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
75–85%
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated (IUCN); not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Very common – iconic blue native ('bueng nam-ngoen'), heavily traded in Thailand and worldwide
Adult size
Body ~5–6 cm; leg span ~11–13 cm
Lifespan
Females ~15–18 yr; males ~5–6 yr
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Fossorial deep burrower; spends most time underground; nocturnal
Temperament
Very defensive and fast; ground-slaps and bites readily; rarely seen once burrowed
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; potent (medically significant) venom – experts only; extremely defensive
Price (THB)
≈300–900 ฿
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
75–85%
Min. enclosure
Adult ~25×25×30 cm with very deep substrate; fossorial
Substrate
15–20 cm moisture-retentive coco/topsoil for deep burrows; keep damp not waterlogged
Hides / decor / water
Deep starter burrow, cork, water dish; good cross-ventilation to prevent mold
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 – iridescent but one of the fastest/most defensive; potent venom
Communal
No – solitary and cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Rapid ground/leg-slapping, threat posture, striking, bolting into burrow; no hair-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; 1 egg sac, ~50–100+ spiderlings; humid deep-burrow brooding
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMold/mites if over-damp with poor airflow, dehydration if too dry, fall/rupture, DKS from pesticides
Red flags / quarantine
SignsOften WC imports – quarantine for mites/nematodes and dehydration; watch DKS, death curl, refusal to feed with shrunken abdomen
Good to know
- Its brilliant cobalt legs are structural colour (nanostructures), not pigment – it looks grey in the wrong light
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)Gooty Sapphire Ornamental TarantulaPoecilotheria metallicaIndian Ornamental TarantulaPoecilotheria regalisSocotra Island Blue BaboonMonocentropus balfouri