Keeper guide

Antilles Pinktoe Temperature Guide — Caribena versicolor

A practical temperature range for Caribena versicolor, commonly known as the Antilles Pinktoe, is 21–26°C. Stable room conditions matter more than chasing tiny changes on the thermometer.

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

Working temperature range

Keep Caribena versicolor around 21–26°C. Use that as a practical captive range and avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures well outside it.

Antilles Pinktoes do not need the enclosure to hit one exact number all day. Normal small room fluctuations are easier to manage than repeated heating and cooling adjustments.

Measure the shelf, not just the room

Check the temperature where the Caribena versicolor enclosure actually sits. Shelves near windows, radiators, computers or external walls can differ from the centre of the room.

A thermometer placed near the enclosure gives more useful information for an Antilles Pinktoe than a reading taken across the room.

Avoid direct heat on the enclosure

Do not attach a heat mat directly to a Caribena versicolor enclosure. Small containers can develop concentrated hot areas that are much warmer than the surrounding room.

If the room is genuinely too cold for Antilles Pinktoes, warm the room instead and check the temperature at enclosure level. That gives a more even and controllable result.

Summer heat

During hot weather, keep Caribena versicolor out of direct sunlight and watch rooms that heat up during the afternoon. A closed window area can become much warmer than expected.

Do not respond to a warm day by soaking the Antilles Pinktoe enclosure. Temperature and substrate moisture are separate husbandry issues.

Winter conditions

In winter, check the coldest part of the day where Caribena versicolor is kept. Rooms can cool overnight even when daytime readings look comfortable.

If room heating is used, remember that it may also dry Antilles Pinktoes enclosures faster. Adjust watering to the actual drying rate rather than assuming winter always means wetter substrate.

Use behaviour as context

Temperature readings for Caribena versicolor should be considered alongside normal feeding, retreat use and moulting. One slightly different reading is less useful than a consistent pattern over time.

If an Antilles Pinktoe suddenly changes behaviour, check temperature along with water, moisture and recent disturbance instead of assuming temperature is the only cause.