Ornithoctoninae sp. 'Hana' (Blue Flame Earth Tiger Spider)

Ornithoctoninae sp. 'Hana' (Blue Flame Earth Tiger Spider)

This gorgeous species from Asia is among the most stunning earth tigers in the hobby, and it only becomes more beautiful as it grows. Slings start off brown with stripes, shift toward orange with purple stripes through the juvenile and subadult stages, and eventually settle into blue or purple as adults depending on the lighting, though in natural sunlight and most everyday lighting, adults show a stark orange and purple coloration. Reaching a maximum of about 3 inches across, this places the group firmly in the dwarf tarantula category. There is nothing else quite like this group of earth tigers in the hobby, and this is a genuinely new old world tarantula for sale, produced here in the US for the first time.

Why do hobbyists keep Ornithoctoninae sp. 'Hana'?

• Stunning Coloration: A stark orange and purple coloration in most lighting, shifting toward blue or purple depending on the light source, unlike anything else among earth tigers.
• Drastic Color Change: Slings start brown with stripes, shift to orange with purple stripes through the juvenile and subadult stages, and finish as vividly colored adults.
• Rare in the Hobby: The first of this group ever produced in the US, with a genuinely limited supply.

How should Ornithoctoninae sp. 'Hana' be kept?

• Adult Size: Reaches a maximum of about 3 inches at full leg span, placing this group firmly in the dwarf category.
• Enclosure: This is a fossorial species, so provide an enclosure roughly 2 times the leg span in footprint, 3 times the leg span in height, and substrate deep enough for stable burrows.
• Temperature: 75-82°F, reflecting this species' warm tropical Asian origin.
• Humidity: Moderate to high. Keep the lower substrate layers slightly damp with the top allowed to dry a bit, never swampy.
• Water: Provide a water dish near the burrow entrance. Fossorial species benefit from ambient moisture and will use a dish placed at substrate level.
• 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: Fast and alert, it carries a medically significant bite typical of old world species, so this is a display only animal. We do not encourage or recommend handling with any of our tarantulas, old world species especially.

Are there any additional notes or considerations?

• US First: This species was produced here at Exotics Unlimited, a genuine first for the US hobby.
• Lighting Changes Everything: Under LED light this species can look distinctly blue, while natural sunlight brings out its true orange and purple coloration, worth knowing so expectations match reality.
• Captive Bred: All Tarantulas are 100% captive bred.