Common name: suntiger

Range: Venezuela.

Habitat: Arboreal rainforest species.

Temp/humidity: 70 - 80oF / 60 - 80%

Housing: Typical arboreal set-up is ideal, moist compost substrate, large piece of cork bark against rear of the tank providing retreat.

Comments: Similar in size and temperament to P. cambridgei, P. irminia is a fairly easy species to rear. More strikingly marked than P. cambridgei with black, yellow and vivid red stripes down the metatarsus and abdomen. Good feeders, they can grow rapidly to a large size, some individuals reaching 7" in legspan. Males can be ever larger but more drab in colour but with similar metatarsus leg markings like the female. Mating is straight forward with a receptive female and she will respond eagerly with eager drumming. Actual mating is brief but courtship can be quite long, the male making sure she's in just the right position before mating. Males usually escape unharmed as the female remains quite calm throughout. Several males can be used in succession with receptive females. An eggsac is produced some 8 - 12 weeks later with a further 8 - 12 weeks incubation before the spiderlings emerge and eggsacs typically contain 150 - 200 young. P. irminia is known to sometimes produce infertile eggsacs without being mated. Relatively new to the hobby and only recently described (1994), this is a stunning species and a great addition to any collection. Should be available as captive bred spiderlings due to it's ease of breeding in captivity.