SPECIES CARE GUIDE
Indian Violet Tarantula
Chilobrachys fimbriatus
ENVIRONMENT
Core care conditions
Use these ranges as a starting point and adjust for life stage, enclosure ventilation and observed behaviour.
HUSBANDRY OVERVIEW
At a glance
- Taxonomic group
- Arachnida
- Origin
- India
- Lifestyle
- Terrestrial burrower / heavy webber
- Adult size (diagonal leg span)
- Around 16 cm
- Temperament
- Fast and defensive around its retreat
- Experience level
- Experienced keepers
- Visibility
- Often visible at the webbed retreat entrance, otherwise hidden
- Burrowing
- Yes; provide deep, stable substrate
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Urticating hairs
- No
- Venom
- Medically significant bite possible; avoid handling
- Tarantula region
- Old World
CARE NOTES
Keeping considerations
An Indian Chilobrachys that constructs a burrow and extensive webbing. Provide deep compacted substrate, a cork anchor, secure cover and a water dish. Keep a moist lower layer but ventilate well. It is fast and should be observed rather than handled.
PRACTICAL HUSBANDRY
Day-to-day care
Diet & prey
Offer appropriately sized captive-bred invertebrate prey such as roaches, crickets or locusts. Use smaller prey for slings; remove leftovers.
Feeding
Offer slings suitable prey about weekly and older spiders less often according to body condition. Stop offering prey during premoult and wait until the fangs harden after a moult.
Enclosure
House singly in a secure, escape-proof terrestrial enclosure with generous floor space, deep substrate, a starter burrow or cork hide and a water dish. Keep climbing height low.
Substrate
Provide a deep layer of compacted, fertiliser-free soil or soil/coir mix that can hold a burrow. Avoid loose, collapsing tunnels.
Ventilation
Provide steady cross ventilation while retaining a moist lower substrate zone. Avoid stagnant, saturated air.
Hydration & misting
Keep a clean water dish available. Lightly moisten part of the substrate when needed while allowing a drier surface area; do not drench the entire enclosure.
Handling
Do not handle. These fast Old World tarantulas can bolt or defend their burrows; use a catch cup and plan a clear escape-free transfer.
DETAILED GUIDE
A secure burrowing home
Give the spider enough soil to dig and pieces of cork or bark at the entrance to anchor its heavy webbing. Keep the web and burrow intact during routine maintenance.
Moisture and ventilation
Keep a full water dish, lightly moist lower substrate and reliable ventilation. Do not rely on a single humidity reading or maintain a constantly soaked surface.
Feeding and moulting
Place appropriately sized prey near the webbed entrance instead of forcing it into the burrow. Remove food that is not taken, and avoid feeding or disturbing a moulting spider.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Keeper notes
Fast, defensive Old World tarantula without urticating hairs. A bite may be medically significant. Keep singly, secure the lid, and avoid disturbing the spider during moulting.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the references
Care can vary by species, life stage and local conditions. Review multiple reputable sources before making husbandry decisions.
Last reviewed:
KEEP EXPLORING
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