The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 30 × 30 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts; adults may take a pinkie occasionally · Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 1–2 weeks
Temperature
24–30°C (75–86°F)
Humidity
60–75% with humid burrow base
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated (IUCN); Australian export tightly restricted
Difficulty
Advanced
Commonality
Rare outside Australia – seldom in SEA trade due to export rules
Adult size
Body ~6–7 cm; leg span ~16–22 cm (large)
Lifespan
Females ~15–20 yr; males ~4–5 yr
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Fossorial deep burrower; nocturnal; tropical Queensland
Temperament
Defensive and can be feisty; stridulates ('whistles') when threatened
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; venom notably dangerous to pets (can kill dogs) – no handling
Price (THB)
1,000–3,000 ฿ (indicatif)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–30°C (75–86°F)
Humidity
60–75% with humid burrow base
Min. enclosure
Adult ~30×30×30 cm; very deep substrate (15–20 cm)
Substrate
15–20 cm firm coco peat/topsoil for deep burrows
Hides / decor / water
Deep starter burrow, cork, water dish
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, locusts; adults may take a pinkie occasionally
Feeding frequency
Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 1–2 weeks
Supplements
None – gut-load feeders only
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not recommended – large, defensive, venom dangerous to pets; observation only
Communal
No – solitary and cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Audible 'whistle'/stridulation, threat posture, striking, bolting; no hair-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; 1 egg sac, ~60–120 spiderlings; medium-growth young
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsFall/rupture, desiccation if too dry, mold if over-damp, DKS from pesticides
Red flags / quarantine
SignsDeep substrate to prevent falls; watch DKS, death curl, sunken abdomen
Good to know
- Its 'whistle' (stridulation) is loud enough to hear across a room – a genuine acoustic warning display
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