The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 30 × 35 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts; adults take large prey / occasional pinkie · Slings ~2×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 10–14 days
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F; warm end low 80s)
Humidity
50–60% with a humid burrow base
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated (IUCN); not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Popular 'grail' – widely wanted but slow-growing; steady trade
Adult size
Body ~9 cm; leg span up to ~20–23 cm (massive, heavy)
Lifespan
Females ~20–25 yr; males ~10–15 yr
Growth rate
Very slow
Activity & niche
Fossorial deep burrower; arid; rarely surfaces; nocturnal
Temperament
Highly defensive and territorial; loud stridulation, forceful strikes
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; potent (medically significant) venom (intense long-lasting pain) – experts only
Price (THB)
1,500–5,000 ฿ (indicatif)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F; warm end low 80s)
Humidity
50–60% with a humid burrow base
Min. enclosure
Adult ~30×30×35 cm; very deep substrate (20+ cm), fossorial
Substrate
20–30 cm firm coco fibre/topsoil for elaborate deep burrows
Hides / decor / water
Deep starter burrow, cork, water dish; keep base slightly damp
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, locusts; adults take large prey / occasional pinkie
Feeding frequency
Slings ~2×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 10–14 days
Supplements
None – gut-load feeders only
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not recommended – large, powerful, very defensive, potent venom; observation only
Communal
No – solitary and cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Loud stridulation, raised front legs, forceful striking, retreat to deep burrow; no hair-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; 1 egg sac, ~20–50 spiderlings (smaller sacs); very slow-growing young
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration of burrow base, mold if surface too wet, fall/rupture, DKS from pesticides; slow growth tests patience
Red flags / quarantine
SignsOften WC – quarantine for mites/nematodes and dehydration; watch DKS, death curl; provide deep burrow immediately
Good to know
- One of the largest, longest-lived and most iconic African tarantulas – a rusty-orange giant that can take 5+ years to mature
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