Aphonopelma seemanni - Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula
Aphonopelma seemanni - Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula
Aphonopelma seemanni - Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula

Aphonopelma seemanni - Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula

$100.00 
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Aphonopelma seemanni — Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula

Aphonopelma seemanni, the Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula, is a classic New World terrestrial known for its crisp striped legs, strong burrowing instincts, and hardy nature. I like this species because it has that clean, high-contrast look, stays fairly manageable in size, and makes a great display tarantula once it settles into a secure, well-built setup.

Special Notices
This is a terrestrial, burrow-loving species that appreciates deeper substrate, a snug hide, and a secure enclosure. Aphonopelma seemanni can be skittish and may bolt or kick hairs when bothered, so I recommend calm maintenance and giving it a setup where it can feel hidden and secure. 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, as long as moisture and ventilation stay balanced.
💧 Humidity Aim for about 75–80% inside the enclosure with good ventilation. Keep a moisture gradient rather than soaking the whole setup, and avoid swampy or bone-dry substrate.
🏠 Housing
Babies Keep babies in a 1–4 oz deli cup with needle ventilation and slightly 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 enough substrate to dig, a starter hide, and good ventilation.
Adults Adults should have a sturdy terrestrial setup with generous floor space, deeper substrate for burrowing, a secure hide, and a lightly moistened area they can use as needed.
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 Aphonopelma seemanni
📛 Common name(s) Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula, Striped-Knee Tarantula, Zebra Tarantula
🌡️ Temperature 75–85°F
💧 Humidity 75–80% with good ventilation; keep a moisture gradient and avoid stagnant, swampy substrate
📍 Locale Costa Rica and nearby Central American regions
🏷️ Category Terrestrial, burrower, light to moderate webbing around the hide and burrow entrance
📏 Size Females usually reach about 5–6 inches DLS; males are typically smaller and leggier, around 4–5 inches DLS
🪶 Urticating hairs Yes, this New World species has urticating hairs and may kick them when stressed or disturbed.
⏳ Growth rate Slow to medium, with steadier growth when kept warm and fed consistently
🧭 Life span Females can live around 15–20+ years; males usually live around 4–6 years
🍽️ Feeding Usually a steady eater once established. Offer appropriately sized crickets or roaches, and remove uneaten prey or bolus after feeding.
🎯 Recommended levels A great choice for keepers who want a hardy, classic New World terrestrial with bold striping, burrowing behavior, and a little quick-footed attitude.
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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.