A famously docile, slow-moving New World terrestrial from South America with subtle pink-and-cream leg stripes. Calm, hardy, and reluctant to kick hairs, it is one of the best beginner tarantulas and tolerant of gentle, infrequent handling.
ℹ️
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Medium-large terrestrial; leg span 5-6 in (13-15 cm), with pinkish leg striping
Lifespan
15–25 years
Social needs
solo
Native region
Paraguay, southern Brazil, and northern Argentina
Origin
New World
Climate
⛅ Subtropical
Family
Theraphosidae
Genus
Eupalaestrus
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 enclosure
8 × 8 × 8 in (juvi) → 10 × 10 × 8 in (sub-adult)
Clear acrylic or glass enclosure with cross-ventilation, 3–4 in of dry coco-fibre or topsoil mix, a cork-bark hide, and a shallow water dish. Floor space matters more than height for terrestrials; the spider should be able to turn around comfortably. Pink zebra beauties are extremely docile Eupalaestrus campestratus — slow growers, dry substrate with one slightly moist side.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Adult terrestrial enclosure
12 × 12 × 8 in (≈ floor 3× adult DLS)
Adult floor space targets roughly three times the diagonal leg span so the spider can web, walk, and ambush. Add 4–5 in of substrate, a half-log hide, low decor, and a water dish; height stays modest to prevent a fatal fall onto the abdomen.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Naturalistic terrestrial vivarium
14 × 10 × 10 in, bioactive
A bioactive footprint with deeper substrate (5–6 in), leaf litter, a sculpted hide, and one or two live hardy plants. Cleanup crew (springtails, isopods) keeps the dry-but-not-arid microclimate stable for long-term welfare.
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
A single adult thrives in a 10x10x10 in to 12x12x8 in terrestrial enclosure with more floor space than height and about 4-6 in of substrate for shallow burrowing. Keep temps 72-80 F (22-27 C) and moderate humidity around 60-65%, kept mostly dry with a filled water dish and a lightly moistened corner. Provide a cork bark hide.
Substrate
Coco fiber or a coco/topsoil blend 4-6 in deep, kept mostly dry with one lightly damp area. It may dig a shallow scrape or burrow but is largely a surface-dweller using a hide.
Equipment & setup
No UVB needed. Ambient room temperature is generally adequate; use a thermostatic side heat mat only in cold rooms. Provide a water dish, cork bark hide, secure lid, and a hygrometer/thermometer.
Diet
Readily takes crickets, dubia roaches, and mealworms. Feed slings 1-2 times weekly and adults every 1-2 weeks. A reliable but unhurried eater; this species grows slowly and can fast for long periods, especially before molts, which is normal.
Behavior & temperament
Exceptionally docile and one of the calmest tarantulas in the hobby. Slow-moving, rarely defensive, and reluctant to flick urticating hairs or bite. As a New World species its venom is mild and it has urticating hairs as its main defense. Tolerates careful, low handling better than most, though handling is never fully risk-free and is best minimized. An ideal first tarantula.
Health
Very hardy and forgiving of minor husbandry errors. Keep a water dish to prevent dehydration and avoid overly wet substrate. Standard molt and fall precautions apply: keep the enclosure low-profile and don't handle near molting. Slow metabolism means long fasts are normal, not a health concern.
Tips, DIY & hacks
A great species to learn tarantula husbandry without venom or speed concerns. If you handle, sit on the floor over a soft surface and keep the spider low. Don't worry about extended fasts. Its calm nature makes it excellent for observation and for new keepers building confidence.
