{"product_id":"vancouver-pick-up-omothymus-violaceopes-singapore-blue","title":"[Vancouver Pick-up] Omothymus violaceopes (Singapore Blue)","description":"\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003eIf you are looking for the creme-dela-creme of size, elegance, power and beauty in an Old World tarantula, earth tigers of the genus \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eOmothymus\u003c\/i\u003e are at the top of the list. The Singapore Blue Tarantula, \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eOmothymus violaceopes \u003c\/i\u003eAbraham is no exception. These jaw-dropping creatures reach a leg span of up to nine inches, making \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/i\u003e one of the largest arboreal tarantulas on the planet. In addition to its massive size, this species develops insanely vivid deep, metallic, royal blue to purple legs coupled with an olivey champagne to silver carapace and a dusky to inky gray-blue abdomen with tiger-like chevrons. On top of that, these beasts are studded with exceptionally long, fire orange cactus spine-like setae. The combination of royal blue plus fiery orange setae is truly sublime and totally unique amongst tarantulas. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003eThis tarantula is sculpted like a muscle car, with a sleek body and absurdly long, powerful legs equipped with massive scopula pads. \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/i\u003e attack their prey similarly to a giant squid, Lashing out and anchoring onto their prey with their insanely elongated anterior legs\/scopulae in the blink of an eye.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003e ranges from Malaysia through Singapore, where it resides in tree hollows and can occupy lowland to mid elevation humid rainforests. They can tolerate cooler temperatures than obligate lowland arachnids. In fact, the type specimen was collected on Penang Hill at 2,000 ft elevation in 1924- a place with a long history of British colonists and European naturalists hunkering down to escape the relentless heat and humidity of surrounding lowland tropical forests on Penang Island, Malaysia. This tolerance for cooler temperatures makes \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/i\u003e an adaptable spider in captivity, although most tarantulas function and grow well at room temperature. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003e have large, leggy spiderlings that fare best in cross-ventilated arboreal cages with a thick airy substrate layer that is kept only slightly moist at most times. Organic potting mixes with lots of wood pulp are a nice option for these spiders throughout their lives, as components such as coconut coir, vermiculite and peat can stay a little too water-retentive for their well-being long-term. Plenty of ventilation but some humidity through periodic misting is crucial for the spiderlings, which are sensitive to stagnant air and damp substrates over prolonged periods. This species, like other \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eOmothymus\u003c\/i\u003e, burrows extensively as spiderlings and juveniles. As \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/i\u003e gain in size, they become increasingly hardy. For larger juveniles to adults, allowing much of the substrate (or just the top half of the substrate depth in low humidity regions) to dry between periodic mistings is beneficial. Adult females attain massive sizes and so require a larger cage than most other tarantulas, so a large arboreal cage is necessary. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003eAnother husbandry consideration for \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/i\u003e is that they have oddly acute vision in at least one respect: being highly photosensitive. Unlike most other tarantulas, just shining a light on \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/i\u003e can send them fleeing for shelter. They move like shadows to meld into darkness and require a perpetually dark place in the cage to stay at ease. As they approach adulthood, many specimens will increasingly avoid making subterranean burrows until they refuse to dig altogether (usually around the time they phase into adult coloration). \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/i\u003e readily will utilize anything that looks or functions like a nook or tree hollow. Larger juveniles and adults should therefore be provided with a cork hide and\/or large magnolia leaves or other structures to build their shelters. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003eAs Old World tarantulas, \u003ci style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal;\"\u003eO. violaceopes\u003c\/i\u003e has more potent venom than most New World species and makes up for its lack of urticating hairs with being quite a defensive disposition–if cornered. Like giant squid in the deep ocean, these mysterious titans of the spider world are very shy and elusive, preferring to be shrouded in darkness. Overall, the Singapore Blue is an under-appreciated and unbelievably beautiful tarantula that seriously deserves a bigger fan club.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003eReferences:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003eAbraham, H.C., 1924, December. Some mygalomorph spiders from the Malay Peninsula. In Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (Vol. 94, No. 4, pp. 1091-1124). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height: normal;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 17.0pt;\" lang=\"EN\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7t65LhoV9Kc?si=lwNd6MyP3iGuoDCc\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/0512\/5563\/files\/Species_Details_6ca23397-4e94-4d22-a530-bc35ab90268d.png?v=1735328713\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Spider Shoppe","offers":[{"title":"0.75\"","offer_id":48893578805465,"sku":null,"price":42.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/0512\/5563\/products\/violaceopes.jpg?v=1703440295","url":"https:\/\/spidershoppe.com\/products\/vancouver-pick-up-omothymus-violaceopes-singapore-blue","provider":"Spider Shoppe","version":"1.0","type":"link"}