Size: 5”
Growth Rate: Medium
Natural Habitat: In the trees and shrubs of Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
Housing Needs: Arboreal setup. Higher humidity is needed and can be obtained by misting every few days and adding cups of water to the habitat. Good ventilation is also important, especially for spiderlings. Spiderling housing should have good cross ventilation, and should not be kept overly wet. We often see enclosures that are very wet and soggy, and this can be fatal to slings. Substrate should be damp, but not soaking. A tall piece of cork bark against a side of the enclosure is good to offer as something to anchor its web on, as well as faux leaves.
Temperament and Defensiveness: Versicolors are generally docile, but they do have urticating hairs which can be both kicked off and rubbed against a threat. They can also jump and bolt quite quickly. This genus has a unique defense mechanism by which they will launch excrement when they feel threatened. It can go as far as 2 or 3 feet. They also tend to jump, especially as babies and juveniles, and are particularly sensitive to breezes. If a spiderling escapes, hold your breath as you manipulate it back into the enclosure because the slightest breath will cause it to bolt.
Feeding: If hungry, an adult will always take a large dubia right from my tongs. Slings will as well, they like to snatch squirming prey if dangled near them.