Singapore blue

Singapore blue
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Theraphosidae
Genus:	Omothymus
Species:	O. violaceopes
Binomial name
Omothymus violaceopes Abraham, 1924

The Singapore blue (Omothymus violaceopes) is a large, arboreal species of tarantula from Malaysia and Singapore. These spiders have been known to grow in excess of 9 inches (23 cm) across. The legs are an intense blue with a brown or gold carapace. The male is usually not as vibrant, exhibiting sexual dimorphism.

Food

Diet consists primarily of beetles, cockroaches, crickets, young mice, birds and other small animals. During feeding, the abdomen (opisthosoma) will often increase its size two-fold.

In captivity

Singapore blues are common as pets because of their beautiful colours. Caution should be taken as these are very defensive animals. They will defend themselves using their venom transferred via fangs.

Recommended feeding includes four to six live crickets every few weeks. Gut loading, or providing prey with vitamins and other nutrients, provides tarantulas with a healthy meal. Uneaten prey should be removed after one day. Fasting, or not eating, for days or weeks at a time is sometimes an indication of an upcoming moult. A water dish should be supplied and maintained, shallow enough for the tarantula to drink from.

See also

• List of spider common names

References

• Samuel D. Marshall (2001). Tarantulas and Other Arachnids (2nd ed.). Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0-7641-1463-2.