Welcome to the guide on how to care for your Cobalt Blue Tarantula!
This article provides you with all the information you need to ensure your pet tarantula is where it wants to be.
From enclosure requirements to how to handle the spider, this guide covers it all.
Here’s what you can expect: learn how to set up the enclosure, feed your arachnid, understand the ideal temperatures and humidity levels to keep it healthy, and which potential health issues to look out for.
Read on to find out all you need to know about keeping Cyriopagopus lividus.
| Characteristics: | |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Cobalt Blue Tarantula |
| Family Name | Theraphosidae |
| Scientific Name | Cyriopagopus lividus |
| Use | Pets |
| Temperament | Non-aggressive |
| Lifespan | Males: 5-6 years / Females: 15-18 years |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Adult Size | 4-5 inches |
| Breeding Type | Egg Layer |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Minimum Tank Size | 10 gallons |
| pH | 6.0-8.0 |
| Hardness | Moderate |
| Temperature | 68-88°F |
What Are Cobalt Blue Tarantulas?
Cobalt Blue Tarantulas are a species of large spiders that belong to the Theraphosidae family of tarantulas.
They are also commonly known as Cobalt Blues, Electric Blues, and Singapore Blue tarantulas.
The common names come from the Cobalt Blue coloring that is characteristic of these spiders, as well as their electric blue hairs.
Create the perfect home for your arachnid with our Customizable Spider Enclosure Kits, designed to meet all their habitat needs.
What Do Cobalt Blue Tarantulas Look Like?
These spiders typically measure between five to six inches in length, with a leg span of six to eight inches.
They have a vibrant blue appearance, but the color can vary among light blues, greens, and purples depending on the individual tarantula.
Cyriopagopus lividus has a relatively stocky body with an elongated midsection and a hairy, velvety appearance.
Their eight legs are banded with stripes and their legs also have tiny spines, as do all tarantulas.
The abdomen of a Cobalt Blue Tarantula can start blue in juvenile spiders, but darken in color with age.
Benefits Of Using Cobalt Blue Tarantulas
Cyriopagopus lividus can make a beautiful and exciting addition to your vivarium.
Not only are they interesting and fun to observe, but they also provide some practical benefits to your tank.
These tarantulas are natural predators and insectivores and can help control the population of other bugs in the habitat, such as mites.
They are also relatively docile, so handling them is not as intimidating as handling other tarantula species.
Moreover, the striking cobalt blue color of their legs makes them incredibly beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
Finally, they are not an overly large species, so they do not require a giant tank.
If you are looking for a unique and interesting pet for your enclosure, then consider getting a Cobalt Blue Tarantula.
Cobalt Blue Tarantula Facts
Cobalt Blue Tarantulas are nocturnal arachnids that are native to Southeast Asia.
They primarily feed on insects and other small invertebrates, and they have an average lifespan of a few years.
They are generally docile and slow-moving, making them suitable for beginner keepers.
Breeding usually occurs in June when conditions are favorable.
Habitat
Cyriopagopus lividus are found in rainforests, specifically, the tropical forests of Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
This medium-sized arboreal tarantula prefers to live up in trees, in dark hollowed-out spots in rotting tree material, or under bark and decaying leaf litter.
They will even use burrows as a source of shelter if they can’t find suitable crevices and cracks in trees.
While these spiders are terrestrial, they also like to remain close to the ground, as high humidity is essential for their overall health.
Cobalt Blue Tarantulas also enjoy plenty of places to hide, such as logs and branches.
Replicate their natural habitat perfectly with our bioactive species-specific soil mixes, designed to provide the ideal moisture and organic content for your spiders.
Diet
In their natural habitat, Cobalt Blue Tarantulas feed primarily on insects like centipedes, beetles, and crickets.
They will also feed on other soft-bodied arthropods, such as moths, woodlice, and other smaller spiders.
On rare occasions, the tarantulas may also eat small mammals, amphibians, and even other tarantulas.
Cyriopagopus lividus have a hunter-gatherer type of feeding behavior, where they scour the ground for their prey.
They have a keen sense of touch and taste with their legs, which helps them feel their prey before they bite.
C. lividus use their powerful fangs to inject venom into their prey and quickly immobilize it.
Once the prey is subdued, the tarantula then begins to feed.
These spiders usually consume their food within the confines of their burrow or preferred hiding spot.
They will often cover their prey with a silk sheet to prevent it from escaping while the tarantula takes time to consume it.
Temperament
Cobalt Blue Tarantulas are relatively docile and calm spiders.
Unlike many other tarantulas, these arachnids rarely bite, so they make great small exotic pets.
However, they can still be skittish and you should use caution when handling them.
When scared, they could use their back legs to kick hairs, which may irritate the skin or eyes of the handler if blown into their face.
Therefore, it’s good to exercise patience when handling Cyriopagopus lividus and refrain from scaring them.
Lifespan
The life span of a Cobalt Blue Tarantula can vary between 5 to 18 years depending on its age and sex. Males will typically live for 5-6 years and females will live for 15-18.
As a tarantula, its life cycle is typical of arachnids: they go through a process called molting.
During molting, the tarantula will shed its exoskeleton and grow a new, larger one.
It is helpful to provide Cyriopagopus lividus the nutrition and care during this period of growth as it can be a very delicate process.
As Cobalt Blues grow, they will continue to molt in cycles that can be anywhere from every one to seven months.
Its growth rate does, however, slow down as it matures and the interval between molts gets longer.
During each new molt, they will progress in their growth– growing in size, coloration, leg length, and shape.
In conclusion, the lifespan of a Cobalt Blue Tarantula can range from 8 to 12 years.
During its life, it will go through an important process of growth, molting, and acquiring new features each cycle.
Be sure to properly care for your tarantula and provide it with the nutrition and space it needs to live a healthy life.
Breeding
Cyriopagopus lividus have the typical mating habits of tarantulas, with males being significantly smaller than females.
Before mating, the male will do a courtship dance to entice the female.
Once the female ventures closer to the male, he will then transfer a small packet of sperm to her.
The female will then store the sperm in the receptacle located between her legs until the eggs are ready to be fertilized.
When the female has laid her eggs, she will then use the stored sperm to fertilize them.
After fertilization, the eggs will form a thick protective egg sac, which will mix in with the substrate of the enclosure.
As the eggs mature, they will separate from the sac and hatch after a few weeks.
The newly hatched spiders will then be ready to take on the world!
It is important to note that the female Cobalt Blue Tarantula will guard her eggs until the spiderlings have hatched, so it’s best not to disturb her nest.
Where To Find Cobalt Blue Tarantulas
If you’re looking to find Cyriopagopus lividus in the wild, you should start your search in the remote jungles of Southeast Asia, as this is the natural range for the species.
This is a difficult task as they are notoriously hard to find, as they do an excellent job of blending in with their natural environments.
If you want to purchase one of these tarantulas, you can purchase one from an online exotic pet store or reptile breeder.
As the species is rare in the pet trade, you will still want to do quite a bit of research to make sure the supplier is reputable, and also to determine how well-cared-for and healthy the spider is.
You may also be able to find a Cobalt Blue Tarantula on the forums of enthusiast sites.
This provides an opportunity to ask questions and receive personal feedback from experienced keepers.
Cobalt Blue Tarantula Care
Caring for Cyriopagopus lividus requires providing adequate housing, an appropriate diet, and proper temperature, and humidity.
It also requires proper terrarium lighting levels, as well as regular cleaning and observation of potential health issues.
Tank Requirements
The ideal tank requirements for Cobalt Blue Tarantulas include at least a 15-gallon tank or a natural-looking terrarium.
The ideal tank should also contain a terrarium substrate that holds moisture and the pH should range between 5-7.
The water hardness should be between 50-150ppm and the ideal temperature should be between 25-30 degrees Celsius (77-86F).
The lighting for the tank should be naturalistic, and the tank should also contain some climbing branches and other items to mimic its natural environment.
Additionally, it is essential to have an appropriate ventilation system to ensure adequate oxygen and humidity levels for the Cobalt Blue Tarantula.
You can also set up a humidifier near the tank to maintain ideal humidity levels.
What Do Cobalt Blue Tarantulas Eat?
Feeding your Cobalt Blue Tarantula is an essential part of providing proper care.
It is ideal to provide them with a varied diet that consists of both live and frozen prey.
- Live prey can include crickets, dubia roaches, and mealworms.
- Frozen prey includes prey such as worms, grasshoppers, or flies.
- For extra protein, you can also offer your tarantula a pinky mouse.
It is good to feed your tarantula no more than what they can eat in just a few minutes.
If the prey item is much larger than the Cyriopagopus lividus, ensure it is not bigger than one and a half times the tarantula’s body size.
For small feeders like crickets, feed no more than three or four at a time.
Be sure to feed your tarantula in a separate container for the rest of its enclosure.
This helps keep the enclosure clean and also keeps the tarantula from becoming hungry and actively searching for food.
It is also necessary to dust the prey with a quality calcium and multivitamin supplement one to three times a week.
Remember, when in doubt, consult with your local reptile or pet store expert for the best recommendations for feeding your Cobalt Blue Tarantula.
If you’re looking for a more detailed approach to feeding these arachnids, be sure to check out my ultimate DIY tarantula food guide. I give a more in-depth explanation of the best foods and my favorite recipe.
Best Tankmates For Cobalt Blue Tarantulas
When it comes to Cobalt Blue Tarantulas, they can be kept with several other animals that are beneficial for their well-being.
The most important thing to consider when picking tank mates is that they all need to have the same temperament and not be a predators of the tarantula.
Some of the best animals that Cobalt Blue Tarantulas can be kept with are other non-poisonous invertebrates, isopods, springtails, and millipedes.
All of these animals have similar care requirements and can establish a good symbiotic relationship with the Cobalt Blue Tarantulas.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be sure to keep Cyriopagopus lividus happy.
Remember, it is essential to provide proper housing, climate controls, and a suitable diet for your Cobalt Blue Tarantula for it to thrive.
If you have questions or need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out to experts at specialty pet stores or online pet forums.
Once you’ve established these care practices, you can enjoy the company of this beautiful creature for years to come!
Create the ideal habitat for your arachnids with our species-specific soil mixes and Spider Enclosure Kits. These products provide everything you need for a thriving spider habitat.
Frequently Asked Questions
If bitten by a cobalt blue tarantula, it can cause localized pain, redness, and swelling, similar to a bee sting, but severe reactions are rare and usually not life-threatening.
Cobalt blue tarantulas (Cyriopagopus lividus) are considered relatively rare in the pet trade and in their natural habitats, making them sought after by tarantula enthusiasts and collectors.
Cobalt blue tarantulas are native to Thailand, Cambodia, and surrounding areas. They inhabit tropical forests and scrublands. These tarantulas are ground dwellers and they like to hide in burrows. They are also known to climb low foliage and lay in wait for insects and spiders to prey upon.
Cobalt blue tarantulas have a blue coloration due to the presence of microscopic structures on their hairs that scatter and reflect light, resulting in the perception of a vibrant blue hue.
Cobalt blue tarantulas are carnivores, meaning they feed mainly on other insects. They usually eat small caterpillars, crickets, flies, spiders, and other small invertebrates.