Phormictopus cancerides — Fact Sheet

Phormictopus cancerides · Hispaniolan giant tarantula

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• 35 x 25 x 25 cm minimum; 40 x 30 x 30 cm is better for large females

• Starter housing: small secure cup with moisture gradient and no prey left during premolt

• Secure enclosure with hides, water, ventilation, and visual cover

• Avoid loose lids, excess fall height, unstable heavy decor, and unregulated heat

• Use deep substrate and keep fall height low

• Keep a catch cup ready before opening the enclosure

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Warm and cool retreats

• Water dish sized safely for the animal

• Deep substrate for tarantulas; branches/perches for active or semi-arboreal snakes

• Rough safe surfaces for shedding or molting

• Starter burrow or cork retreat that can be inspected indirectly

• Moisture gradient rather than uniformly wet substrate

💡 Lighting

• 10-12 hour day-night cycle
• UVB optional for most snakes; not required for tarantulas
• No visible night light
• Avoid bright drying lamps over tarantulas

🌡️ Temperature

• Target: 24-28 °C, with overheating above 30 °C avoided
• Use a real gradient and measure both warm and cool zones
• Control reptile heat with thermostats
• Avoid heat rocks, unguarded bulbs, and overheating

💧 Humidity & water

• 65-75% with a moist lower layer, water dish, and good ventilation
• Fresh water at all times
• Humid hide or moist lower substrate when needed
• Avoid stagnant wet air and chronic dryness

🪳 Diet

Feed regularly:

• roaches, crickets, locusts, and occasional worms; strong feeders can become obese

In moderation:

• Seasonal adjustments by body condition and growth

• Adjust feeding by abdomen shape, not begging response

• Remove uneaten prey during premolt or within 24 hours

Avoid:

• Oversized prey, wild-caught feeders, and uneaten insects during premolt

Supplements:

• None for whole-prey snakes or tarantulas eating good feeder insects

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Retained shed, bad molt, or stuck eye caps
• Wheezing, bubbles, or open-mouth breathing
• Regurgitation or refusal to feed with weight loss
• Burns, mites, swelling, wounds, or fall injury
• Sudden lethargy, constant soaking, or repeated escape attempts Consult an experienced reptile/exotics veterinarian for severe or persistent signs.
• Shriveled abdomen or weak posture → dehydration or decline
• Failed molt, leaking injury, or curled legs → urgent specialist help
• Keep written molt and feeding dates
• Never disturb a tarantula lying on its back to molt