Hapalopus guerreroi (Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula) 0.33-0.5"
Pickup available at Home Office
Usually ready in 2-4 days
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How big is this one?
Shown to scale on a US quarter. Based on diagonal leg span.
Care overview
Quick care notes for the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula. Full details are in the description below.
How big does the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula get?
Reaches around 4 to 5 inches at full leg span, a solidly sized dwarf with real presence.
What size enclosure does the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula need?
Choose an enclosure at least twice the leg span in width, depth, and height. At full adult size that works out to roughly 8 to 10 inches in each dimension, with enough substrate depth to support light burrowing.
What temperature does the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula need?
65-75°F, normal room temperature works well.
How much humidity does the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula need?
Keep the substrate damp but not saturated, resembling the texture and color of coffee grounds. Organic coconut fiber works well since it resists mold and holds humidity steadily. Good ventilation is critical.
How should I provide water for the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula?
A shallow textured water dish works well, something they can grip when climbing out.
What does the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula eat?
Crickets, roaches, or mealworms sized to about a quarter of the leg span, matching the width of the carapace (head). Feed at least once a week.
What is the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula temperament like?
Docile but fast, generally calm day to day but quick to move when startled. Give it secure cover and it settles in well.
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Description
Hapalopus guerreroi (Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula)
The Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula (or Speckle Patch) is a dwarf terrestrial out of Colombia that only gets more striking as it grows. Slings hatch out already showing black and orange, brighten as they grow, and then begin to darken again once they pass about 2.5 inches, working toward the deep, black based adult look described next. Adults have a black base overtone, with legs that are nearly solid black with bronze highlights and a bluish tint through the femurs, a black carapace (head) with bronze orange accents along the fangs and around the edge, and a deep orange abdomen, a moodier, more gothic take on the classic Pumpkin Patch's lighter, yellow orange coloration. Grab this new world tarantula for sale today if you want one of the most uniquely colored dwarves in the hobby.
Why do hobbyists keep Hapalopus guerreroi?
- Black, Bronze, Orange Coloration: Adults display a black base with bronze highlights and a bluish tint on the legs, bronze orange accents around the carapace and fangs, and a deep orange abdomen, one of the more unique color combinations in the hobby.
- Drastic Color Change: Slings hatch out black and orange, brighten with each molt until they reach about 2.5 inches, and then begin darkening again, working toward the black based, bronze accented adult look, a real two phase transformation that keeps this species interesting at every stage.
- Heavy Webber: Builds noticeable webbing throughout the enclosure, keeping the setup looking active and lived in.
- Rare in the Hobby: A relatively recent addition to the hobby that is still building its footing, making it a fun find for collectors who like something less common.
How should Hapalopus guerreroi be kept?
- Adult Size: Reaches around 4 to 5 inches at full leg span, a solidly sized dwarf with real presence.
- Enclosure: Choose an enclosure at least twice the leg span in width, depth, and height. At full adult size that works out to roughly 8 to 10 inches in each dimension, with enough substrate depth to support light burrowing.
- Temperature: 65-75°F, normal room temperature works well.
- Humidity: Keep the substrate damp but not saturated, resembling the texture and color of coffee grounds. Organic coconut fiber works well since it resists mold and holds humidity steadily. Good ventilation is critical.
- Water: A shallow textured water dish works well, something they can grip when climbing out.
- Diet: Crickets, roaches, or mealworms sized to about a quarter of the leg span, matching the width of the carapace (head). Feed at least once a week.
- Temperament: Docile but fast, generally calm day to day but quick to move when startled. Give it secure cover and it settles in well.
Are there any additional notes or considerations?
- Where the Name Comes From: This species hatches out black and orange, brightens as it grows, and then darkens into a black based adult coloration with bronze highlights on the legs and carapace and a deep orange abdomen. Instead of the classic Pumpkin Patch's lighter, yellow orange coloration, this one has a black base with deep orange and bronze accents layered on top, which is where the Gothic Pumpkin Patch name comes from. Long time keepers may still recognize it under its former listing name, the Speckle Patch Tarantula.
- Coloration Keeps Developing: The coloration shown in our photos is from a young adult, and this species keeps deepening into its full black based, bronze accented look beyond that stage, so what you see here is not the final look, it only gets better from here.
- Ventilation Matters: Proper ventilation helps prevent condensation from building up inside the enclosure, which keeps this species healthy long term.
- Captive Bred: All Tarantulas are 100% captive bred.
More than a live arrival guarantee
Thrive Arrival Guarantee™
Here's what that means.
Free replacement and reshipping
In the small chance your animal doesn't make it, report it within 2 hours of getting your box
Handpicked and health-checked
If one doesn't look right, it doesn't ship
Temperature-controlled packaging
Every box insulated. Heat or cool packs included as needed
Lifetime health and care support
Ask us anything, for as long as you keep it
How we source
100% captive bred tarantulas
Never wild caught.
Never wild-caught tarantulas
No animals taken from the wild for profit
Many bred in house
Our own breeding projects, raised here
Many sourced from US breeders
Domestic breeders we know and buy from directly
Vote with your dollar
Support captive bred and the hobby stops taking from the wild
Wild-caught animals cost less to acquire and carry far more margin, which is the whole reason many sellers list them. Here is the tell: a wild-caught adult Curly Hair costs about the same as a captive-bred spiderling. An adult cannot cost the same as a baby unless something was skipped, and what was skipped is the years of breeding, feeding and care.
Goliath Bird Eaters, Costa Rican Stripe Knees, Curly Hairs and Arizona Blondes all have established captive breeding populations, so there is no reason to take them from the wild at all. If we stop supporting cheap wild-caught adults, more get bred, and they get cheaper. In the rare cases we handle wild-collected animals, such as some centipedes and whip scorpions, the goal is to get them into breeding projects in the hobby.
Straight answers
Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula FAQ: price, size, safety and shipping
What keepers ask before buying a Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula, answered the way we would at a show table.
Buying and price
Where can I buy the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula?
Right here. We ship captive bred Hapalopus guerreroi (Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula) tarantulas for sale to keepers across the US by FedEx Overnight, and you pick your arrival date at checkout. This 0.33-0.5" sling is in stock now.
We have been shipping live tarantulas since 2019 and ship Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
How much does the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula cost?
This 0.33-0.5" Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula is $45.00. A sling is the lowest cost way to start the species, and it lets you raise the animal from the beginning.
Pet invertebrate orders over $300 ship free to a FedEx facility, and email subscribers get 10% off invertebrates. Compare sizes and prices across all tarantulas for sale.
Is the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula captive bred?
Yes. Every tarantula we sell is 100% captive bred and never wild caught. Many are bred here in house, and many come from US breeders we buy from directly.
Size and life stage
Is the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula sling hard to keep?
Slings are the most fragile stage, so they need a little more attention than an adult. Use a small enclosure sized to the animal, keep the substrate damp but never saturated and never fully dry, offer pinhead to small prey, and leave it alone as much as you can. They grow fast, so plan to rehouse into a bigger enclosure as it molts.
The upside is that a sling is the cheapest way to start the species and you get to watch it grow up.
How long does the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula live?
New World females commonly live 10 to 30 years, and males live much shorter lives.
That makes the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula a long term pet. Adult size is in the care overview and the description.
Pets and safety
Is the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula a good pet or beginner tarantula?
It can be a good pet tarantula for the right keeper. We tag it Docile and Skittish on the listing. Temperament is not the same as difficulty, so we flag true first-timer species separately.
Browse our beginner tarantulas to see the species we recommend for a first tarantula.
Will the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula bite me, and is it dangerous?
A bite is unlikely if you are not handling the animal, and we do not recommend handling. We also will not tell you tarantulas are harmless, because that is not true.
The Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula is a New World species. Its venom is mild to moderate, and the real nuisance for most keepers is its urticating hairs, which can irritate skin and eyes.
Can a tarantula escape its enclosure?
Not from a properly closed enclosure, but the honest answer is that tarantulas are better at this than people expect. They can fit through any gap their carapace fits through, push a loose lid, and chew through thin mesh. Anyone who tells you a tarantula cannot climb is wrong.
Use an enclosure with a lid that latches and vent holes narrower than the animal's carapace and you will never have a problem.
What if my partner or parents are not sure about a tarantula?
It is the most common reason a keeper never starts, so it is worth answering plainly. A tarantula makes no noise and no smell, it lives in a container smaller than a shoebox, it eats a few times a month, and nobody else in the house ever has to look at it, feed it or touch it.
If there is a genuine phobia involved, that deserves respect rather than an argument. A small enclosure in a room they do not use is a reasonable place to start.
Can I hold a tarantula?
We would rather tell you now than sell you the wrong animal: no species really wants to be handled. Most experienced keepers never do it, and the risk is mostly to the spider, which is fragile and can be badly hurt by a short fall.
These are animals to watch rather than handle, and the good news is that the interesting ones are visible far more than people expect.
Shipping and guarantee
Can I buy the Gothic Pumpkin Patch Tarantula online, and how is it shipped?
Yes. We ship every live tarantula by FedEx Overnight on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and you choose your arrival date at checkout. We check the weather on both ends and hold the box if it is not safe.
Shipping to a FedEx facility for pickup is $29 flat, and it is free on pet invertebrate orders over $300. Home delivery is $49. Every box that needs one includes a heat or cold pack. See the shipping policy or our FAQ page for the full details.
How does the Thrive Arrival Guarantee work?
The Thrive Arrival Guarantee™ means we guarantee your animal arrives thriving, not just alive. An animal that shows up alive but in trouble is not a good arrival, and we do not treat it like one.
Open the box the day it arrives and check the animal. Report a problem within 2 hours of delivery and we reship. Report it within 24 hours and we replace it on your next order. You are still covered, the replacement just travels with your next shipment. We review every case individually.
Getting started
Why is my tarantula on its back? Is it dead?
Almost certainly not. It is moulting. Tarantulas shed on their backs, and it looks exactly like death to someone seeing it for the first time.
Do not touch it, move it, or try to help. Disturbing a moulting tarantula is one of the few things that genuinely kills them. Wait it out, and do not offer food for at least a week and a half afterwards while the new fangs harden.
My tarantula has not eaten in a month. Should I worry?
No. It is close to impossible to starve a healthy tarantula. A month is nothing, six-month fasts are routine, and much longer ones are documented. A refused meal usually means a moult is coming. Keep the water dish full and leave it be.
What do I need ready before my tarantula arrives?
An enclosure sized to the animal, substrate deep enough for its care type, a hide, a shallow water dish, and feeders. Set the enclosure up before the animal arrives so it can go straight in rather than waiting in its shipping vial.
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Everything this animal needs on day one
Enclosure, substrate and supplies, set it up before the animal arrives so it can go straight in.
Enclosure, substrate and supplies, set it up before the animal arrives so it can go straight in.
