Every terrestrial tarantula on this page falls into one of two hemispheres, and it is the fastest way to narrow down what you want: old world for medium to fast growth at a lower price point, or new world for the range of temperaments most keepers start with.
Old World Terrestrial
Medium to fast growing tarantulas from a wide range of African and Asian climates, kept as strictly hands-off display animals thanks to their feisty, fast temperament: the Orange Baboon Tarantula, King Baboon Tarantula, Cameroon Red Baboon Tarantula, and Cinnamon Earthtiger. Some genera dig deep burrows, others stay mostly on the surface, and plenty do both, so burrowing habits are not a reliable way to tell them apart. Browse our old world tarantulas for sale below.
Ground dwellers from Central and South America ranging from docile to skittish, with a few genera running more territorial than the group's beginner friendly reputation suggests: the Brazilian Blue, Panama Red Rump, Speckle Patch Tarantula, and Powder Blue and Orange Bird Eater. A wide size range too, from dwarf species under an inch to giant birdeaters. Browse our new world tarantulas for sale below.
Very mild to moderate. Note that some species have urticating hairs, not all of them.
Moderate to very potent (still not deadly)
Size Range
Average 4 to 8 inches leg span
Dwarf species around 1.25 inches
Large species 10 inches or more
Average 4 to 9 inches leg span
Dwarf species (rare) around 2.5 inches
Large species 12 inches or more
Lifespan
Females live up to 10 to 30 years
Females average 10 to 15 years
Experience Level
Great for beginners and intermediate keepers
Suited to advanced or expert keepers
Origin
North, Central, and South America
Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe
Types of Terrestrial Tarantulas
Old world and new world each split further into a few recognizable groups. Knowing which one you are looking at tells you a lot before you even read the care section.
Baboon Spiders
Old world genera named for their thick, banded legs: Pterinochilus, Ceratogyrus, Hysterocrates, and Pelinobius. Medium to fast growing and generally considered feisty, kept strictly as display animals for their temperament and feeding response. On this page that includes the Orange Baboon Tarantula, Zimbabwe Grey Baboon, Cameroon Red Baboon, and King Baboon.
Earth Tigers
Old world burrowers with bold, high contrast striping across the legs and carapace, in genera like Chilobrachys and Thrigmopoeus. Heavy webbers that anchor silk across the burrow entrance rather than staying hidden underground. On this page that includes the Dark Earth Tiger and Cinnamon Earthtiger.
Dwarf and Budget Terrestrials
New world genera that mature small, in genera like Kochiana, Hapalopus, and Lasiocyano, and sit at the lower end of our price range without giving up personality. On this page that includes the Dwarf Pink Leg Tarantula, Speckle Patch Tarantula, and Brazilian Blue.
Giant Display Terrestrials
New world genera built for size, some reaching well past a 6 inch leg span as adults, in genera like Xenesthis, Phormictopus, and Hapalotremus. On this page that includes the Powder Blue and Orange Bird Eater and the Sierra de Bahoruco Tarantula.
How to Set Up a Terrestrial Tarantula Enclosure
A terrestrial tarantula enclosure is built wide, not tall. Give it a footprint at least two to three times the tarantula's leg span, with substrate around a third of the enclosure's height, deep enough for the species to dig or seal a burrow entrance. A snug hide roughly the width of the tarantula's body gives it somewhere to retreat to and self regulate humidity, which matters more than misting the whole tank.
Old world and new world species differ less than people expect, and more in degree than in kind. Old world terrestrials are generally medium to fast growers from a wide range of climates, not just hot and dry ones, and while some genera dig deep burrows and others stay mostly on the surface, plenty of species do both depending on mood and season, so burrowing versus surface habits are not a reliable way to split the group. New world terrestrials range from docile to skittish, and a few genera run more territorial than the group's beginner friendly reputation suggests.
Keep a water dish available, use a hygrometer instead of guessing at humidity, and feed roaches or crickets sized to about a quarter of the tarantula's leg span. Get the footprint and substrate depth right from day one and a terrestrial tarantula enclosure needs very little adjustment as the animal grows. For enclosures already sized to these ratios, see our terrestrial tarantula enclosures.
Why Keep a Terrestrial Tarantula?
Easiest to Watch
Ground level means no craning up into a web tube. Terrestrial species stay visible near the substrate and out in the open far more than arboreal or fossorial specialists.
Beginner Friendly Options
Many new world terrestrials are calm, hardy, and forgiving of a missed misting, which is exactly why they are where most keepers start.
Real Burrowing and Webbing on Display
Deep enough substrate lets you watch actual fossorial digging or heavy surface webbing happen, not just read about it.
A Look for Every Preference
From the earthy browns of an Aphonopelma to the electric blue of a Xenesthis, terrestrial species cover the full color range in one collection.
Terrestrial Species Where Most Keepers Start
If this is your first tarantula, new world dwarf and mid sized genera like Aphonopelma, Kochiana, and Hapalopus are where most keepers start. They tolerate a missed misting, feed reliably, and stay calm without asking for a fast, defensive display species' level of experience. Old world genera reward a season or two of husbandry first, and this page has plenty waiting once you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Terrestrial Tarantulas
What is the difference between old world and new world tarantulas?
New world tarantulas come from the Americas and range from docile to skittish, with a few genera running more territorial than the group's beginner friendly reputation suggests. Old world tarantulas come from Africa and Asia, are generally medium to fast growing from a wide range of climates, and considered feisty, kept strictly as display animals. Both groups include terrestrial species, so the split here is about temperament and origin, not about whether a tarantula lives on the ground.
How big do terrestrial tarantulas get?
Most terrestrial species run 4 to 9 inches in leg span as adults. Dwarf genera like Kochiana and Hapalopus mature around 1 to 2.5 inches, while the largest new world genera, like Xenesthis and Phormictopus, can reach 10 to 12 inches or more. Males typically top out smaller than females of the same species.
How deep should the substrate be for a terrestrial tarantula?
Roughly a third of the enclosure's height, deep enough for the species to dig or seal off a burrow entrance. Fossorial species that burrow heavily can go deeper, up to 12 to 14 inches on the largest species. A snug hide sized to the tarantula's body gives it a humidity safety buffer if the surface dries out between mistings.
Do terrestrial tarantulas need a water dish?
Yes, a shallow water dish is standard alongside a hygrometer to track humidity rather than guessing. Keep the substrate from fully drying out, especially for new world species that prefer higher humidity, and let old world enclosures run drier between mistings.
Are terrestrial tarantulas good for beginners?
Plenty of terrestrial species make genuinely good first tarantulas. Calm, hardy new world species tolerate a missed misting or an inexperienced keeper far better than a fast, defensive display species does, which is exactly why they are where most people in the hobby start and stay.
Is it safe to buy terrestrial tarantulas online?
Yes, absolutely. Every terrestrial tarantula for sale on this page is captive bred and ships with our Live Arrival Guarantee, packed for FedEx Priority Overnight to a live animal accepting facility near you at a flat $39, free once your invertebrate total after discounts reaches $300. Every box that needs one includes the right temperature control pack, heat or cold, at no extra charge, already covered by that shipping cost. Shipping days are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday so arrival lands the next day, and we ship thousands of tarantulas a year this way with unpacking guidance included.
Do email subscribers get a discount on terrestrial tarantulas?
Yes. Subscribing to our free email list gets you 10% off invertebrates automatically at checkout, no code needed, and it climbs to 13% past $1,000 in lifetime spend and 15% past $3,000. A single invertebrate order over $1,200 gets 20% regardless of tier. Full details are on our VIP and rewards program page.
10% OFF INVERTEBRATES
Email Subscribers Save on Every Terrestrial Tarantula
Subscribe to our free email list and 10% comes off every invertebrate automatically at checkout, no code needed. It climbs to 13% and 15% as your lifetime spend grows, and stays active for as long as you stay subscribed.
Xenesthis sp. 'Blue' (Powder Blue & Orange Bird Eater Tarantula) 2.5-3" FEMALE $999.00 /Only 1 left
