Keeper guide

Venezuelan Suntiger Temperature Guide — Psalmopoeus irminia

A practical temperature range for Psalmopoeus irminia, commonly known as the Venezuelan Suntiger, is 22–27°C. Stable room conditions matter more than chasing tiny changes on the thermometer.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
New World
Origin
Venezuela
Lifestyle
Arboreal
UK hobby rarity
Common
Maximum size
About 13–15 cm (5–6 in)
Growth rate
Fast
Male lifespan
Roughly 3–4 years
Female lifespan
Often 10–12 years
Temperament
Fast, secretive and capable of strong defensive responses
Venom
Venomous; bites deserve more respect than those of many beginner New World terrestrials
Temperature
22–27°C
Moisture / humidity
Moderate moisture with strong ventilation and access to water
CITES
Check current CITES rules before cross-border trade

Working temperature range

Keep Psalmopoeus irminia around 22–27°C. Use that as a practical captive range and avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures well outside it.

Venezuelan Suntigers 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 Psalmopoeus irminia 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 a Venezuelan Suntiger than a reading taken across the room.

Avoid direct heat on the enclosure

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

If the room is genuinely too cold for Venezuelan Suntigers, 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 Psalmopoeus irminia 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 Venezuelan Suntiger enclosure. Temperature and substrate moisture are separate husbandry issues.

Winter conditions

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

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

Use behaviour as context

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

If a Venezuelan Suntiger suddenly changes behaviour, check temperature along with water, moisture and recent disturbance instead of assuming temperature is the only cause.