| 📌 Special Notices |
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Taxonomy: Aphonopelma seemanni is the currently accepted name. The World Spider Catalog also lists Aphonopelma latens as a synonym of this species following a 2022 revision.
Color and contrast can vary between individuals and molt stages, but the pale leg bands against the darker body are the feature behind its familiar “Zebra” and “Striped Knee” common names.
For sling purchases, a free sling vial/container is available only when requested at checkout.
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| 🌿 Care Details |
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Temperature: A practical captive range is approximately 70–78°F (21–26°C). Normal comfortable room temperatures generally work well; avoid excessive heat and direct sunlight.
Moisture: This species benefits more from a useful moisture gradient than from chasing an exact humidity number. Keep deeper substrate slightly moist while allowing the surface to become drier, especially for larger specimens. Tiny slings should not be allowed to become excessively dry.
Provide good ventilation and appropriate access to clean drinking water. Its natural burrowing behavior allows the spider to choose a more humid microclimate below the surface.
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| 🏠 Housing |
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Babies / Slings: Use a secure, well-ventilated sling enclosure with plenty of compactable substrate. Small A. seemanni frequently burrow, so substrate depth is more valuable than unused vertical space. Maintain a modest amount of moisture in the lower substrate and provide drinking water in a size-appropriate manner.
Juveniles: Increase floor space as the tarantula grows while continuing to provide deep substrate and a starter burrow or partially buried cork-bark hide. Leave enough substrate beneath the spider to permit excavation and keep fall distance low.
Adults: House terrestrially with generous, firm substrate, a secure hide or burrow entrance, a water dish, and good ventilation. Adults may adopt a prepared retreat or excavate extensively. Avoid tall terrestrial setups with excessive open space above the substrate, as falls can injure heavy-bodied tarantulas.
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| 🍽 General Diet |
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Feed appropriately sized invertebrate prey such as crickets, Dubia roaches, Red Runner roaches, or Lobster roaches. Very small slings can take tiny live feeders or suitably prepared pre-killed prey. Growing animals can usually be offered food more frequently than adults, while mature tarantulas often eat comfortably on a roughly one-to-two-week rhythm. Adjust feeding to the animal’s abdomen, growth stage, appetite, and molt cycle rather than following a rigid schedule. Remove uneaten prey and food remains, and avoid disturbing or feeding a tarantula that is preparing to molt.
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| 🔎 In-depth Facts |
| 🕷 Scientific Name |
Aphonopelma seemanni (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897)
View Aphonopelma seemanni in the World Spider Catalog
Catalog source for taxonomy, distribution, and taxonomic references.
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| 📛 Common Name(s) |
Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula; Costa Rican Striped Knee Tarantula |
| 🌡 Temperature |
Approximately 70–78°F (21–26°C) for routine captive care. |
| 💧 Humidity |
Moderate moisture with good ventilation. Keep deeper substrate somewhat moist while allowing the surface to dry rather than relying on a fixed relative-humidity target. |
| 📍 Locale |
Central America. The World Spider Catalog records the species from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. |
| 🏷 Category |
Terrestrial / burrowing, generally with relatively light webbing concentrated around the retreat and burrow. |
| 📏 Size — DLS |
Female: approximately 5–6 in (12.7–15.2 cm) adult DLS.
Male: reliable sex-specific DLS figures are limited; commonly reported species-level adult spans are approximately 4.75–6 in (12.1–15.2 cm), with mature males typically more slender in build.
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| 🪶 Urticating Hairs |
Yes—if disturbed, they can flick urticating hairs as a natural defense. Individual responses vary. |
| ⏳ Growth Rate |
Slow to medium. Growth varies with age, feeding, temperature, and the individual. |
| 🧭 Lifespan |
Female: commonly estimated around 15–20+ years total lifespan in captivity, with some keeper reports extending longer.
Male: commonly estimated around 5–7 years total lifespan, with individual variation and a much shorter adult period after maturity.
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| 🍽 Feeding |
Crickets and appropriately sized roaches are excellent staples. Offer smaller prey more frequently to growing slings and juveniles and reduce frequency for adults as appropriate. Adjust to body condition, appetite, and molt cycle. |
| 🎯 Recommended Level |
Beginner-friendly with the right setup. A rewarding choice for keepers who enjoy classic Aphonopelma, bold leg markings, and natural burrowing behavior. Individuals can be skittish, so secure maintenance and rehousing practices are important. |
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| ⚠️ Safety Disclaimer |
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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. Aphonopelma seemanni also possesses urticating hairs that may be flicked when the animal feels disturbed.
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