Theraphosidae sp. Roatan

Roatan is a small island off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, and Theraphosidae sp. Roatan is a tarantula known only by the name of that place. It has no formal description and no assigned genus yet; in the hobby it also circulates as Theraphosinae sp. Roatan. Keepers who have worked with it for years point to striking sexual dimorphism: mature males turn a deep purple, while females (pictured) are stocky and warm rusty brown, with a copper carapace and contrasting black femurs. It is a rare chance to watch a completely different animal emerge from an unassuming spiderling.

Keepers report that in the wild the young shelter under logs and plant debris, while older specimens dig burrows in seasonally dry scrub. The same pattern shows in the enclosure: the spider shifts substrate, enlarges its hide and builds its own network of tunnels. Temperament varies from calm to distinctly skittish, so it is best kept as a display animal. Like most tarantulas from the Americas, it may kick urticating hairs. Spiderlings feed readily and are said to grow relatively quickly.

The L1 spiderlings on offer do best in a small container with a few centimetres of lightly moist coconut fibre, keeping part of it dry and misting the rest regularly. Spiderlings drink from droplets on the walls and substrate; a water dish only becomes useful for larger specimens. Increase the substrate depth as the spider grows, since adults burrow. Room temperature is perfectly adequate, and keepers note that this species tolerates slightly drier conditions than typical rainforest species. Offer small prey sized to the spider.

This is one for keepers who already have a few tarantulas behind them and want something off the usual list. A single-island species still without a scientific name, purple males and black females makes for years of observation. Every moult adds something to what we know about this spider, and its keeper becomes part of that story.