Poecilotheria tigrinawesseli (Tiger Ornamental Tarantula)

Poecilotheria tigrinawesseli (Tiger Ornamental Tarantula)

The Tiger Ornamental Tarantula, or Poecilotheria tigrinawesseli, is argued by many keepers to be the most purple animal in the whole Poecilotheria line. Adults have a purple base across the femurs and carapace (head), similar to P. formosa but with less of the ivory and orange coloration, legs that run more white and black with the black patches taking on a purple sheen in the right light, and a dark abdomen with the ivory and cream patterning that is iconic across Poecilotheria. It grows at a medium to fast pace and the purple only strengthens with every molt. P. tigrinawesseli reaches a max diagonal leg span of about 7 to 8 inches, and females live 12 to 15 years while males live 2 to 3. This is a fast and defensive species that would far rather bolt into its tube than stand its ground, and it stretches out on bark more readily than most, which suits keepers who want to actually see the animal. Grab one of the larger old world arboreal tarantulas for sale today, offered here in many sizes.

Why do hobbyists keep the Tiger Ornamental Tarantula?

• Stunning Coloration: Argued by many keepers to be the most purple Poecilotheria there is, with a deep purple base across the femurs and carapace, legs that run white and black with a purple sheen on the black patches, and a dark abdomen with iconic ivory and cream patterning. The purple only gets richer with every molt. That purple is the same iconic pokie coloration Poecilotheria is known for, and there is nothing quite like it.
• Large Arboreal Species: Poecilotheria is known for having some of the largest arboreal tarantulas in the hobby, and tigrinawesseli does not disappoint. Adults reach seven to eight inches, impressive for a species that spends its whole life off the ground.
• Confident and Visible: Tigrinawesseli hunts actively after dark, but with enough space it will not just hide in its tube during the day. It tends to be stubborn and confident, and noticeably less flighty than a lot of other Asian arboreals.
• Easy To Raise: Pokies start larger and eat better than a lot of the more timid arboreal species, giving real survivability, and tigrinawesseli backs that up, hatching larger than most and feeding with real enthusiasm, even observed taking down small lizards and other vertebrate prey in the wild. Pokies also come from a region with a wet season and a dry season, so they tolerate real-world humidity swings better than their reputation suggests, and combined with how much less defensive and flighty Poecilotheria runs compared to other Asian arboreals, that makes tigrinawesseli a solid choice for a first Asian arboreal rather than one to save for later.
• Genuinely Rare in the Hobby: This is a rare species in the hobby, and it stays highly sought after because of it. Poecilotheria already runs smaller egg sacs and longer gestation periods than a lot of other tarantulas, and this species sits toward the harder end even within that, so very few captive-bred tigrinawesseli reach the market in a given year.

Which size should I choose?

• 0.75-1" Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.
• 1-1.5" Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.
• 1.5-2" Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.
• 2-3" Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.

Looking for similar species?

• Browse our Old World Tarantulas and Arboreal Tarantulas collections to explore related care profiles and species groupings.

Pick the size you want above. Each size still has its own care guidance and its own price behind it, so what you see for that size is exactly what ships.