(Sold in error by many as Pamphobeteus platyomma or even worse, Vitalius platyomma “Brazilian Pink”. It is not either. It is an undescribed species in the Pamphobeteus genus.)

Rare! This species is from Ecuador, not Brazil. Spiderlings have orange abdomens with black Xmas tree patterns. Chestnut brown overall with pinkish-red highlights, males mature out “cobalt pink” and females can be very stocky/heavy-bodied and grow to 9” legspans (I saw a female at the BTS show of 1999 that took best in show for New World Terrestrials that was a beefy 9" legspan!) They have been found on Parrot mountain in NW Ecuador on the way to the border with Colombia. Of all the Pamphobeteus spp. made available to our hobby, it is the most readily available. It has proven to be a very hardy spider in captivity as well. Spiderlings and juveniles have reddish-orange abdomens with a black "Xmas" tree pattern. They lose that around 3". Aggressive and a hair-flicker, they are not for minor or beginners. Captive-born females tend to calm down after a few years. The genus as a whole is very, very popular with hobbyists as many of its species make excellent "display" tarantula rarely burrowing or webbing much, always active, great feeders, grow quick and get to large sizes and the mature males are stunning in color!

SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION: AUTHOR & DATE: Not described as of 3/26/08
RANGE: NW Ecuador and possibly Colombian and Brazil
HABITAT: Lowland Rainforest
TYPE: Terrestrial
COLOR/PATTERN/APPEARANCE: Chestnut brown, sometimes two-toned with pinkish highlights. Mature males are stunning with a purplish/pinkish bloom on its carapace and inside the femurs.
MAXIMUM SIZE: Mature males can achieve 7" legspans. Females have been known to achieve 9" legspans and be very heavy-bodied.
TEMPERATURE: 75F-85F day with drops no lower than 60F at night.
HUMIDITY: 80%
TANK SETUP: Adults can be housed in 10 gal. tanks with 4"-6" deep "Cocosoft" substrate or peat moss, shallow and wide water dish. Cork bark or resin plastic shelter.
FEEDING REQUIREMENTS: Spiderlings/juvs twice a week small cricket (1-2). Sub-adults/adults once a week medium to large cricket (2-3), roaches (1-2) or pinkie mouse or rat pup.
WATER REQUIREMENTS: Mist tank 1-2 times a week with fine water mist to keep humidity around 80%. Change water dish whenever fouled or at least 1-2 times a week.
DISPOSITION: Aggressive. Do not free handle. Will kick urticating hairs, go into threat display and bite if distrurbed.
VENOM EFFECTS: Unknown. Assumed to be medically insignificant though like most tarantulas.
GROWTH RATE: Fast. Males mature in 1.5 yrs. Females in 2.5-3 yrs.
LONGEVITY: Males live 2-3 yrs. Females 12 to 18.
BREEDING REMARKS: Breeding pair is very gentle with each other during courtship and many times even after mating. Obtaining fertile sacs is the difficulty. This species is breed successfully more often than any other Pamphobeteus sp. though.
NUMBER OF EGGS: 140-240