Keeper guide

Trinidad Chevron Sling Care — Psalmopoeus cambridgei

Young Psalmopoeus cambridgei need the same basic husbandry principles as adults, but in a smaller, more carefully managed enclosure. Trinidad Chevrons 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
Trinidad and Tobago
Lifestyle
Arboreal
UK hobby rarity
Common
Maximum size
About 15–17 cm (6–6.75 in)
Growth rate
Fast
Male lifespan
Roughly 3–4 years
Female lifespan
Often 10–12 years
Temperament
Fast and reactive; often retreats but can defend itself strongly
Venom
Venomous; bites may be more painful and consequential than typical New World terrestrial bites
Temperature
22–27°C
Moisture / humidity
Moderate moisture with strong ventilation and constant water
CITES
Check current CITES rules before cross-border trade

Choosing a sling enclosure

Use an enclosure that is secure and easy to inspect for a Trinidad Chevron 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 Psalmopoeus cambridgei 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 Trinidad Chevrons, maintain moderate moisture with strong ventilation and constant water. Small containers change moisture faster than adult enclosures, so check the substrate rather than watering on autopilot.

Do not keep a Psalmopoeus cambridgei 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 Psalmopoeus cambridgei 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 a Trinidad Chevron sling.

Feeding slings

Feed Trinidad Chevrons 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 Psalmopoeus cambridgei before they spoil, especially in a small moist enclosure. Appetite may drop sharply before a moult.

Moulting

Young Psalmopoeus cambridgei 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 Trinidad Chevron alone through the moult. Wait until the new exoskeleton and fangs have hardened before feeding again.

Rehousing a growing sling

Rehouse a Trinidad Chevron sling when the enclosure becomes genuinely cramped or difficult to maintain. Prepare the new setup completely before opening the old one.

Because small Trinidad Chevrons can disappear through tiny gaps, check ventilation holes, lid edges and door clearances carefully before moving Psalmopoeus cambridgei.

Simple records

Record moult dates for Psalmopoeus cambridgei 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 Trinidad Chevron, especially when feeding slows or the interval between moults begins to lengthen.