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Tarantula Species Guide

Species profiles for commonly kept tarantulas: what they're actually like, who they're a good fit for, and current prices from vendors across the hobby. These are not care guides, but rather they're meant to help you decide whether a species is right for you before you buy.

This is a select list of species with written profiles. To see every species in stock right now, hundreds of them across all the vendors we track, use the comparison tool on the home page.

Orange Baboon Tarantula (OBT) Pterinochilus murinus
From $20.00 · median $40.00 · 18 vendors
Fast, defensive, and visually striking. One of the most talked-about tarantulas in the hobby for good reason. Not for beginners, but deeply rewarding for keepers who are ready for it.
Mexican Red Knee Brachypelma hamorii
From $30.00 · median $65.62 · 16 vendors
The most recognizable tarantula in the world. Calm, long-lived (25-30 years for females), and CITES-listed, meaning international trade is regulated; most legally sold hobby specimens are captive-bred.
Curly Hair Tarantula Tliltocatl albopilosus
From $7.50 · median $20.00 · 13 vendors
A Central American species with distinctive wavy setae. Hardy, calm, and consistently near the top of honest beginner recommendation lists.
Mexican Red Rump Tliltocatl vagans
From $8.00 · median $40.00 · 9 vendors
A classic new world terrestrial with a velvet-black body and deep red abdomen. Slightly more attitude than your average beginner species, but still very manageable.
Chilean Rose Hair Grammostola rosea
From $39.00 · median $70.00 · 15 vendors
One of the classic rose hair tarantulas of the pet trade, though historic imports were often confused with or sold alongside Grammostola porteri. Docile, long-lived, and famously prone to extended fasting periods that alarm new keepers but are perfectly normal.
Pink Toed Tarantula Avicularia avicularia
From $10.00 · median $37.50 · 12 vendors
A gentle South American arboreal with a velvet black body and pink toe tips. The go-to first arboreal for many keepers, though ventilation requirements differ from terrestrial species.
Trinidad Olive Neoholothele incei
From $17.00 · median $37.75 · 12 vendors
A tiny, active dwarf species from Trinidad. Prolific webber that is almost always visible and doing something. Available in olive and gold color forms.
Brazilian Blue Tarantula Lasiocyano sazimai
From $15.00 · median $47.50 · 14 vendors
One of the most vividly colored tarantulas available in the hobby. Adults are a striking cobalt blue. The color develops over time, so patience is part of the experience.
Haitian Brown Phormictopus cancerides
From $30.00 · median $49.99 · 13 vendors
A large, fast-growing new world tarantula from Hispaniola with an underappreciated iridescent sheen. More defensive than a typical beginner species, great for intermediate keepers.
Rear-Horned Baboon Ceratogyrus darlingi
From $15.00 · median $38.00 · 15 vendors
A Southern African old world species with a distinctive foveal horn on its carapace. Defensive and fast, but one of the more interesting and unusual keepers available.
Arizona Blonde Tarantula Aphonopelma chalcodes
From $18.75 · median $40.00 · 10 vendors
A native North American species from the Sonoran Desert. Docile, very long-lived, and the only tarantula on this list you might encounter in the wild if you live in Arizona.
Green Bottle Blue Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens
From $40.00 · median $62.50 · 14 vendors
One of the most visually striking tarantulas available. Vivid teal legs, orange abdomen, and green carapace. A prolific webber that is often visible and active in its enclosure.
Chaco Golden Knee Grammostola pulchripes
From $17.00 · median $41.00 · 17 vendors
A large, beautiful, and extremely calm species from the Gran Chaco region. One of the best beginner choices in the hobby, with a lifespan that can exceed 20 years for females.
Brazilian White Knee Acanthoscurria geniculata
From $19.99 · median $42.00 · 14 vendors
A large new world species with jet black coloring and sharply contrasting white knee bands. More reactive than the typical beginner species, but a great intermediate choice.
Salmon Pink Bird Eater Lasiodora parahybana
From $10.00 · median $35.00 · 16 vendors
One of the largest tarantulas in the world, regularly reaching 9 to 10 inches in legspan. Grows faster than most large species and is broadly accessible for intermediate keepers.
Mexican Fireleg Brachypelma boehmei
From $45.00 · median $72.50 · 10 vendors
Deep vivid orange legs against a jet black body. More visually dramatic than the Mexican Red Knee and a small step up in temperament. CITES-listed, so legal international trade is regulated; most specimens in the hobby are captive-bred.
Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Poecilotheria metallica
From $98.00 · median $125.00 · 9 vendors
Widely considered the most visually stunning tarantula in the hobby. Metallic cobalt blue with intricate patterning. Fast, defensive, old world, and critically endangered in the wild. For experienced keepers.
Mexican Red Leg Brachypelma emilia
From $35.00 · median $60.00 · 14 vendors
About 5.5 inches (females) · Western Mexico, near Mazatlán and Nayarit · Burrower · New World
Antilles Pinktoe Caribena versicolor
From $45.00 · median $52.50 · 9 vendors
About 6 inches · Martinique · Arboreal · New World
Chilean Flame Homoeomma chilense
From $95.00 · median $135.00 · 9 vendors
About 3 inches (dwarf) · Central Chile · New World
Indian Ornamental Poecilotheria regalis
From $35.00 · median $60.00 · 9 vendors
Up to 8 inches (females) · India · Arboreal · Old World
Socotra Island Blue Baboon Monocentropus balfouri
From $39.99 · median $65.00 · 16 vendors
About 5.5 inches (females) · Socotra Island, Yemen · Burrower, can be kept communally · Old World
Togo Starburst Baboon Heteroscodra maculata
From $15.00 · median $32.50 · 15 vendors
About 5 inches · West Africa (Togo, Benin, Nigeria) · Arboreal · Old World
Electric Blue Earth Tiger Chilobrachys natanicharum
From $19.00 · median $44.50 · 17 vendors
Up to 7 inches (females) · Southern Thailand · Heavy webber · Old World
Guatemalan Tiger Rump Davus pentaloris
From $15.00 · median $34.99 · 16 vendors
About 4.5 inches (females) · Mexico (hobby animals) · New World
Indian Violet Chilobrachys fimbriatus
From $20.00 · median $36.00 · 13 vendors
About 5 inches (females) · Southern India · Heavy webber · Old World
Darth Maul Psalmopoeus victori
From $35.00 · median $55.00 · 12 vendors
About 6 inches (females) · Veracruz, Mexico · Arboreal, heavy webber · New World
Golden Blue Leg Baboon Harpactira pulchripes
From $29.00 · median $60.00 · 12 vendors
4 to 5 inches (females) · Southern South Africa · Burrower, often out in the open · Old World
Trinidad Dwarf Cyriocosmus elegans
From $20.00 · median $39.99 · 11 vendors
About 2 inches (dwarf) · Trinidad, Tobago and northern Venezuela · Burrower · New World
Brazilian Red and White Vitalius chromatus
From $22.50 · median $44.00 · 9 vendors
About 6 inches (females) · Northeastern Brazil, around Maranhão · New World
Brazilian Black Grammostola pulchra
From $55.00 · median $89.99 · 7 vendors
About 7 inches, sometimes 8 · Northwest Uruguay · Burrower · New World
Uruguayan Black Beauty Grammostola quirogai
From $65.00 · median $81.00 · 12 vendors
7 inches or more (females) · Northern Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil · New World
Mexican Pink Brachypelma klaasi
From $65.00 · median $125.00 · 5 vendors
About 6 inches (females) · Southwest Mexico, around Chamela, Jalisco · New World
Orange Tree Spider Amazonius germani
From $26.69 · median $30.00 · 5 vendors
5 to 6 inches · French Guiana, Suriname and northeastern Brazil · Arboreal · New World
Rio Grande Gold Aphonopelma moderatum
From $37.50 · median $148.00 · 4 vendors
About 5 inches (females) · Rio Grande region of Texas and Mexico · Burrower · New World
Brachypelma smithi Brachypelma smithi
From $93.75 · median $121.88 · 2 vendors
Over 6 inches (females) · Coastal Guerrero, southwestern Mexico · New World
Trinidad Chevron Psalmopoeus cambridgei
From $15.00 · median $45.00 · 16 vendors
About 6 inches, some reported at 7 (females) · Trinidad and Tobago · Arboreal, often settles near the ground · New World
Venezuelan Suntiger Psalmopoeus irminia
From $20.00 · median $36.00 · 12 vendors
5.5 to 6 inches (females) · Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil · Arboreal · New World
Davus sp. "Panama" Davus sp. "Panama"
From $90.00 · median $125.00 · 11 vendors
3 to 4 inches (females) · Central Panama · New World
Mexican Golden Red Rump Brachypelma albiceps
From $30.00 · median $112.50 · 11 vendors
About 6 inches (females) · Mexico, southwest of Puebla · Terrestrial · New World
Asian Fawn Chilobrachys huahini
From $20.00 · median $35.00 · 12 vendors
About 6 inches (females) · Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand · Burrower, heavy webber · Old World
Mexican Flame Knee Brachypelma auratum
From $54.00 · median $60.00 · 10 vendors
About 6 inches (females) · Michoacán, Mexico · New World
Mexican Bloodleg Aphonopelma bicoloratum
From $45.00 · median $126.99 · 8 vendors
About 5 inches · Southwestern coast of Mexico · New World
Dwarf Pink Leg Kochiana brunnipes
From $20.00 · median $35.00 · 11 vendors
About 3 inches (dwarf) · Eastern Brazil · Burrower · New World
Burgundy Goliath Birdeater Theraphosa stirmi
From $75.00 · median $125.00 · 9 vendors
9 to 11 inches · Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil · New World
Skeleton Leg Ephebopus murinus
From $65.00 · median $88.00 · 8 vendors
Over 6 inches (females) · Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil · Burrower · New World
Brazilian Red Nhandu carapoensis
From $40.00 · median $45.00 · 9 vendors
5 to 6 inches (females) · Brazil, Paraguay and possibly Bolivia · New World
Costa Rican Zebra Aphonopelma seemanni
From $20.00 · median $29.00 · 8 vendors
About 5.5 inches (females) · Central America, Costa Rica to Guatemala · Burrower · New World
Pink Zebra Beauty Eupalaestrus campestratus
From $55.00 · median $115.00 · 7 vendors
5 to 6 inches (females) · Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil · Burrower · New World
Mexican Rose Grey Tliltocatl verdezi
From $18.75 · median $65.00 · 8 vendors
About 5 inches (females) · Southern coast of Mexico, Guerrero to Oaxaca · New World
Puerto Rican Pink Toe Caribena laeta
From $33.75 · median $40.00 · 5 vendors
5 to 6 inches (females) · Puerto Rico and St. John, US Virgin Islands · Arboreal · New World
Pumpkin Patch Hapalopus formosus
From $15.00 · median $43.00 · 6 vendors
3 to 4 inches · Northern Colombia · Burrower · New World
Acanthoscurria maga Acanthoscurria maga
From $30.00 · median $39.99 · 5 vendors
About 5 inches (reported) · Martinique and St. Lucia · Burrower · New World
Ecuadorian Purple Pinktoe Avicularia purpurea
From $59.99 · median $85.00 · 3 vendors
About 5 inches (females) · Ecuador, also Peru and Colombia · Arboreal · New World
Brazilian Blue Beauty Dolichothele diamantinensis
From $44.99 · median $48.00 · 5 vendors
3 to 4 inches · Southeast Brazil · Heavy webber · New World
Texas Brown Aphonopelma hentzi
From $25.00 · median $68.99 · 5 vendors
About 4.5 inches (females) · South-central US and northern Mexico · New World
Aphonopelma gabeli Aphonopelma gabeli
From $18.75 · median $75.00 · 4 vendors
4.5 to 5 inches (females) · Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, northern Mexico · Burrower · New World