The numbers
Enclosure
20 × 20 × 25 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches (Dubia/red runner), locusts; occasional superworm for adults · 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 evaluated (IUCN); not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Intermediate
Commonality
Very common – abundant Thai native, cheapest and most-traded local 'bueng'
Adult size
Body ~5 cm; leg span ~12–13 cm
Lifespan
Females ~12–15 yr; males ~3–4 yr
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Fossorial / opportunistic burrower; nocturnal ambush predator; heavy webber
Temperament
Skittish and defensive; bolts fast, will throw a threat posture if cornered
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; potent (medically significant) venom – experts only; fast and defensive
Price (THB)
70–300 ฿ (juveniles; adults higher)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–80%
Min. enclosure
Adult ~20×20×25 cm with deep substrate; fossorial (floor space > height)
Substrate
12–18 cm coco fibre/topsoil/peat mix, moisture-retentive, packed for stable burrows
Hides / decor / water
Cork-bark or half-log starter burrow, sphagnum, shallow water dish for adults
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches (Dubia/red runner), locusts; occasional superworm for adults
Feeding frequency
Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 7–14 days
Supplements
None – gut-load feeders; no vitamin/calcium dusting for tarantulas
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not recommended – no urticating hairs, very fast, potent venom; observation only
Communal
No – solitary and cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Threat posture (raised front legs, bared fangs), bolting, retreat to burrow, may stridulate; no hair-kicking (absent in OW)
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; female makes 1 egg sac after mating, ~60–150 spiderlings; males mature ~1–2 yr and are short-lived
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration (sunken abdomen), fall/abdomen rupture, poor molt if kept too dry, mold/mites if damp with poor airflow, DKS after pesticide exposure
Red flags / quarantine
SignsOften wild-collected locally – quarantine: check for mites, white gunk at mouth (nematodes), dehydration; watch DKS jerky movements, prolonged fasting with shrunken abdomen, death curl
Good to know
- The classic 'bueng ma-lai' of Thai markets – its cream leg banding on a near-black body gives the zebra name; a staple starter Old World for local keepers
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 cyaneopubescensCobalt Blue TarantulaCyriopagopus lividus (ex Haplopelma lividum)Gooty Sapphire Ornamental TarantulaPoecilotheria metallicaIndian Ornamental TarantulaPoecilotheria regalisSocotra Island Blue BaboonMonocentropus balfouri