Amazonius burgessi (arboreal birder) - for the intermediate

Amazonius burgessi - a brief introduction and characteristics. Amazonius burgessi is an extremely interesting arboreal bird that attracts the attention of breeders with its agility and beautiful appearance. First of all, these arachnids are characterized by their slender body structure and the absence of scalding hairs on the abdomen. This is due to the fact that their main and first line of defense is escape. However, this spider is incredibly fast and can jump very well. Therefore, this species is recommended rather for intermediate individuals who have already had contact with faster arachnids. Nevertheless, with caution and common sense, a conscientious beginner breeder can also handle it. Where does Amazonius burgessi occur in the wild? This fascinating species is native to the humid regions of South America, mainly in the rainforests of Colombia, Venezuela and Peru. Moreover, in its natural habitat it leads a decidedly arboreal lifestyle. It can usually be found high up in bark crevices, hollows and between the dense leaves of epiphytes. Consequently, it builds elaborate, asymmetrical webbed nests there, where it spends most of the day, hunting mainly under cover of darkness. What terrarium conditions does Amazonius burgessi require? Terrarium and arrangement As an arboreal species, this spider needs a tank with a vertical orientation. Therefore, the target terrarium for the adult stage of the bird spider should be about 20x20x30 cm or 20x20x40 cm. In addition, the key point of the arrangement is vertical hiding places - in this role cork tubes arranged vertically or diagonally will be perfect. In addition, a thin layer of substrate (3-4 cm is enough), such as coconut peat, should be poured on the bottom. It is also worth throwing in natural decor elements, such as artificial or live plants. This will give the spider additional anchor points for building its spider web nest. Temperature and humidity Spiders of this region require warmth and adequate humidity. Therefore, the optimal daytime temperature should be between 25°C and 28°C, while at night it can gently drop to 22-23°C. Equally important, humidity should be kept at 70-80%. As a result, regular sprinkling of the walls and substrate is necessary. Note, however, that arboreal species are very sensitive to suffocation, so the terrarium must have excellent cross ventilation. Size and feeding of the offered babies It is worth knowing that Amazonius burgessi grows relatively quickly and readily accepts food. Currently in our offer we have healthy juveniles in the L3 and L4 stages. For such babies, the target terrarium is still far too large. This means that at this stage we keep them in small breeding containers (e.g. clothespins or soaker boxes), which makes it easier for them to find food and control their development. When it comes to feeding, we feed the little ones with matching size insects. For example, the ideal food for L3-L4 spiders is small hatchlings of Turkish cockatiel, Argentine cockatiel or small crickets, which we feed 1-2 times a week. On the other hand, adults can easily handle adult crickets, medium-sized locusts or cockroaches. Sexual dimorphism The differences between the sexes are fully revealed when they reach maturity. First of all, females are much bulkier, have a stocky build and live much longer (up to 10-12 years). Meanwhile, males are much more slender, have longer legs and usually live only a few months after undergoing their last moult. Interestingly, unlike many other avian species, adult males of this species do not have hooks on the shins of the first pair of legs (they only develop copulatory organs - bulbus). In brief Life mode: arboreal Venom strength: Weak/medium Scorching hairs: None Target terrarium size: 20x20x30 cm Temperature: 25-28°C Humidity: 70-80% Degree of difficulty: Medium (due to high speed) Are you curious to see how our spiders look in person and how fast they can hunt? Be sure to drop by our [Facebook profile] and join our terrarium community!