Phormictopus auratus - Golden Cuban Tarantula
Phormictopus auratus - Golden Cuban Tarantula
Phormictopus auratus - Golden Cuban Tarantula

Phormictopus auratus - Golden Cuban Tarantula

$600.00 
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Phormictopus auratus — Golden Cuban Tarantula

Phormictopus auratus, the Golden Cuban Tarantula, is a powerful Caribbean terrestrial with rich golden tones, impressive size, and that classic Phormictopus attitude. I really enjoy this species because it grows into a bold, heavy-bodied display tarantula with a strong feeding response and a look that gets better with every molt.

Special Notices
This is a large, moisture-loving terrestrial species that does best with a secure enclosure, good ventilation, deeper substrate, and a hide it can claim. Phormictopus auratus can be fast and bold, especially during feeding, so I recommend using tongs and respecting its space during maintenance. For care, setup, feeding, and show-and-tell videos, check out my YouTube channel to see how we keep and feed our tarantulas:

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Care Details
🌡️ Temperature 75–85°F works well. Warmer temperatures usually mean faster growth because they molt more often, especially when paired with steady feeding and proper moisture.
💧 Humidity Aim for about 75–80% inside the enclosure with good ventilation. Keep part of the substrate slightly moisture-friendly, but never swampy or stagnant.
🏠 Housing
Babies Keep babies in a 1–4 oz deli cup with needle ventilation and lightly moisture-friendly substrate. FREE container at checkout IF requested; not included otherwise.
Juveniles Juveniles do well in a terrestrial enclosure around 2–3x their body size, with several inches of substrate, a starter hide, and a slightly damp area they can use as needed.
Adults Adults need a sturdy terrestrial setup with good floor space, deeper substrate, a secure hide, and steady cross ventilation. Give them room to move, but keep the enclosure practical and easy to maintain.
General Diet
🍽️ Feeding Crickets + roaches work great, including Dubia, Red Runner, and Lobster roaches. Babies should be offered baby crickets or baby roaches. If prey is too big, pre-kill by crushing the head, leave it, then remove leftovers or bolus. For super large specimens, a pinky/hopper mouse or feeder lizard can be offered very sparingly as a treat; excess calcium can cause constipation/pooping issues. We never use pinhead crickets because they do not provide enough protein.
In-depth Facts
🕷️ Latin name / Scientific name Phormictopus auratus
📛 Common name(s) Golden Cuban Tarantula, Cuban Gold Tarantula
🌡️ Temperature 75–85°F
💧 Humidity 75–80% with good airflow; keep a moisture gradient and avoid swampy substrate
📍 Locale Cuba
🏷️ Category Terrestrial, opportunistic burrower, moderate webbing around the hide and substrate surface
📏 Size Females can reach about 6–7 inches DLS; males are typically smaller and leggier, around 5–6 inches DLS
🪶 Urticating hairs Yes, this New World species has urticating hairs and may kick them when irritated or disturbed.
⏳ Growth rate Medium-fast to fast, especially when kept warm and fed consistently
🧭 Life span Females can live around 12–15+ years; males usually live around 3–5 years
🍽️ Feeding Usually an excellent eater with a strong feeding response. Offer appropriately sized crickets or roaches and remove leftovers after feeding.
🎯 Recommended levels A fantastic choice for keepers who love large, bold New World terrestrials with serious feeding response, strong presence, and beautiful golden coloration.
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Safety Disclaimer
Safety Disclaimer: Tarantula bites are extremely rare, and there are no recorded human fatalities. Venom strength varies by species; Old World tarantulas are usually more potent than New World tarantulas, with Poecilotheria known for especially strong venom. Larger tarantulas may also deliver more venom.

If bitten, stay calm. Most symptoms fade within minutes to hours, though potent species may cause discomfort for up to a week. In 13 years, I’ve only been bitten once, and symptoms were gone after one week.

Handling is at your own risk. I’m not responsible for bites or injuries. Always prioritize your safety and the tarantula’s well-being.