SPECIES CARE GUIDE
Salem Ornamental Tarantula
Poecilotheria formosa
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
- Arboreal
- Adult size (diagonal leg span)
- 16–17 cm leg span
- Temperament
- Fast and defensive
- Experience level
- Advanced
- Visibility
- May rest on enclosure walls or retreat behind cork bark
- Burrowing
- Spiderlings may dig into the substrate; provide a secure retreat
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Urticating hairs
- No
- Venom
- Old World tarantula; avoid handling
CARE NOTES
Keeping considerations
Provide a secure, well-ventilated arboreal enclosure with vertical cork bark, a retreat, substrate that can hold some moisture, and a water dish. Avoid stagnant, constantly wet conditions. This is a fast, defensive Old World species; avoid handling and use care during maintenance. Adjust moisture and enclosure size for the animal's life stage.
ENCLOSURE EXAMPLE · AD · AFFILIATE LINK
Recommended arboreal enclosure
Such as The Spider Shop Acrylic Arboreal Terrarium ↗
An example with size options. Check the selected size, ventilation and security against this species and life stage.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the references
Care can vary by species, life stage and local conditions. Review multiple reputable sources before making husbandry decisions.
KEEP EXPLORING
More Poecilotheria
Other completed care guides from the same scientific genus.
