The numbers
Enclosure
25 × 25 × 30 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts; occasional superworm · Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 7–14 days
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–80%
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not formally evaluated (IUCN); not CITES-listed; wild population localised
Difficulty
Advanced
Commonality
Increasingly common – captive-bred; famous Thai native since its 2023 description
Adult size
Body ~6 cm; leg span ~13–15 cm
Lifespan
Females ~12–14 yr; males ~3–4 yr
Growth rate
Fast
Activity & niche
Fossorial/arboreal-tolerant burrower; in mangroves uses tree hollows; heavy webber
Temperament
Fast and defensive; skittish, quick to retreat or threat-pose
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; potent (medically significant) venom – experts only; fast and defensive
Price (THB)
1,000–4,000 ฿ (size-dependent)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–80%
Min. enclosure
Adult ~25×25×30 cm; deep substrate plus a vertical hollow/cork option
Substrate
12–18 cm moist coco fibre/topsoil; tolerates burrow or elevated retreat
Hides / decor / water
Cork tube/hollow, starter burrow, water dish; heavy webbing expected
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, locusts; occasional superworm
Feeding frequency
Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 7–14 days
Supplements
None – gut-load feeders only
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not recommended – fast, defensive, potent venom; observation only
Communal
No – solitary and cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Threat posture, stridulation, bolting, heavy silk barricade; no hair-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; 1 egg sac, ~60–150 spiderlings; fast-growing slings
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration, mold/mites if over-damp, poor molt if too dry, fall/rupture, DKS from pesticides
Red flags / quarantine
SignsPrefer captive-bred; quarantine any WC for mites/nematodes; watch DKS, death curl, chronic fasting
Good to know
- Its blue-violet shimmer mimics an electrical spark; the species epithet was auctioned for charity to fund Lahu children's education and cancer patients
Others in this group
Orange Baboon Tarantula (OBT / 'Orange Bitey Thing')Pterinochilus murinusCurly Hair TarantulaTliltocatl albopilosus (ex Brachypelma)Mexican Red KneeBrachypelma hamorii (ex smithi)Green Bottle Blue (GBB)Chromatopelma cyaneopubescensThai Zebra Leg TarantulaCyriopagopus albostriatus (ex Haplopelma albostriatum)Cobalt Blue TarantulaCyriopagopus lividus (ex Haplopelma lividum)Gooty Sapphire Ornamental TarantulaPoecilotheria metallicaIndian Ornamental TarantulaPoecilotheria regalis