Phormictopus sp. “Full Green” – Full Green Tarantula
The Full Green Tarantula is a bold, colorful Phormictopus hobby form known for its strong feeding response, fast growth, and impressive greenish tones as it matures. This is a large New World terrestrial with plenty of attitude, size, and display appeal—exactly the kind of tarantula that makes Phormictopus such a fun genus to raise.
| Special Notices |
| Setup notes |
This is a large, bold terrestrial tarantula that appreciates floor space, a secure hide, and slightly moisture-retentive substrate. I keep enclosure height conservative because mature Phormictopus can be heavy-bodied, powerful spiders that should not have a long fall. |
| Taxonomy note |
Phormictopus sp. “Full Green” is a hobby designation rather than a fully described species name. I treat it conservatively like a humid Caribbean-style Phormictopus: warm, well ventilated, lightly humid, and never swampy. |
| Care videos |
Check out the Urban Tarantulas YouTube channel for care, setup, feeding, and show-and-tell videos to see how we keep and feed our tarantulas: Urban Tarantulas on YouTube. |
| 🧰 Care Details |
| 🌡️ Temperature |
75–85°F (24–29°C). Warmer temperatures usually mean faster growth because they molt more often, but I still prefer steady warmth over pushing extreme heat. |
| 💧 Humidity |
Aim for about 75–80% inside the enclosure with good airflow. Keep part of the substrate lightly moist, especially for babies and juveniles, but avoid swampy substrate, stale air, or bone-dry conditions during molt. Water dishes are optional; I usually skip them except for larger species. |
| 🏠 Housing |
| 🏠 Babies |
Use a 1–4 oz deli cup with needle ventilation. Add enough substrate for security, plus a tiny hide or starter burrow. Keep one section lightly moist without soaking the cup. FREE container at checkout IF requested; not included otherwise. |
| 🏠 Juveniles |
Larger specimens should be kept in an enclosure around 2–3x body size, flexible by the individual. Give juveniles floor space, a snug hide, moderate substrate depth, and good ventilation. They can grow fast, so be ready to size them up as they molt. |
| 🏠 Adults |
Adults need a secure terrestrial enclosure with generous floor space, a sturdy hide, and enough substrate to cushion the spider and support light digging. Keep the setup low and practical, with no excessive climbing height for a large, heavy-bodied tarantula. |
| General Diet |
| 🍽️ Feeding |
Crickets + roaches work great, especially Dubia, Red Runner, and Lobster roaches. Babies should get baby crickets or baby roaches. If prey is too big, pre-kill by crushing the head, leave it, then remove leftovers or bolus. Occasional treat for super large specimens: pinky/hopper mouse or feeder lizard very sparingly; excess calcium can cause constipation/pooping issues. We never use pinhead crickets because they do not provide enough protein. |
| In-depth Facts |
| 🕷️ Latin name / Scientific name |
Phormictopus sp. “Full Green” |
| 📛 Common name(s) |
Full Green Tarantula, Phormictopus Full Green. |
| 🌡️ Temperature |
75–85°F (24–29°C), with steady warmth and no extreme heat spikes. |
| 💧 Humidity |
About 75–80% inside the enclosure. Keep the substrate lightly humid with airflow, avoiding both swampy conditions and long-term bone-dry substrate. |
| 📍 Locale |
Hobby locality is not consistently documented. I treat this as a Caribbean Phormictopus-type tarantula and provide conservative humid terrestrial care. |
| 🏷️ Category |
New World terrestrial; large, fast-growing, bold, moisture-loving, opportunistic burrower with a strong feeding response. |
| 📏 Size |
Females commonly reach about 7–8 inches DLS; males are usually smaller and leggier, around 5.5–6.5 inches DLS. Max size is typically around 8 inches DLS with a strong, heavy-bodied build. |
| 🪶 Urticating hairs |
Yes. This New World terrestrial can kick urticating hairs when stressed. Larger specimens can be quick and bold, so I recommend using tools during maintenance and keeping handling to a minimum. |
| ⏳ Growth rate |
Fast. Babies and juveniles can size up quickly with steady feeding, proper moisture, and warm stable conditions because they molt more often. |
| 🧭 Life span |
Females commonly live around 12–18+ years with good care; males usually live about 4–6 years. |
| 🍽️ Feeding |
Usually a bold, aggressive eater once settled. Offer appropriately sized crickets or roaches, and remove uneaten prey or bolus. Phormictopus often respond hard to food, so use feeding tongs and give the spider room to strike safely. |
| 🎯 Recommended levels |
Great for lovers of large, bold New World terrestrials who want color, size, fast growth, and an intense feeding response. Best for keepers comfortable with urticating hairs, quick movements, and a confident hands-off maintenance style. |
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| ⚠️ Safety Disclaimer |
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Safety Disclaimer: Tarantula bites are extremely rare, and there are no recorded human fatalities. Venom strength varies by species; Old World tarantulas are usually more potent than New World tarantulas, with Poecilotheria known for especially strong venom. Larger tarantulas may also deliver more venom.
If bitten, stay calm. Most symptoms fade within minutes to hours, though potent species may cause discomfort for up to a week. In 13 years, I’ve only been bitten once, and symptoms were gone after one week.
Handling is at your own risk. I’m not responsible for bites or injuries. Always prioritize your safety and the tarantula’s well-being.
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