A stunning metallic-blue arboreal tarantula from India and the only blue Poecilotheria, highly sought after for its color. It combines medically significant venom, blazing speed, and a Critically Endangered conservation status, making it strictly an advanced display species. All Poecilotheria are CITES Appendix II (2019), so international trade requires permits.
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Large arboreal; leg span 6-8 in (15-20 cm), with striking metallic blue coloration
Lifespan
11–15 years
Social needs
solo
Native region
Andhra Pradesh, central southern India (around Gooty)
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Theraphosidae
Genus
Poecilotheria
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 / sub-adult arboreal
8 × 8 × 12 in (juvi) → 10 × 10 × 14 in (sub-adult)
Tall enclosure with vertical cork-bark slabs reaching most of the height, cross-ventilation, 2–3 in of substrate, and a water dish. Arboreals web a tube-retreat against the bark rather than burrow. Gooty sapphires (Poecilotheria metallica) are fast, defensive old-world arboreals with potent venom — handle never; use catch cups during maintenance.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Adult arboreal vivarium
12 × 12 × 18 in, vertical
Vertical footprint with multiple cork verticals, plants or fake foliage for cover, and front-opening access. Humidity is maintained via substrate moisture and a deep water dish, not by sealing off airflow.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Planted arboreal bioactive
12 × 12 × 24 in+, bioactive planted
Tall bioactive vivarium with live plants, dense cork-bark verticals, leaf litter, and a springtail/isopod cleanup crew. Cross-ventilation panels at top and bottom prevent stagnant air, which arboreals are intolerant of.
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
Provide a tall arboreal enclosure (about 12x12x18 in for an adult) with vertical cork bark slabs or hollow tubes for retreats and a few inches of substrate. Keep temps 75-82 F (24-28 C) and humidity around 70-80% via partial substrate moisture and good cross-ventilation. The spider will web a silken tube retreat high on the cork.
Substrate
A few inches of coco fiber/topsoil to hold humidity, kept partly moist. The key environmental feature is vertical cork, not substrate depth, since this is an arboreal canopy-dweller.
Equipment & setup
No UVB needed. Maintain warmth with ambient room heat or a thermostatic side-mounted heat mat. Provide tall cork bark, a shallow water dish, secure escape-proof ventilation panels, and a hygrometer/thermometer. Good airflow is essential for arboreal humidity without stagnation.
Diet
Feed flying and climbing-friendly prey such as crickets, dubia roaches, and locusts. Slings eat 1-2 times weekly; adults every 7-14 days. These are fast, efficient ambush hunters from their arboreal retreats. Remove uneaten prey, especially before a molt.
Behavior & temperament
An Old World arboreal with medically significant venom: bites are reported to cause severe pain, intense muscle cramping, and sometimes systemic effects lasting many days. Extremely fast and skittish, more prone to bolting than biting but will bite if cornered. No urticating hairs. Not handleable and unsuitable for beginners. Wild populations are Critically Endangered (IUCN), so source only captive-bred specimens.
Health
Generally hardy in stable conditions but stress-prone if disturbed. Provide consistent humidity and ventilation to avoid respiratory/molt problems, and a water source to prevent dehydration. Falls are dangerous for arboreal species, so keep climbing height reasonable and avoid handling.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Always locate the spider before opening, and do maintenance with a catch cup ready as they teleport when startled. Buy only captive-bred animals to protect wild populations and to keep CITES paperwork simple. Provide the cork retreat from the sling stage so it establishes a secure home. A breathtaking display tarantula for keepers who respect Old World venom.
