This arboreal {tree dwelling} tarantula was formerly known
as the Martinque Bird Spider. The name versicolor comes from
the color changes they go through from spiderling to adult.
The spiderlings are very attractive and fairly fast. They seem
to be pretty managable, unlike the Ornamentals, and it's not
too hard to get them to go where you want them too. They prefer
a taller housing and will usually make there web right onto the
top of the lid, which can cause some problems for feeding and cleaning. The adults lose the very blue color of the spiderlings
and gain more of a red tint to the hairs on their legs and abdomen. Of the spiderlings we have had, this one is the most
attractive and can be handled,but they can jump;
so caution should be taken. This spider grew up to be a male and did not live
very long after the mature molting. We did get to see it construct it's sperm
web.
Versicolor growing into adult colors