Green Bottle Blue Tarantula Care Guide (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)

The Green Bottle Blue Tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens), commonly known as the GBB, is one of the most visually striking tarantulas in the hobby. Its vivid combination of blue legs, orange abdomen, and green carapace makes it one of the most sought-after display tarantulas available. Native to the Paraguaná Peninsula of Venezuela, the GBB is a semi-arboreal species that builds extensive webbing and feeds aggressively. This guide covers everything you need to keep a GBB successfully.

Species Overview

Scientific name: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens
Common name: Green Bottle Blue Tarantula, GBB
Adult leg span: 4–5 inches
Lifespan: Females 12–14 years; males 3–4 years
Origin: Paraguaná Peninsula, Venezuela
Type: Semi-arboreal, New World
Difficulty: Intermediate

Always purchase captive-bred specimens from a reputable breeder. GBBs are widely bred in captivity and captive-bred animals are healthier and better acclimated than wild-caught specimens.

Enclosure

The GBB is a semi-arboreal species that webs heavily across its entire enclosure. It needs both floor space for a hide and vertical space for webbing. A standard adult enclosure is 12" x 8" x 12" or similar — taller than a purely terrestrial setup but not as tall as a fully arboreal enclosure.

Substrate depth: 3–4 inches. GBBs are not heavy burrowers but will anchor webbing to the substrate surface.
Hide: Provide a cork bark hide or similar retreat at the base. The GBB will often web extensively around and above it.
Anchor points: Cork bark pieces, artificial plants, or branches at varying heights give the spider surfaces to attach webbing.
Ventilation: Strong cross-ventilation is essential. GBBs come from an arid, windy environment and do poorly in stagnant or humid conditions.

See our Best Tarantula Enclosures, Best Tarantula Substrate, and Best Tarantula Hides guides.

Temperature

GBBs do well at normal room temperature — 72–82°F is ideal. They do not require supplemental heating in most homes. As a species from a hot, arid coastal environment, they tolerate warmth well but should not be kept in sustained temperatures above 85°F.

Humidity

The GBB is one of the driest-kept tarantulas in the hobby. Its native habitat is an arid scrubland with low humidity and strong winds. Keep the enclosure dry with strong ventilation. Lightly overflow the water dish once a week to dampen a small area of substrate near the dish, then allow it to dry completely. Do not mist the enclosure. Sustained humidity causes health problems in this species. Good airflow is more important than any specific humidity target.

Feeding

GBBs are aggressive, enthusiastic feeders and one of the most rewarding species to watch hunt. Feed juveniles every 5–7 days and adults every 7–14 days. Offer prey no larger than the tarantula's abdomen.

Spiderlings: Fruit flies, pinhead crickets
Juveniles: Small crickets, small mealworms, small dubia roaches
Adults: Crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, superworms (occasional)

Remove uneaten prey within 24 hours. Never feed during or immediately after a molt. GBBs rarely fast outside of pre-molt — a sudden refusal to eat is a reliable pre-molt indicator for this species. See our Best Tarantula Feeding Tongs guide.

Water

Always provide a shallow water dish that the tarantula can easily enter and exit. The GBB will drink from the dish and the slight moisture from overflowing it weekly provides the only humidity gradient needed. Refresh the water weekly. See our Best Tarantula Water Dishes guide.

Handling

GBBs are fast and skittish compared to terrestrial beginner species and are not recommended for regular handling. They are not aggressive and bites are rare, but their speed makes them unpredictable to handle safely. As a New World species, C. cyaneopubescens possesses urticating hairs that it may flick when stressed. The GBB is best appreciated as a display animal rather than a handling species.

Webbing

One of the most distinctive features of the GBB is its prolific webbing behavior. A well-settled GBB will web extensively across its enclosure, creating tunnels, hammocks, and funnel retreats. This webbing is a sign of a healthy, comfortable spider. Avoid disturbing or removing the webbing during routine maintenance — the spider will rebuild, but unnecessary disturbance causes stress.

Molting

Before a molt, the GBB will refuse food, become less active, and may seal itself inside its webbing retreat. The abdomen may darken noticeably in the weeks before a molt. Remove all live prey immediately when pre-molt signs appear. After molting, wait at least 2 weeks before offering food to allow the new exoskeleton to fully harden. Post-molt GBBs display their most vivid coloration — colors fade slightly between molts. See our Tarantula Molting Guide for full details.

Lifespan

Female GBBs live 12–14 years with good care. Males live considerably shorter lives — typically 3–4 years. As with most tarantula species, females are more sought-after in the hobby due to their significantly longer lifespan. See our Tarantula Lifespan guide.

Health & Common Issues

Humidity-related illness: The most common issue with GBBs. Ensure strong ventilation and a dry enclosure. A GBB kept too damp will become lethargic and may develop respiratory problems.
Dehydration: Less common than in other species due to their arid adaptation, but a water dish should always be available.
Injuries from prey: Remove uneaten prey within 24 hours, especially during and after molting.
Faded coloration: Normal between molts. Colors return to full vibrancy after each molt.

See our Tarantula Diseases & Health guide for more detail.

Quick Reference

Parameter	Recommended Range
Temperature	72–82°F
Humidity	Low/arid; strong ventilation, weekly water dish overflow
Enclosure (adult)	12" x 8" x 12" or similar
Substrate depth	3–4 inches
Feeding frequency	Every 7–14 days (adults)
Lifespan (female)	12–14 years
Lifespan (male)	3–4 years

Green Bottle Blue Tarantula Care Guide (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)