Philippine Tangerine Tarantula (Selenobrachys philippinus)
Tarantula
$39.99
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Spice 4 · Advanced
How the Spice System works
Medically significant ⚠
A sting or bite from this animal can need medical care. Adults only, a locked escape-proof enclosure and no handling.
Rare drop
We don't get these often, and restocks are hard to predict.
CB: Captive bred
Bred and hatched in captivity, not collected from the wild.
Big Z's notes
About this Fella
Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula for sale from Big Z's (Poecilotheria metallica). Comes with a Spice rating and a care guide, and ships packed for the weather.
Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula)
The only blue Poecilotheria. Gooty Sapphires wear metallic blue legs and a blue-grey body under a cream and charcoal fractal pattern, with yellow flashes on the legs, and the blue deepens as they grow. He is captive-bred, sexed male and 3 to 4 inches now. Males run slimmer and longer in the leg than females and live shorter lives, so he is the pick for a breeding project or for a keeper who wants the Gooty look on a shorter commitment. If you have the Old World experience for him, grab this Gooty Sapphire today.
Why do hobbyists keep the Gooty Sapphire?
- The Blue: no other Poecilotheria is blue. The color comes from the structure of the hairs, not pigment, and it gets stronger as the spider grows.
- Rare in the Wild: wild Gooties are Critically Endangered and known from a small forest area in southeast India. The hobby has bred them in captivity for more than ten years.
- A Male: Poecilotheria males usually live about 3 to 4 years. Pair him with a female for a breeding project, or enjoy the blue on a shorter run.
- Tree Spider Display: it lives up on vertical cork and webs its own retreat tube.
How should Poecilotheria metallica be kept?
- Adult Size: females reach about 6 to 8 inches leg span. Males stay slimmer, with longer legs.
- Enclosure: taller than wide. Vertical cork bark with a retreat tube, vents low on one side and high on the other, and a spot away from bright light. Give him room to climb.
- Temperature: 75 to 82 degrees F.
- Humidity: 65 to 80 percent. Keep the lower substrate lightly damp and the cork dry.
- Water: a shallow dish with pebbles in it.
- Diet: crickets or roaches once a week. Wait 5 to 10 days after a molt before feeding.
- Temperament: extremely fast and defensive, with medically significant venom. Bites have caused days of severe muscle cramps and sweating. No handling, ever. Plan every rehouse with catch cups and a second container around the enclosure.
Are there any additional notes or considerations?
- Captive-Bred: raised in captivity and sexed male, 3 to 4 inches.
- CITES Listed: every Poecilotheria is on CITES Appendix II. Keep your receipt and the species name with his records.
- Local Rules: local legality is on the buyer. Check your state and city rules on venomous animals before you order.
- Spice Level 4: Advanced. One animal, shipped live on FedEx Overnight, Monday to Wednesday. Live Arrival Guarantee on overnight orders.
Full care is in the care guide. It covers enclosure size, temperature, humidity, feeding, molting signs and handling limits for this species. Read the Advanced guide, or the shorter Simple guide →
- Lane
- Spice 4 · Advanced
- Source
- CB: captive-bred.
- Handling
- None. Forceps and a catch cup for all maintenance.
- Medical
- Medically significant venom.
- Before it ships
- Big Z confirms every Spice 4 order with the keeper before ship day.
Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)
Tarantula
Keeper feedback
$89.993-4" (Male) CB selected
More Spice 4 animals
Spice 4 · Advanced
How the Spice System works
Sold out
At a glance
The quick read on this fella
- Venom
- Medically significant bite
- Very fast
- Type
- Arboreal
- Climber · Old World
- Climate
- 75-82°F · 65-80%
- Lightly damp lower substrate, dry cork
- Feeding
- Weekly
- Wait 5-10 days after a molt
- Housing
- Solo
- Sibling groups expert-only
- Water
- Shallow pebble-filled dish
From our Ornamental Tarantulas group guide (Poecilotheria spp.). Read the full guide
Live animals ship Mon to Wed
FedEx Standard Overnight $44.99 or Priority Overnight $49.99, both with the Live Arrival Guarantee; free overnight on orders $499.99 and up. FedEx 2Day is not offered for Spice 4 and 5 fellas. Pickup in the Phoenix area or at an expo is free (arrange with Big Z first). Weather holds are free and we message you first.
Live arrival support
Every order is packed for that week’s weather. Not sure if Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula is your spice level? Message us and we’ll talk it through.
Big Z's here to help
Not sure if Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula is your spice level? Message us and we’ll talk it through.
Spice 4 support
Message Big Z if you want help with the enclosure and lid, or want your setup checked before you order.
Care guide Shipping and Live Arrival Guarantee
About this Fella Big Z's notes
Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula for sale from Big Z's (Poecilotheria metallica). Comes with a Spice rating and a care guide, and ships packed for the weather.
Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula)
The only blue Poecilotheria. Gooty Sapphires wear metallic blue legs and a blue-grey body under a cream and charcoal fractal pattern, with yellow flashes on the legs, and the blue deepens as they grow. He is captive-bred, sexed male and 3 to 4 inches now. Males run slimmer and longer in the leg than females and live shorter lives, so he is the pick for a breeding project or for a keeper who wants the Gooty look on a shorter commitment. If you have the Old World experience for him, grab this Gooty Sapphire today.
Why do hobbyists keep the Gooty Sapphire?
- The Blue: no other Poecilotheria is blue. The color comes from the structure of the hairs, not pigment, and it gets stronger as the spider grows.
- Rare in the Wild: wild Gooties are Critically Endangered and known from a small forest area in southeast India. The hobby has bred them in captivity for more than ten years.
- A Male: Poecilotheria males usually live about 3 to 4 years. Pair him with a female for a breeding project, or enjoy the blue on a shorter run.
- Tree Spider Display: it lives up on vertical cork and webs its own retreat tube.
How should Poecilotheria metallica be kept?
- Adult Size: females reach about 6 to 8 inches leg span. Males stay slimmer, with longer legs.
- Enclosure: taller than wide. Vertical cork bark with a retreat tube, vents low on one side and high on the other, and a spot away from bright light. Give him room to climb.
- Temperature: 75 to 82 degrees F.
- Humidity: 65 to 80 percent. Keep the lower substrate lightly damp and the cork dry.
- Water: a shallow dish with pebbles in it.
- Diet: crickets or roaches once a week. Wait 5 to 10 days after a molt before feeding.
- Temperament: extremely fast and defensive, with medically significant venom. Bites have caused days of severe muscle cramps and sweating. No handling, ever. Plan every rehouse with catch cups and a second container around the enclosure.
Are there any additional notes or considerations?
- Captive-Bred: raised in captivity and sexed male, 3 to 4 inches.
- CITES Listed: every Poecilotheria is on CITES Appendix II. Keep your receipt and the species name with his records.
- Local Rules: local legality is on the buyer. Check your state and city rules on venomous animals before you order.
- Spice Level 4: Advanced. One animal, shipped live on FedEx Overnight, Monday to Wednesday. Live Arrival Guarantee on overnight orders.
Full care is in the care guide. It covers enclosure size, temperature, humidity, feeding, molting signs and handling limits for this species. Read the Advanced guide, or the shorter Simple guide →
- Lane
- Spice 4 · Advanced
- Source
- CB: captive-bred.
- Handling
- None. Forceps and a catch cup for all maintenance.
- Medical
- Medically significant venom.
- Before it ships
- Big Z confirms every Spice 4 order with the keeper before ship day.
What ships with this order Care + shipping
- A free care guide for this species
- A heat or cold pack when the forecast calls for it
- Tracking and an arrival window before it ships
- Message Big Z about your animal for as long as you keep it
Care guideSpice 4 · Advanced
Matched care guide
View in Care Guides library
Ornamental Tarantulas
Poecilotheria spp. · Spice 4: Advanced. Baby Buddy: spiderlings only. Escape-proof vents, and rehouse before it gets cramped. Bark Buddy: juvenile grow-out only, once it has outgrown the Baby Buddy. Tall custom vertical build: adults need far more height than the Bark Buddy's 8 in, plus dim placement and strong cross vents.
Poecilotheria spp.
Sold under its hobby name. This guide covers the group or trade name this fella is sold as, so the ranges fit the whole group. Start in the middle and watch how your animal settles in.
Ornamental Tarantulas
Big Z's Quick Verdict: Beautiful, fast Old World tree spiders with medically significant venom. The tall, dim, well-vented cork setup is simple. Rehousing one is not, so advanced keepers only.
Group: Industry StaplesDifficulty: Spice 4: AdvancedSetup: Tall arboreal, vertical cork and retreat tubeHandling: No handling, catch cup transfers only
Use This Guide Safely
- Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
- Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
- Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Care Snapshot
| Temp | 75-82°F, highland species cooler |
|---|---|
| Humidity | 65-80%, lightly damp lower substrate, dry cork |
| Setup | Tall arboreal, vertical cork and retreat tube |
| Substrate | Lightly moist substrate + vertical cork, no free water |
| Feeding | Weekly, wait 5-10 days after a molt |
| Handling | No handling, catch cup transfers only |
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Recommended Big Z's Setup
- Baby Buddy: spiderlings only. Escape-proof vents, and rehouse before it gets cramped.
- Bark Buddy: juvenile grow-out only, once it has outgrown the Baby Buddy.
- Tall custom vertical build: adults need far more height than the Bark Buddy's 8 in, plus dim placement and strong cross vents.
Critical Notes
- Medically significant venom. Bites have caused days of severe muscle cramping, sweating and spasms, and hospital visits are common.
- Extreme speed. Never handle. Plan every rehouse with catch cups and secondary containment.
- Slings sometimes drop off the cork for no clear reason. Stage a catch cup every time you open the enclosure.
- Slings drown in open dishes. Keep pebbles or coarse grit in the water dish.
- Keep one per enclosure. Communal sibling groups are expert-only and can end in cannibalism.
- Photosensitive. Keep the enclosure out of bright light and bright rooms.
Care Basics
- Use a tall enclosure with vertical cork and a retreat tube.
- Vent low on one wall and high on the opposite wall so air crosses the full height.
- Keep the lower substrate lightly damp and the cork dry. Don't over-wet.
- Keep a shallow water dish with pebbles in it.
- Place it away from direct light and bright rooms.
- Keep it singly.
- Never handle. Rehouse only with a plan, catch cups and secondary containment.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Feed weekly. Every feeding is an opening, so keep a catch cup staged.
- Molting: premolt spiders slow down, seal the retreat and refuse food for days or weeks. Pull feeders, leave it alone, and wait 5-10 days after a molt for fangs to harden.
Current Big Z's catalog: No
Poecilotheria spp.
Sold under its hobby name. This guide covers the group or trade name this fella is sold as, so the ranges fit the whole group. Start in the middle and watch how your animal settles in.
Ornamental Tarantulas: Advanced Care Guide
Keeper Snapshot: Beautiful, fast Old World tree spiders with medically significant venom. The tall, dim, well-vented cork setup is simple. Rehousing one is not, so advanced keepers only.
Group: Industry StaplesDifficulty: Spice 4: AdvancedSetup: Tall arboreal, vertical cork and retreat tubeHandling: No handling, catch cup transfers only
Use This Guide Safely
- Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
- Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
- Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Snapshot
| Temperature | 75-82°F, highland species cooler |
|---|---|
| Humidity | 65-80%, lightly damp lower substrate, dry cork |
| Setup Type | Tall arboreal, vertical cork and retreat tube |
| Substrate | Lightly moist substrate + vertical cork, no free water |
| Feeding | Weekly, wait 5-10 days after a molt |
| Care Difficulty | Spice 4: Advanced |
| Handling | No handling, catch cup transfers only |
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Enclosure Format / Size Class
- Slings: compact secure enclosure, escape-proof vents, catch cup staged at every opening
- Juveniles: tall vertical bark setup with cork and a retreat tube
- Adults (5-8 in): large, tall arboreal build, dim and well ventilated
Warnings First
- Medically significant venom. Bites have caused days of severe muscle cramping, sweating and spasms, and hospital visits are common.
- Extreme speed. Never handle. Plan every rehouse with catch cups and secondary containment.
- Slings sometimes drop off the cork for no clear reason. Stage a catch cup every time you open the enclosure.
- Slings drown in open dishes. Keep pebbles or coarse grit in the water dish.
- Keep one per enclosure. Communal sibling groups are expert-only and can end in cannibalism.
- Photosensitive. Keep the enclosure out of bright light and bright rooms.
Simple Care
- Use a tall enclosure with vertical cork and a retreat tube.
- Vent low on one wall and high on the opposite wall so air crosses the full height.
- Keep the lower substrate lightly damp and the cork dry. Don't over-wet.
- Keep a shallow water dish with pebbles in it.
- Place it away from direct light and bright rooms.
- Keep it singly.
- Never handle. Rehouse only with a plan, catch cups and secondary containment.
Advanced Keeper Notes
Enclosure & Microclimate
- Top-only vents make a tall enclosure stratify: warm, damp air sits in the upper third, right where the retreat tube is. Vent low on one wall and high on the opposite.
- Hold 65-80% by keeping the lower substrate lightly damp and running a water dish, with the vents flowing freely. Airflow is what makes the moisture safe.
- Check by touch with the spider located and the lid closed. Lower substrate lightly damp with no free water, cork and tube dry. Condensation high on the walls is the warning sign.
- Mist the lower substrate, not the retreat tube. A damp silk tube in still air is a fungus problem you don't want to fix on this genus.
- Highland species (P. subfusca, P. rufilata, P. smithi) like it a touch cooler, about 70-78°F, and slightly drier. Lowland species (P. metallica, P. regalis) take the warmer end.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Feed weekly. Every feeding is an opening, so keep a catch cup staged.
- Molting: premolt spiders slow down, seal the retreat and refuse food for days or weeks. Pull feeders, leave it alone, and wait 5-10 days after a molt for fangs to harden.
Possible Origin / Range
- Likely native range: India and Sri Lanka, arboreal forest habitats, varying by species.
- Habitat translation: Forest trees in India and Sri Lanka become a tall, dim enclosure with cork tubes, lightly damp lower substrate, cross ventilation from low to high, and secure openings.
Advanced Keeper Details
- Legal note: all Poecilotheria are CITES Appendix II. Buy captive-bred and keep species ID and breeding-line records.
- P. metallica is Critically Endangered, known from a single forest in Andhra Pradesh.
- Communal sibling groups are an advanced experiment, not normal care: match sizes, overbuild vertical space, feed heavily, and be ready for cannibalism or instant separation.
- Bites rank well below Stromatopelma and Heteroscodra but are real: severe cramping, sweating and spasms that last for days.
- Fast growers. P. rufilata and P. ornata are the largest. Females live about 12-15 yrs, males 3-4 yrs.
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