Aphonopelma seemanni – Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula
Aphonopelma seemanni – Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula
Aphonopelma seemanni – Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula
Aphonopelma seemanni – Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula

Aphonopelma seemanni – Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula

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URBAN TARANTULAS
Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula
Aphonopelma seemanni

Aphonopelma seemanni is a handsome Central American tarantula known for its dark body, contrasting pale leg striping, and strong burrowing instincts. Often called the Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula, this terrestrial species may spend long periods inside a carefully constructed retreat. Its classic appearance, manageable adult size, and fascinating excavation behavior make it especially rewarding to observe.

Special Notices

Plan for a deep retreat. This species is an enthusiastic burrower, so provide substantial diggable substrate and a secure hide rather than a shallow display-style terrestrial setup.

Starting with a baby? A FREE sling container is available if requested at checkout. It is not automatically included.

Visit my Urban Tarantulas YouTube channel for care, setup, feeding, and show-and-tell videos to see how we keep and feed our tarantulas.
Care Details

🌡️ Temperature: A practical captive range is about 70–78°F (21–26°C). Stable room temperatures within this range are generally suitable; avoid prolonged overheating and abrupt temperature swings.

💧 Humidity: Keep lower substrate layers slightly to moderately moist while allowing the surface to become mostly dry, with good ventilation and constant access to a clean water dish. Avoid saturated, stagnant substrate; a deep burrow provides the spider with a useful moisture gradient.
🏠 Housing

Babies / Slings: Use a secure, ventilated container with several inches of diggable substrate, a starter retreat, and appropriate moisture in the lower layers. Keep fall distance minimal and provide a small water source when practical.

Juveniles: Increase floor space and substrate depth as the spider grows. Offer a snug hide or partially buried starter tunnel, maintain a moisture gradient, provide a water dish, and leave enough substrate above the floor to limit dangerous falls.

Adults: Use a secure terrestrial enclosure emphasizing floor area and deep, compactable substrate for burrowing. Include a stable retreat, water dish, good ventilation, and low vertical clearance above the substrate because this is a heavy-bodied terrestrial tarantula.
🍽️ General Diet

Offer appropriately sized crickets and suitable roaches such as Dubia, Red Runner, or Lobster roaches. Slings can take very small live prey or portions of pre-killed prey when necessary, while larger juveniles and adults can accept proportionally larger invertebrates.

Adjust meal size and frequency according to life stage, abdomen condition, and feeding response rather than a rigid schedule. Remove uneaten prey and old boluses, and stop offering live prey when a molt appears imminent.
In-depth Facts
🕷️ Scientific Name Aphonopelma seemanni (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) View Aphonopelma seemanni in the World Spider Catalog Explore current taxonomy, distribution, and scientific references.
📛 Common Names Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula; Striped-Knee Tarantula.
🌡️ Temperature About 70–78°F (21–26°C), with stable room temperatures preferred.
💧 Humidity Slightly to moderately moist lower substrate, mostly dry surface, good ventilation, and a water dish.
📍 Locale Central America: El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
🏷️ Category Terrestrial, strongly burrowing/fossorial in behavior, with generally light webbing.
📏 Adult Size Females: Approximately 4.5–5.5 in (11–14 cm) DLS.
Males: Approximately 4–5 in (10–13 cm) DLS.
DLS means diagonal leg span. These are general species notes, not the size of the specimen offered.
🪶 Urticating Hairs Yes—if disturbed, they can flick urticating hairs as a natural defense. Individual responses vary.
⏳ Growth Rate Slow to medium; development varies with age, feeding, and captive conditions.
🧭 Lifespan Females: Approximately 15–20 years in captivity.
Males: Approximately 5–8 years total lifespan in captivity.
Captive keeper estimates of total lifespan, not years remaining after purchase.
🍽️ Feeding Appropriately sized crickets and suitable roaches; adjust portions by life stage and body condition, and withhold live prey around molts.
🎯 Recommended Level Beginner-friendly with the right setup for keepers comfortable with a quick, burrowing terrestrial species and routine no-handling maintenance.
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Safety Disclaimer
Tarantulas can bite. Enjoy observing your tarantula and use secure transfer methods during maintenance. Handling is at your own risk. Always prioritize your safety and the tarantula’s well-being. Avoid direct contact with urticating hairs and use calm, secure maintenance methods with this quick-moving species.