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Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider

Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tree Spider Family: Theraphosidae
Subfamily: Poecilotheriinae

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Poecilotheria metallica Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Monica Rearick

   The Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider is setting the spider hobby ablaze with excitement!

   A striking arboreal spider from India, the Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider or Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tree Spider, has been creating quite a stir. This wonderful bright blue spider is also quite expensive.

   The incredible beauty and rarity of captive-hatched specimens are producing an exhilaration in hobbyists not seen in several years. This beautiful spider is truly the gem of several collections across the United States.

For more Information on keeping tarantulas see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Invertebrate

Description:
   The Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider looks similar to the other Ornamental Tree Spiders, but is covered on the carapace, abdomen, and legs with incredible metallic blue coloration. As a spiderling, Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider has a somewhat lavender hue. As it grows the lavender fades and is replaced by beautiful hues of blue.
   The males are beautifully covered in a more intense metallic blue coloration than the females. Mature males also are slender and long-legged compared to females.

Care and Feeding:
   Though Poecilotheria species seem to prefer flying insects such as moths, they will feed eagerly on crickets, grasshoppers, and large specimens will even feed on an occasional small mouse.

Environment:
   The Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider is an arboreal species. It should be kept in a large, vertically oriented enclosure. They need a well ventilated enclosure but with relatively high humidity. A modified aquarium with part screened sides and screened top works best. If the enclosure becomes too dry, the spiders will not do well.
   One way to overcome the dilemma of high humidity and high ventilation is to use a deep (4 to 5”) substrate of damp sand and peat moss and provide several live plants within the enclosure. These plants can be placed within the enclosure still in their pots or can be planted in the deep substrate. Live plants will not only provide excellent places for the spiders to establish homes, they will provide excellent areas for breeding and egg-laying.
   Add one or two shallow water dishes and mist the entire enclosure once a day to every other day, depending on the conditions of the room in which the enclosure is located. The cage should be allowed to dry out in between mistings.

Temperature and Humidity requirements:
   This species will do best if you maintain the enclosure at 78° to 82° F with a humidity level of 75 to 85%.

Handling:
   This species is very aggressive / defensive and should not be handled under any circumstances. The bite can be medically significant for some people. We suggest using a paint brush or other tool to corral the Ornamental Tree Spider and to move it from enclosure to enclosure for cleaning, maintenance, or for breeding attempts

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Mature males are slender and long-legged compared to females and they have no tibial hooks for mating. They are also beautifully covered in more intense metallic blue coloration.
   An adult males should be carefully introduced into the female’s enclosure after he has produced a sperm web. The female should be very well-fed before any introductions as Poecilotheria females are notorious for attacking and eating males before any mating can occur. If both male and female are well-fed, success is more likely. The male can be protected with a piece of cardboard or other tool if he is to be used for further breeding attempts.
   Once mating occurs, the female should be fed in anticipation of an egg sac.

Ailments:
   Tarantulas are generally quite hardy and adaptable if they are provided with the right environment. A few signs that may indicate that your pet is not acting or feeling normal are a loss of appetite, lethargy, looking overly skinny, or pacing the enclosure.
   (A tarantula on its back is probably NOT sick.  Most tarantula species flip onto their backs during molting.  Though this is a very stressful and delicate time for tarantulas, if the humidity and warmth levels are correct, they will molt their exoskeleton, roll over, harden up, and within a week or two be ready for their next meals.)

• Molting: One of the most common reasons for your pet to demonstrate unusual behavior is due to a molting period. As they outgrow their existing skin all tarantulas regularly go through an extensive molt, shedding their entire skin as well as the linings of their mouth, respiratory organs, stomach and sexual organs.
     The process starts well before the actual molt. For several weeks prior to shedding they will be growing a new skin under their old one. During this time it is not unusual for a tarantula to get quite lethargic and even stop eating. There may also be lots of web spinning activity as they prepare to molt.
     When they begin to molt, they lay on their backs with their legs up in the air looking as if they are dead. Be sure not to disturb your tarantula when you see this. The shedding process goes quickly and smoothly as long the environment has adequate humidity.
     Once they have shed, their new skin is pale and very soft. The amount of time it takes for your pet to fully recover and be back to eating well will vary from a day or so up to several weeks depending on its size. Smaller spiders recover much quicker than larger ones.
• Other Problems: Other problems are usually the result of some type of environmental stress. There may be a drop in the temperature of the enclosure, there may be parasites, or the tarantula may just not be comfortable with the depth of its hiding place. These things can be easily adjusted or changed, or you can try moving your pet to a new enclosure.

Availability:
   The Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider or Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tree Spider is currently very difficult to find and is very expensive.
   A few dealers in the United States have imported specimens from a breeder in Europe. These specimens were very expensive but sold out relatively quickly. Recently, one U.S. keeper has produced an egg sac and several other keepers have specimens close to breeding size. More and more of these spiders are trickling in from Europe. Hopefully, the price of this wonderful species will reach a level for all hobbyists to experience their incredible beauty.

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Latest Comments
Great looking spider! Personally it's not the one I’m in to, but I know a person who is breading 1 or 2 to help them become less extinct. jen 2008-10-09
Dearest fans and collectors of rare spiders and tarantulas, Please check the endangered species list, Indian taratulas may not be in exsistence in the near future. Loving collectors are going to kill them all. Human greed ruins this planets living things. You just love them to death! How nice,that's real love! Regards, Mick. Mick 2008-10-06
I have four P. metallicas and although pretty, they are not as lovely as the pictures. The Poecilotheria `tigris` appears far more attractive to my eye. Richard H Turner. Richard H Turner 2006-04-29
Some of the coolest comments:
Hi there, I got to say I love this spider and always have since the first time I saw a picture of one. I also got to say that I completely disagree with Mick's comments that we who love the rare and beautiful creatures will kill them out. Mick if you look further into the hobby you will see that many people are now having great success in breeding most species, which in turn means that they will never become extinct. I do however understand what your saying as our race has wiped around numerous other animals out, of which I'm sure we have now learned our lesson from. As for tarantulas, I speak from experience when I say that captive bred specimens appear to have far less ailments and seem to also have a lot more color. I hope I haven't offended anyway by putting my 2 pence worth into this, but someone has to defend us :) There will always be an arguement on this topic as many people don't understand exactly what is involved and just how much love and care some people put into it. Anyway that's my view and I got to say GREAT PIC and excellent info. tyvm. got the bug 2008-10-23

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Author: Russ Gurley
Additional Information: Clarice Brough, CRS.
Edited by Animal-World.