Extremely rare species in this genus and in general for the world-wide hobby! Adults were periodically imported between 1997 to 2000 from Peru. Peru closed 2000 to exports, so they have no longer been available as wild-caught imports. Captive-breedings happen on a rare basis, but obtaining a fertile sac and successfully getting spiderlings to develop is another thing. Whenever this specie is made available, hobbyists should obtain them with the goal and challenge to successfully raise them up to adults and encourage captive-breedings to get this species established in the hobby.

SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION: AUTHOR & DATE: Simon, 1889
RANGE: Ecuador, west of the Andes . Rumored to exist in NE Peru as well.
HABITAT: Lowland rainforest. A friend has reported seeing P. vespertinus in Ecuador always near the bank of streams/rivers/creek in between rocks.
TYPE: Opportunistic burrower/wandering terrestrial
COLOR/PATTERN/APPEARANCE: Black carapace and legs with a fully-covered abdomen in bright, red hairs. Behind the eyes is a nice "V" marking in red. Mature males are stunning! Thy have a nice reddish-purplish bloom in the legs with a "starburst" bloom on the carapace - amazing!
MAXIMUM SIZE: 7 3/4'
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. Large adults over 6" should be housed in 20 gal. long-sized tanks of the "TarantulaCage" listed on this site of the medium to large size as this is a nervous species that needs more room.
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. P. vespertinus is very nervous and high-strung compared to other species in the genus.
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: 2.5 to 3 yrs. for males and 12 to 18 yrs. for females.
BREEDING REMARKS: It is assumed like most species in this genus that breeding is gentle and easy, but getting a female to lay a fertile sac and incubate it successfully is the challenge. Todd Gearheart bred the species in 2001.
NUMBER OF EGGS: 140 to 220