Keeper guide

Costa Rican Orange Mouth Temperature Guide — Psalmopoeus reduncus

A practical temperature range for Psalmopoeus reduncus, commonly known as the Costa Rican Orange Mouth, 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
Costa Rica
Lifestyle
Arboreal
UK hobby rarity
Uncommon
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, defensive when cornered and not suitable for handling
Venom
Venomous; bites may be more painful than those of typical beginner terrestrials
Temperature
22–27°C
Moisture / humidity
Moderate moisture with strong ventilation and a water dish
CITES
Check current CITES rules before cross-border trade

Working temperature range

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

Costa Rican Orange Mouths 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 reduncus 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 Costa Rican Orange Mouth than a reading taken across the room.

Avoid direct heat on the enclosure

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

If the room is genuinely too cold for Costa Rican Orange Mouths, 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 reduncus 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 Costa Rican Orange Mouth enclosure. Temperature and substrate moisture are separate husbandry issues.

Winter conditions

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

If room heating is used, remember that it may also dry Costa Rican Orange Mouths 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 reduncus 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 Costa Rican Orange Mouth suddenly changes behaviour, check temperature along with water, moisture and recent disturbance instead of assuming temperature is the only cause.