Keeper guide

Green Bottle Blue Care Mistakes to Avoid — Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens

Most care problems with Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, commonly known as the Green Bottle Blue, come from a few repeat mistakes: the wrong enclosure shape, poor moisture control, overfeeding, disturbing premoult spiders and making routine maintenance harder than it needs to be.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
New World
Origin
Northern Venezuela, especially the Paraguaná region
Lifestyle
Terrestrial
UK hobby rarity
Common
Maximum size
About 15–16 cm (6–6.25 in)
Growth rate
Moderate
Male lifespan
Around 3–4 years
Female lifespan
Around 12–14 years
Temperament
Usually skittish and quick; more likely to retreat than stand its ground, but individuals vary
Venom
Venomous, but bites are not generally regarded as medically significant; urticating hairs are the more routine keeper hazard
Temperature
20–25°C
Moisture / humidity
Mostly dry, well ventilated setup with a water dish; slings appreciate a small damp area rather than a wet enclosure
CITES
Not CITES-listed

Using the wrong enclosure style

Green Bottle Blues are terrestrial. Young spiders may dig more, while larger animals often spend more time in the open, although individual Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens can still choose to remain hidden. Build the enclosure around that lifestyle instead of using the same shape for every tarantula.

For Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, adult size is about 15–16 cm (6–6.25 in), but enclosure size should still follow the spider's current size. A sling does not benefit from being placed straight into a large adult setup.

Getting moisture wrong

For Green Bottle Blues, use a mostly dry, well-ventilated setup with a water dish. Slings appreciate a small damp area rather than a wet enclosure. The mistake is usually treating the whole enclosure as either permanently wet or permanently dry instead of watching how the substrate actually behaves.

Keep fresh water available to Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens. Persistent condensation, a stale smell or wet substrate that never dries are reasons to reduce water or improve airflow.

Overfeeding or chasing a schedule

Feed Green Bottle Blues according to size, appetite and abdomen, not because a calendar says food is due. Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens can refuse meals for normal reasons, especially around premoult.

Do not keep adding prey when a Green Bottle Blue is already very well fed. Remove ignored live feeders and offer food again later.

Disturbing premoult or moulting

When Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens shows premoult signs, remove live prey and leave the spider alone. A closed retreat is not an invitation to open it and check what is happening.

After a moult, wait until a Green Bottle Blue has hardened and the fangs have darkened before feeding. Larger spiders usually need longer than tiny slings.

Making maintenance too difficult

A good Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens enclosure lets you refill water and remove food remains without dismantling the main retreat. If every job requires moving cork, digging into substrate or working directly over the spider, change the layout.

Handling is not part of routine care for Green Bottle Blues. Use long tools when useful and have a catch cup ready for rehousing.

Changing too much at once

Once a Green Bottle Blue has settled, avoid repeatedly rearranging the enclosure for appearance. Stable housing usually matters more to Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens than a constantly changing display.

If something needs correcting, change one clear husbandry problem at a time. That makes it easier to see whether Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens settles, feeds and uses the enclosure normally afterward.