Cyriocosmus sp. primavera

Cyriocosmus is a South American genus of dwarf tarantulas that make up for their size with pattern. Many species carry a bold, contrasting motif on the abdomen, and the carapace can catch the light with a metallic sheen. Cyriocosmus sp. primavera is a species still awaiting formal description; "primavera" is the working name used by keepers and its exact origin remains undocumented. A grown specimen (pictured) has steely blue-green legs with pale stripes, a golden-brown carapace and a dark abdomen with a rusty patch, which makes watching those colours emerge moult by moult all the more rewarding.

Young Cyriocosmus are lively and surprisingly bold for their size. They dig readily, running tunnels along the sides of the enclosure and waiting there for prey. As they grow they spend more time in their retreat, yet still surface around dusk. The genus is calm by nature: a disturbed spider usually just slips underground. This is a display animal, and its daily routine offers far more to watch than its size would suggest. Dwarf tarantulas generally mature faster than the large species, so you will not wait years to see it change.

L1 spiderlings are tiny, so a small, well-ventilated container with a few centimetres of coconut fibre works best, letting the spider dig its own burrow. Keep the substrate slightly damp and never fully dry; regular misting of one section leaves droplets on the walls for the spiderling to drink from. Room temperature is fine, with 24-27°C as the optimum. Offer small prey such as pre-killed or cut crickets or young roaches, and remove any leftovers. Keep the tub away from draughts and direct sun, and after a moult hold off feeding for a few days until the new exoskeleton has hardened.

This is a good step for a keeper who already has a first tarantula and wants to explore the dwarf species. It needs neither a large enclosure nor specialist kit, but it does reward a watchful eye, as a spiderling can vanish into the substrate for weeks. In return you get a little-known species that takes up very little shelf space and draws a lot of attention.