A striking New World terrestrial tarantula whose mature coloration is a vivid metallic blue with reddish abdominal hairs. Hardy but needing more humidity than typical beginner species, it is a rewarding choice for keepers with a little experience.
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Bahia state, Brazil (highland 'campo rupestre' rocky grassland)
Origin
New World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Theraphosidae
Genus
Pterinopelma
Part of the Tarantulas
Theraphosid spiders kept as low-maintenance display invertebrates. New World species are generally docile with mild venom but bear irritating urticating hairs, while Old World species lack those hairs but tend to be fast, defensive, and have more potent (though rarely life-threatening) venom.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Juvenile fossorial setup
8 × 8 × 10 in with 4–6 in substrate
Burrower setup with packed coco-fibre / topsoil deep enough to support a starter burrow, a cork-bark starter tunnel, and a water dish. The spider will spend most of its time underground; sparse surface decor is fine. Brazilian blues (Pterinopelma sazimai) are semi-fossorial — slightly damp deep substrate, cork hide, and a water dish.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Adult fossorial enclosure
12 × 12 × 12 in with 8–10 in substrate
Deep, firmly packed substrate so burrow walls hold; this matters more than floor area for true fossorials. Provide a starter burrow under cork bark, a water dish, and minimal disturbance.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Deep-substrate naturalistic burrow
14 × 14 × 16 in with 10–15 in substrate
Tall front-opening enclosure packed with dense substrate, allowing the spider to engineer a multi-chambered burrow visible from the side. Bioactive cleanup and a stable humidity gradient support long, calm captivity.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
These invertebrates lay eggs — often in a guarded clutch, a silk sac (spiders), or a brood (carried by female isopods). The eggs are small and soft and develop without a true larval or pupal transformation.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles hatch as miniature versions of the adult and grow by molting their exoskeleton (or, in snails, by enlarging the shell). They gain size, segments, or leg pairs and gradually take on adult coloration with each molt.
Adult
Adults reach full size and reproductive maturity with the species' mature form and coloration. Many arachnids and myriapods continue to molt as adults, and sexes can differ in size or in specialized appendages.
Habitat & enclosure
House one spider alone in a terrestrial enclosure with good floor space; a 5-10 gallon footprint suits an adult. Keep climbing distance low to prevent falls and provide a cork-bark hide, some webbing anchors, and a shallow water dish. Keep at 72-82F (22-28C) with moderate humidity: keep part of the substrate lightly moist and allow it to dry between waterings, with a full water dish for ambient humidity. No UVB or special lighting is required.
Substrate
Use 3-5 in (8-12 cm) of a moisture-retentive coco-fiber and topsoil mix. Keep part of it lightly damp while allowing the surface to dry between waterings; the spider may make a shallow burrow. Spot-clean boluses and feces to prevent mold.
Equipment & setup
No heater is usually needed at normal room temperatures; if required, use a thermostat-controlled side-mounted heat mat, never underneath. No UVB. Provide a ventilated terrarium, cork-bark hide, webbing anchors, and a shallow water dish. A hygrometer helps you maintain the moderate humidity this species prefers.
Diet
An opportunistic insectivore. Feed appropriately sized feeders (no larger than the spider's body length): crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and the occasional superworm. Slings eat 2-3x weekly, juveniles weekly, adults every 1-2 weeks. Remove uneaten prey within 24 hours and withhold food during premolt (darkened abdomen). Always provide clean water.
Behavior & temperament
A relatively calm but skittish New World species. It is more nervous than the easiest beginner spiders and will bolt or flick urticating hairs when disturbed, so it is best treated as a display animal rather than handled. Venom is mild (bee-sting level) and bites are uncommon. Its iridescent blue coloration intensifies with each molt as it matures.
Health
Hardy when humidity is managed correctly. The main risks are letting the enclosure dry out completely (this species prefers moderate moisture) or, conversely, keeping it soggy and stagnant, which invites mold and mites. Watch for dehydration (curled legs, lethargy) and keep the water dish full. Bald abdomen patches from hair-flicking regrow after molting. Never disturb a molting (upside-down) spider.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Balance moisture carefully: damp enough to avoid dehydration but ventilated enough to prevent stagnation. The blue is most vivid in good light and deepens with maturity, so it shines as a display spider. Avoid handling given its skittishness. A good 'second tarantula' once you have mastered a dry-tolerant beginner species.
