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 evaluated (IUCN); not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Common – classic 'Chinese bird spider' import in SEA
Adult size
Body ~6–7 cm; leg span ~15–18 cm
Lifespan
Females ~12–15 yr; males ~3–4 yr
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Fossorial deep burrower on steep south-facing slopes; nocturnal ambush
Temperament
Fast and very defensive; iconic 'earth tiger' attitude
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; potent venom (contains neurotoxic hainantoxins) – experts only
Price (THB)
400–1,200 ฿ (indicatif)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–80%
Min. enclosure
Adult ~25×25×30 cm; deep substrate, fossorial
Substrate
15–20 cm moist coco fibre/topsoil for deep silk-lined burrows
Hides / decor / water
Deep starter burrow, cork, water dish; silk trip-lines 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, striking, stridulation, bolting into burrow; no hair-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; 1 egg sac, ~60–120 spiderlings; medium-growth slings
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration, poor molt if too dry, mold/mites if over-damp, fall/rupture, DKS from pesticides
Red flags / quarantine
SignsOften WC – quarantine for mites/nematodes and dehydration; watch DKS, death curl, chronic fasting
Good to know
- Builds silk 'alarm lines' radiating from the burrow mouth to detect passing prey at night; venom yields the well-studied hainantoxin peptides
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