Keeper guide

Antilles Pinktoe Sling Care — Caribena versicolor

Young Caribena versicolor need the same basic husbandry principles as adults, but in a smaller, more carefully managed enclosure. Antilles Pinktoes slings dry out faster, eat smaller prey and can escape through gaps an adult could never use.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
New World
Origin
Martinique
Lifestyle
Arboreal
UK hobby rarity
Common
Maximum size
About 13–15 cm (5–6 in)
Growth rate
Fast
Male lifespan
Around 3–4 years
Female lifespan
Around 10–12 years
Temperament
Usually more flighty than defensive; capable of quick jumps or bolts
Venom
Venomous, but bites are not generally regarded as medically significant; urticating hairs remain a concern
Temperature
21–26°C
Moisture / humidity
Moderate moisture with excellent cross-ventilation; never keep the enclosure stagnant or constantly wet
CITES
Not CITES-listed

Choosing a sling enclosure

Use an enclosure that is secure and easy to inspect for an Antilles Pinktoe sling. It should be large enough for a retreat and water access but small enough that prey and the spider are easy to locate.

Match the shape to the Caribena versicolor arboreal lifestyle. Arboreal slings need usable height and anchor points, fossorial slings need digging depth, and terrestrial slings need floor space with a low fall height.

Substrate and moisture

For young Antilles Pinktoes, maintain moderate moisture with excellent cross-ventilation. Never keep the enclosure stagnant or constantly wet. Small containers change moisture faster than adult enclosures, so check the substrate rather than watering on autopilot.

Do not keep a Caribena versicolor sling permanently waterlogged. Good airflow and a sensible moisture gradient are safer than trying to make the whole container equally damp.

Water

Provide fresh water to Caribena versicolor as early as the enclosure allows. A very small, shallow water dish can be used for many slings; where that is impractical, keep suitable moisture available until a dish can be added safely.

Check water frequently because tiny dishes and small containers dry quickly. Do not rely on prey alone to hydrate an Antilles Pinktoe sling.

Feeding slings

Feed Antilles Pinktoes slings small, manageable prey. A pre-killed or disabled feeder can be useful for very small spiders that are not ready to tackle active prey.

Remove leftovers from Caribena versicolor before they spoil, especially in a small moist enclosure. Appetite may drop sharply before a moult.

Moulting

Young Caribena versicolor usually moult more often than adults. When a sling stops eating and becomes more secretive, premoult is a common explanation.

Remove live prey, keep water available and leave the Antilles Pinktoe alone through the moult. Wait until the new exoskeleton and fangs have hardened before feeding again.

Rehousing a growing sling

Rehouse an Antilles Pinktoe sling when the enclosure becomes genuinely cramped or difficult to maintain. Prepare the new setup completely before opening the old one.

Because small Antilles Pinktoes can disappear through tiny gaps, check ventilation holes, lid edges and door clearances carefully before moving Caribena versicolor.

Simple records

Record moult dates for Caribena versicolor if you want to follow growth. A quick note of feeding and moulting is enough; there is no need to turn sling care into a complicated daily log.

Those dates make it easier to see what is normal for the individual Antilles Pinktoe, especially when feeding slows or the interval between moults begins to lengthen.