Platythomisus octomaculatus (Pikachu Crab Spider) 1" FEMALE

Pikachu Spider (Platythomisus octomaculatus)

The Pikachu Spider, or Platythomisus octomaculatus, is an arboreal true spider native to Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, where it ambushes prey while perched motionless on flowers and foliage. Also known as the Pikachu Crab Spider or Eight Spotted Crab Spider, adult females have a bright yellow base, with legs that are black except for bright yellow femurs, a bright yellow carapace (head) and chelicerae, and an abdomen marked with the bold black polka dots that give this species its Pikachu nickname. Mature males are dramatically smaller and turn red instead. Spiderlings hatch out around 0.25 inch, and with a fast growth rate, females reach an adult max of about 2.5 to 3 inches in diagonal leg span. Exact lifespans have not been scientifically confirmed given how uncommon this species still is in captivity, but based on what we've observed so far, females tend to live 2 to 4 years while males live around 1 year. This is considered an intermediate to advanced species because of its fragility, so it's best suited to a keeper who has already had success with something like a huntsman spider or a pink toe tarantula. Grab this Pikachu Spider for sale today, a true spider and not a tarantula, offered here as a juvenile.

Why do hobbyists keep Platythomisus octomaculatus?

• Bright Yellow & Black Coloration: This species earns its Pikachu nickname honestly, a bright yellow body set off by bold black markings that looks almost too vivid and cartoonish to be real.
• Great Display Species: Unlike spiders that hide away, this one perches right out in the open on flowers and foliage waiting to ambush prey, so you actually get to watch her.
• Fast Grower: This species grows quickly, so you reach full adult size and coloration sooner than with a lot of other invertebrates.
• Iconic in the Hobby: This species went viral largely because of its resemblance to Pikachu, the famous Pokemon character, and that nickname has stuck ever since. It's one of the most recognizable true spiders in the hobby today, and a must-have for anyone building an invertebrate collection.
• Rare in the Hobby: This species is still hard to come by and is brand new to our own inventory, so don't expect it to stick around once it's gone.

How should the Pikachu Spider be kept?

• Adult Size: Hatchlings start tiny, around 0.25 inch, and females grow quickly to an adult max of about 2.5 to 3 inches in diagonal leg span. This specimen is a growing juvenile, not yet at that full adult size, so there is real growth still ahead of her.
• Enclosure: At this size, a cage of at least 3 by 3 by 4 inches works well, sized at least three times her leg span in width and depth and four times her leg span in height, with about 1 inch of substrate. Sizing the enclosure ahead of her like this means fewer rehouses as she grows.
• Setup Tips: This species hunts by ambush on flowers in the wild, so she settles in best with real or artificial foliage and flowers, ideally with some color to them, rather than just cork bark. Having something to blend into like this is what makes her feel secure, since open bare surfaces leave her feeling exposed.
• Rehousing: With a fast growth rate, expect to rehouse again roughly every 6 to 8 months as she works her way up toward that 2.5 to 3 inch adult max, sizing each new enclosure using the same three times leg span footprint and four times leg span height.
• Temperature: Keep her between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the optimal range for a tropical species like this one. Cooler temperatures are survivable, but increase the odds of trouble molting and growing, so we recommend staying in this range for the best results. Most keepers do not need any extra heating to hit it.
• Humidity: This is a tropical rainforest species, so keep humidity moderate to high. The weekly misting below covers most of what she needs, and the substrate itself can be kept just lightly moist rather than wet throughout.
• Water: Provide a shallow water dish placed in an elevated position if possible, which is more natural for an arboreal species like this one. A weekly misting is suggested as well, so she can drink off of wet leaves or plant surfaces, as long as you are wetting surfaces rather than soaking the substrate.
• Diet: Offer prey around 1/4 inch, roughly a quarter of her current leg span, at least once a week.
• Temperament: Calm and sedentary by nature, spending most of her time posted up and waiting rather than moving around, which is part of what makes her such a good display animal.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for the Pikachu Spider?

• Ambush Hunter: Rather than building a web to catch prey, this species relies on camouflage and patience, sitting motionless on a flower or leaf until something wanders close enough to grab.
• Eight Spotted Crab Spider: You may also see this species called the Eight Spotted Crab Spider or the Pikachu Crab Spider, both nods to the bold black spotting and coloration across its body.
• Temperament: Calm and sedentary day to day, though like any true spider she can move quickly and unpredictably when she does react.

Looking for similar species?

Browse our True Spiders and Advanced collections to explore related care profiles.

Frequently asked questions about Platythomisus octomaculatus

• Why is it called the Pikachu Spider? The nickname comes from its bright yellow and black coloration, which hobbyists quickly connected to Pikachu, the famous Pokemon character. That resemblance is a big part of why this species went viral, and it's still the name most keepers know it by today.
• Is the Pikachu Spider venomous? Yes, like virtually every spider, Platythomisus octomaculatus has venom, but it is not medically significant to humans. It is built to subdue small insect prey, not to harm anything our size.
• Is this specimen a pikachu spider full grown? Not yet. This is a growing juvenile, around 1 inch in leg span right now. A Pikachu Spider full grown reaches about 2.5 to 3 inches in leg span for females, so there is plenty of growth, and color, still ahead of her.
• Can males and females be told apart? Yes, easily, once males mature. Mature males are much smaller than females and turn red instead of the bold yellow and black females show, so there is no mistaking the two once both reach size.
• How rare is this species really? This is one of the rarer true spiders we have carried. It is new to our inventory and still uncommon in the US hobby overall, so availability can be inconsistent from one batch to the next.

Listing Notes

• This listing is for a Platythomisus octomaculatus Pikachu Spider juvenile measuring around 1 inch in diagonal leg span, which is the size given in the title, a confirmed female. She is still well below this species' 2.5 to 3 inch adult max, so there is real growth, and more of that bold yellow and black coloration to fill in, still ahead of her.