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Tapinauchenius cupreus

🔤 Taxonomy

Tapinauchenius cupreus is the currently accepted scientific name. World Spider Catalog lists it as an accepted Ecuadorian species.

The 2022 revision of Tapinauchenius, Psalmopoeus, and Amazonius made this genus more precise, so use the full Latin name and locality information instead of broad labels such as purple tree spider.

Older names, trade labels, or important status notes:

  • Ecuador locality-sensitive Tapinauchenius trade labels

English common names used in the hobby:

  • Ecuador tree spider
  • copper tree spider
  • Ecuador purple tree spider

📌 Description

Tapinauchenius cupreus is a fast, light-bodied arboreal New World tarantula from Ecuador. It is a display spider for keepers who can work calmly around speed and sudden bolting.

Adults are usually about 10-13 cm legspan. Females are compact and long-lived for their size, while mature males are slimmer and short-lived.

This is not a handling species. It is less medically concerning than Asian Old World tarantulas, but it lacks the slow, forgiving temperament of beginner terrestrial spiders and can escape quickly through small gaps.

☠️ Venom

Treat the bite as painful and avoidable. Tapinauchenius is not usually managed as a medically significant genus, but any bite can cause local pain, swelling, and individual reactions.

Use catch cups and long tools. Seek medical advice for serious, spreading, allergic, respiratory, or persistent symptoms.

🌍 Distribution

World Spider Catalog lists Tapinauchenius cupreus from Ecuador. Published natural-history review material records it in a tree cavity association, which fits the arboreal retreat pattern used in care.

In captivity it needs vertical cover, web anchors, clean water, humidity support, and high airflow. A sealed wet box is not a forest tree cavity.

Range map

⚖️ Legal status

No current CITES listing was found for Tapinauchenius cupreus in the official CITES sources checked on 2026-06-03. No species-specific listing was found in Annexes A-D of the EU wildlife trade regulations. The species is not relevant to the Bern Convention because it is not native to Europe.

Local rules on ownership, import, sale, transport, exhibition, breeding, and proof of legal origin may still apply. Keep invoices, seller or breeder details, import or transfer paperwork where relevant, and photos or records that connect the animal to a lawful source.

🤌 Husbandry

Keep Tapinauchenius cupreus alone in a secure arboreal enclosure.

Spiderlings should start in small vertical containers where food, water, and molts can be checked without giving the spider a straight escape path. Adults can use a 25 x 25 x 40 cm or similar enclosure if the height is filled with usable cork, bark, and web anchor points.

Plan water access before the spider webs over the door. A good layout lets you service the enclosure without tearing apart the main retreat.

Useful adult priorities:

  • vertical cork bark or tube
  • web anchor points
  • cross-ventilation
  • water dish or reliable water access
  • door layout that blocks sudden bolting

💡 Lighting

Normal room lighting is enough. UVB and hot basking lamps are unnecessary.

Display lighting should be indirect. Hot light over the upper retreat dries webbing and can push the spider into frantic movement.

🌡 Heating and temperature

Aim for about 23-27°C by day, with nights around 20-23°C.

Warm the room or one side gently if needed. Avoid heat from below; this species spends most of its time above the substrate, while the lower layer helps buffer moisture.

💧 Humidity and water

Aim for about 70-85% with strong ventilation. Provide a water dish for juveniles and adults and keep part of the substrate slightly moist.

The webbed retreat should stay usable, not wet. Condensation film, sour smell, and mold mean moisture is outpacing airflow.

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

Use cork bark, branches, and foliage to create private vertical routes. The spider should be able to retreat behind bark immediately after disturbance.

Avoid wide mesh, loose heavy decor, and door gaps. Substrate can be shallow, but it should still buffer humidity and cushion falls.

🪳 Feeding

Feed roaches, crickets, locusts where legal, and occasional soft larvae. Adults usually take suitable prey every 7-14 days.

Offer prey near the webbed retreat and remove uneaten prey before molts. Do not use vertebrate prey.

🩺 Common problems

Common problems include dehydration, escape during maintenance, stale wet air, fall injuries, stuck molts, and stress from repeated web destruction.

If the spider sits exposed or bolts at every opening, improve retreat quality and enclosure security before changing temperature or feeding more.

📌 Conclusion

Tapinauchenius cupreus suits experienced keepers who want a compact, fast arboreal display tarantula. The enclosure must be ready before purchase, because most problems come from speed meeting poor access design.

📚 Sources and further reading