Poecilotheria fasciata

🔤 Taxonomy

Poecilotheria fasciata is the currently accepted scientific name. The species was described by Latreille in 1804, and Tarantupedia lists the type locality simply as Ceylon.

English common names used in the hobby:

• Sri Lankan ornamental tarantula

German common names used in the hobby:

• Sri-Lanka-Schmuckvogelspinne

📌 Description

Poecilotheria fasciata is an arboreal Old World tarantula from Sri Lanka, recognized for its slender build, banded pattern, and quick movement. It is one of the classic ornamental tarantulas and is kept mainly for its striking appearance and elegant arboreal behavior.

Adult size is usually about 6-7 cm body length and about 18-20 cm legspan, with females typically heavier than mature males.

Like other Poecilotheria, it is fast, defensive when pressured, and not suitable for routine handling.

It is best kept as a calm display species. Most husbandry mistakes with arboreal Old World tarantulas come from insecure housing, poor ventilation, or too much disturbance rather than from lack of complexity.

☠️ Venom and safety

Poecilotheria fasciata must be managed without direct handling. Clinical reports of bites from some African and Asian tarantulas, including Pterinochilus murinus and Poecilotheria regalis, describe severe pain and delayed or prolonged muscle cramps. These reports justify caution across this group; they do not establish the exact severity of every species or every bite.

Use long tools and a catch cup, with a second containment tub for transfers in a closed room. Keep hands out of retreats and webbing, do not hand-feed, and do not chase an escaping spider. Keep transfers low to limit fall injuries to the animal.

After a bite, wash the wound with soap and water and contact a poison centre or medical service with the scientific name and time of exposure. Seek urgent care for severe or spreading pain, muscle cramps or persistent symptoms; call emergency services for breathing difficulty, throat swelling or collapse. Do not cut the wound or try to extract venom. Treatment focuses on wound assessment and symptom control under medical supervision.

🌍 Distribution

Poecilotheria fasciata is native to Sri Lanka. In the wild it is associated with warm forest and wooded habitats with tree holes, bark sheets and vertical retreats.

For keepers, the useful habitat cues are:

• a secure vertical enclosure with cork bark or tree-bark retreats
• strong cross-ventilation with moderate humidity
• fresh water and occasional moisture without stale air
• minimal disturbance around the main retreat
• careful maintenance, because fast arboreal species can bolt quickly

🌡 Climate across the native range

Monthly climate normals from reviewed GBIF occurrence locations:

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · CC BY 4.0 · Monthly normals calculated by Herpeton Academy from daily archive values.

Location references use GBIF.org occurrence data where available; original occurrence records retain their source dataset licenses.

⚖️ Legal status

Poecilotheria fasciata is covered by the CITES Appendix II listing for Poecilotheria spp. In the EU wildlife trade system, Poecilotheria tarantulas are treated under Annex B rules.

The species is not relevant to the Bern Convention because it is not native to Europe. Local rules on import, sale, breeding, transport, exhibition, and documentary proof of legal origin may still apply, so retaining paperwork is advisable.

🤌 Husbandry

• Adult enclosure: 45 × 45 × 60 cm (length × width × height).

Provide an upright cork retreat and connected web anchors; preserve usable climbing height after adding substrate and drainage.

Poecilotheria fasciata should be housed alone in a secure vertical enclosure.

Small juveniles do best in modest, secure rearing tubs at first; upgrade gradually instead of putting a tiny spider straight into an adult display enclosure.

Stage management is different from terrestrial species. Slings and small juveniles should be kept in smaller, well-ventilated vertical containers where prey can be found and the retreat stays secure. Adults need taller, escape-proof enclosures with a dependable bark retreat and a clear maintenance plan, because large Poecilotheria are fast, defensive, and difficult to manage safely during rehousing.

Build the enclosure around:

• Tall enclosure with usable vertical space
• Cork bark tube or vertical hide
• Strong cross-ventilation
• Water dish
• Minimal disturbance

Adults usually benefit more from dependable retreat structure than from elaborate decoration. A simple secure enclosure is easier to maintain safely.

💡 Lighting

Ambient room lighting is sufficient, with no need for UVB or basking lamps.

Bright direct lighting is unnecessary for this species.

🌡 Heating and temperature

Most keepers should target warm, stable room temperatures:

• Daytime air: 23-27 °C
• Night: 20-23 °C

Stable warmth and airflow matter more than trying to push the enclosure overly hot.

💧 Humidity and water

Poecilotheria fasciata does best with moderate humidity and very good airflow. The enclosure should not be stuffy or constantly wet.

Fresh water should always be available, and one area can remain slightly more humid than the rest.

Useful principles include:

• Water always available
• Moderate overall humidity
• Better ventilation than many keepers first expect
• No permanently wet stuffy enclosure

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

Use a tall setup with cork bark, vertical structure, and firm anchor points. Substrate depth is less important than height and secure retreat options.

Avoid frequent rearrangement because arboreal Poecilotheria species stress easily from repeated disturbance.

The enclosure should be easy to service without dismantling the spider’s main retreat every time.

🪳 Feeding

Poecilotheria fasciata is insectivorous. Suitable prey includes:

• Crickets
• Roaches
• Locusts where available
• Mealworms only in moderation

As a rough guide, feed slings every 3-5 days, juveniles once or twice weekly, and adults every 7-14 days when body condition supports it.

If the spider is clearly preparing to molt, uneaten prey should be removed promptly.

Use smaller, more frequent meals for spiderlings and slower feeding for adults. Uneaten prey and prey left during premolt are avoidable risks, and overfeeding can create long-term problems.

🩺 Common problems

Common problems include falls in unsuitable setups, dehydration, poor ventilation, overly damp stagnant conditions, and stress during maintenance.

Warning signs include lethargy, refusal to feed with visible decline, repeated frantic movement, and difficult molts.

In many cases, the first corrections are simple: improve airflow, confirm water availability, reduce disturbance, and review how secure the retreat really is.

📌 Conclusion

Poecilotheria fasciata is a beautiful arboreal ornamental tarantula for keepers who can provide security, height, ventilation, and calm maintenance. Stable warm conditions and an undisturbed vertical retreat are the key elements.

📚 Sources and further reading

Taxonomy and legal references identify names and listing frameworks; they do not establish care limits. General husbandry references support the precautions described. Unless tied to a specific study in the text, the numerical enclosure, climate and feeding recommendations are editorial planning guidance, not experimentally established species-specific limits.

• CITES Appendices, checked 2026-05-04
• European Commission: wildlife-trade framework and annex resources
• GBIF: Poecilotheria fasciata — taxonomy and recorded distribution; not a husbandry study
• MedlinePlus: tarantula bites and hair exposure
• Ahmed et al. (2009): clinical reports of Old World tarantula bites
• University of Illinois veterinary guidance: feeding precautions, water and undisturbed molting; general tarantula guidance
• Species+: CITES and EU listing records
• Enclosure planning reference: Tom’s Big Spiders — Tarantula Enclosures from Lorex Plastics: A Review — layout guidance; the exact dimensions selected here are an editorial planning example.