The numbers
Enclosure
15 × 15 × 15 cm
Diet
Small crickets, roach nymphs, flightless fruit flies for slings · Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 7–10 days
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–80%
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated (IUCN); not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Intermediate–Advanced
Commonality
Uncommon – small dwarf occasionally sold locally; new Thai species described
Adult size
Body ~2.5–3 cm; leg span ~7–9 cm (dwarf)
Lifespan
Females ~8–10 yr; males ~2–3 yr
Growth rate
Fast (dwarf)
Activity & niche
Fossorial/opportunistic burrower and webber; nocturnal
Temperament
Fast and skittish; small but bolts readily
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; venom effects mild-to-moderate but still Old World – no handling
Price (THB)
150–600 ฿ (indicatif)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–80%
Min. enclosure
Adult ~15×15×15 cm; small fossorial setup
Substrate
8–12 cm moist coco fibre/topsoil for burrows and webbing
Hides / decor / water
Cork bark, starter burrow, small water dish
Diet
Staple food
Small crickets, roach nymphs, flightless fruit flies for slings
Feeding frequency
Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 7–10 days
Supplements
None – gut-load feeders only
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not recommended – fast Old World dwarf; observation only
Communal
No – solitary (dwarfs are cannibalistic)
Defense / stress signs
Bolting, threat posture, retreat to burrow; no hair-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; small egg sac, ~20–60 spiderlings; fast dwarf life cycle
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDesiccation (small body dehydrates fast), mold if over-damp, DKS from pesticides
Red flags / quarantine
SignsQuarantine WC for mites; small size hides dehydration – watch shrunken abdomen
Good to know
- Genus includes recently described Thai species – a reminder that SE Asia's dwarf tarantula fauna is still being catalogued
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