long rusty hairs. The colours sharpen with each moult, so raising one from a 1st instar spiderling lets you follow the transformation.

In the enclosure, Cyriocosmus behave like scaled-down versions of larger terrestrial tarantulas. Spiderlings live a terrestrial life, make good use of a hide and dig their own tunnels, often along the container wall, so you can sometimes watch them in cross-section. Feeding time is the highlight: the tiny spider waits motionless, then seizes its prey in a single burst and retreats with it into cover. The genus is calm by nature, shy rather than defensive, and the venom is considered mild.

Keep 1st instar (L1) spiderlings in a small, well-ventilated container with a few centimetres of coconut fibre. Mist part of the substrate regularly and let the rest dry slightly, but never allow the whole substrate to dry out. Spiderlings drink from droplets on the container walls after misting; a water dish only becomes useful for larger specimens. Offer small prey matched to the spider's size, such as young crickets or cut mealworms. Room temperature is fine. Adults need only a modest terrestrial enclosure with 5-7 cm of substrate and a cork bark hide.

This is a spider for keepers who already have a few tarantulas behind them, or who are building a collection of dwarf species. Cyriocosmus sp. Cereza takes up very little shelf space and gives back what Cyriocosmus do best: movement, clever hunting and subtle changes in appearance with every moult. Species still carrying "sp." in their name are also a chance to follow a genus in which more discoveries await description.