| Special Notices |
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SALES TO CALIFORNIA ONLY.
WILL NOT SHIP OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA.
THIS SPECIES IS FEDERALLY LISTED AS ENDANGERED UNDER THE U.S. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND IS ALSO CITES APPENDIX II. INTERSTATE COMMERCIAL SALES ARE RESTRICTED, SO WE DO NOT SHIP THIS SPECIES ACROSS STATE LINES.
Fast and highly impressive. This is a lightning-fast Old World arboreal with no urticating hairs and medically significant venom potential, so secure housing and carefully planned hands-off maintenance are essential.
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.
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| Care Details |
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🌡️ Temperature: A practical captive range is about 74–82°F (23–28°C). Stable warm room temperatures work well; avoid overheating and provide a protected vertical retreat where the spider can regulate its exposure.
💧 Humidity: Maintain moderate moisture availability without keeping the enclosure constantly wet. Allow some surface drying between watering, retain moisture deeper in the substrate, provide excellent ventilation, and keep clean drinking water continuously available.
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| 🏠 Housing |
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Babies / Slings: Use a secure ventilated enclosure with vertical cork, foliage or other web anchors, several inches of substrate, and a narrow elevated retreat. Slings may also web or excavate near the enclosure base.
Juveniles: Transition to a taller enclosure with securely positioned cork bark, vertical hiding spaces, abundant web anchors, good cross-ventilation, and a water dish. Design access so routine maintenance causes minimal disturbance.
Adults: Provide a spacious vertical enclosure with a substantial cork-bark slab or hollow retreat, climbing height, web anchors, good ventilation, substrate for moisture management, and constant access to clean water.
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| 🍽️ General Diet |
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Offer appropriately sized crickets and suitable roaches such as Dubia, Red Runner, or Lobster roaches. Small slings can accept tiny live prey or portions of pre-killed prey, while juveniles and adults readily capture proportionally larger invertebrates.
Adjust portions and feeding frequency according to life stage, abdomen condition, and feeding response. Remove uneaten prey and accessible boluses carefully, and stop offering live feeders when a molt appears imminent.
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| In-depth Facts |
| 🕷️
Scientific Name |
Poecilotheria vittata Pocock, 1895
View Poecilotheria vittata in the World Spider Catalog
Explore current taxonomy, distribution, and scientific references.
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| 📛 Common Names |
Ghost Ornamental Tarantula; Pedersen’s Ornamental; Magam Tiger Spider. |
| 🌡️ Temperature |
About 74–82°F (23–28°C), with stable warm conditions preferred. |
| 💧 Humidity |
Moderate moisture availability with excellent ventilation, periodic surface drying, and continuous access to clean water. |
| 📍 Locale |
Sri Lanka; the current World Spider Catalog distribution also includes India. |
| 🏷️ Category |
Old World arboreal; tree-hole and bark-retreat specialist, fast-moving, agile, and capable of substantial webbing around its retreat. |
| 📏 Adult Size |
Females: Approximately 7–8 in (18–20 cm) DLS, typically heavier-bodied at maturity.
Males: Approximately 6–7 in (15–18 cm) DLS, typically slimmer and leggier at maturity.
DLS means diagonal leg span. These
are general species notes, not the size of the specimen offered.
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| 🪶 Urticating Hairs |
No urticating hairs. |
| ⏳ Growth Rate |
Fast; slings and juveniles can develop quickly under appropriate captive conditions. |
| 🧭 Lifespan |
Females: Approximately 10–12+ years in captivity.
Males: Approximately 3–4 years total lifespan in captivity.
Captive keeper estimates of total
lifespan, not years remaining after purchase.
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| 🍽️ Feeding |
Appropriately sized crickets and suitable roaches; generally a strong, rapid arboreal feeder, with portions adjusted according to life stage, body condition, and molt cycle. |
| 🎯 Recommended Level |
Best matched with keepers already comfortable with very fast Old World arboreals. Lightning-fast movement, medically significant venom potential, climbing ability, and the absence of urticating hairs make secure, hands-off husbandry essential. |
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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. This lightning-fast Old World arboreal lacks urticating hairs and has medically significant venom potential, so direct handling should be avoided and escape prevention should be a priority. |
