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 – regularly imported into SEA; venom research species
Adult size
Body ~7 cm; leg span ~15–18 cm
Lifespan
Females ~12–15 yr; males ~3–4 yr
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Fossorial/opportunistic burrower on steep slopes; nocturnal
Temperament
Fast and very defensive; readily threat-poses and bites
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; potent (medically significant) venom (studied hainantoxins in related sp.) – experts only
Price (THB)
500–1,500 ฿ (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
13–18 cm moist coco fibre/topsoil for deep burrows
Hides / decor / water
Starter burrow, cork, water dish; sphagnum for humidity
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, striking, 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
- A pale golden 'earth tiger'; its venom (and that of relatives) is studied for neurotoxic peptides useful in pain/ion-channel research
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