The numbers
Enclosure
25 × 25 × 30 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts; occasional superworm for adults · Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 7–14 days
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–85%
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated (IUCN); not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Advanced
Commonality
Very common – iconic Thai native ('bueng dam'), widely bred and wild-collected
Adult size
Body ~6 cm; leg span ~13–15 cm
Lifespan
Females ~12–15 yr; males ~3–4 yr
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Fossorial deep burrower; nocturnal; seals burrow with silk
Temperament
Notably defensive and fast; readily bites when provoked, quick to threat-pose
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; potent (medically significant) venom – experts only; very defensive
Price (THB)
80–350 ฿ (juveniles; adults higher)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–85%
Min. enclosure
Adult ~25×25×30 cm with deep substrate; fossorial
Substrate
15–20 cm moist coco fibre/topsoil for deep stable burrows
Hides / decor / water
Starter burrow under cork/half-log, water dish, some sphagnum for moisture
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, locusts; occasional superworm for adults
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
Aggressive threat posture, striking, stridulation, bolting; no urticating hairs
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; 1 egg sac, ~50–120 spiderlings; deep-burrow brooding
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration, fall/abdomen rupture, poor molt if too dry, mold/mites if over-damp, DKS from pesticides
Red flags / quarantine
SignsFrequently WC – quarantine for mites/nematodes, dehydration; watch DKS, death curl, chronic inappetence with shrunken abdomen
Good to know
- A key Thai forest predator and pest controller; among the most defensive of the local 'bueng' – earns its reputation quickly
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