The numbers
Enclosure
25 × 25 × 40 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts; flying prey taken · 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
IUCN assessed; CITES Appendix II (all Poecilotheria)
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Common – captive-bred 'pokie'
Adult size
Body ~6 cm; leg span ~13–15 cm
Lifespan
Females ~12 yr; males ~3–4 yr
Growth rate
Medium–fast
Activity & niche
Arboreal; tree-hollow dweller; nocturnal
Temperament
Fast and defensive; flees first, bites if cornered
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; potent, medically significant venom – experts only
Price (THB)
600–1,800 ฿ (indicatif)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
70–80%
Min. enclosure
Adult tall enclosure ~25×25×40 cm; arboreal
Substrate
5–8 cm coco fibre for humidity; vertical life
Hides / decor / water
Vertical cork tube/slab, branches, foliage, water dish
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, locusts; flying prey taken
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, medically significant venom
Communal
Occasionally communal by experts (risky); default No
Defense / stress signs
Teleport-bolting, threat posture, stridulation; no hair-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; arboreal egg sac, ~70–140 spiderlings; medium-growth slings
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsFall/rupture, dehydration, poor molt if too dry, DKS from pesticides
Red flags / quarantine
SignsPrefer CB; watch DKS, death curl; secure lid
Good to know
- The name P. pederseni is now treated as a synonym of P. vittata – so old hobby stock and current names refer to the same 'ghost'
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