Poecilotheria miranda

🔤 Taxonomy

Poecilotheria miranda is the currently accepted scientific name. The species was described by Pocock in 1900, and Tarantupedia lists the type locality as Bengal: Chota Nagpur.

English common names used in the hobby:

• Bengal spotted ornamental tarantula

German common names used in the hobby:

• Bengalische Schmuckvogelspinne

📌 Description

Poecilotheria miranda is an arboreal Old World tarantula from India, known for its bold contrasting pattern and impressive adult appearance. It is a striking ornamental species that combines large visual impact with typical fast 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 quick, defensive when pressured, and not suitable for routine handling.

This is mainly a display and observation species. Keepers usually appreciate it for its posture, bark retreat behavior, and adult pattern rather than for any kind of direct interaction.

☠️ Venom and safety

Poecilotheria miranda 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 miranda is native to India. In the wild it is associated with warm forested habitats with bark retreats, tree holes and vertical structure.

A practical captive setup should provide:

• 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 miranda 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 keeping purchase records is advisable.

🤌 Husbandry

Poecilotheria miranda should be housed alone in a secure arboreal 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.

Prioritize these basics:

• Tall setup
• Secure bark retreat
• Strong ventilation
• Water dish
• Minimal disturbance

An adult is usually kept in a tall enclosure rather than a decorative wide setup. The goal is to provide secure vertical retreat options and enough room for calm movement between bark, wall, and hide.

💡 Lighting

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

Bright direct lighting is unnecessary and may make the spider stay hidden more often.

🌡 Heating and temperature

Most keepers should target warm, stable room temperatures:

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

Moderate stable warmth is safer than pushing very hot conditions. Overheating is a more common risk than keeping the enclosure a little below the top end of the range.

💧 Humidity and water

Poecilotheria miranda does best with moderate humidity, fresh water, and strong airflow. The enclosure should not remain stagnant or wet overall.

Useful principles include:

• Fresh water always available
• One side or lower area can stay slightly more humid
• Upper air space should stay well ventilated
• Heavy constant spraying should be avoided

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

Use a vertical enclosure with cork bark and enough room to climb and retreat. Height and enclosure security are more important than dense decoration.

Decoration should stay stable and practical. Tall loose decor or cluttered layouts make maintenance harder and can increase stress during rehousing or cleaning.

🪳 Feeding

Poecilotheria miranda 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.

Frozen-thawed vertebrate prey is not appropriate. Uneaten live prey should be removed if the spider is in premolt or has clearly stopped feeding.

Feeding changes with age. Slings can eat smaller prey or prekilled pieces more often, but uneaten prey should come out quickly, especially around premolt. Adults need less frequent meals, and an oversized abdomen is a reason to slow down, not feed more.

🩺 Common problems

Common problems include stress, dehydration, poor ventilation, falls, and molting trouble.

Warning signs include lethargy, weak feeding response, frantic movement, and difficult molts.

If problems appear, first re-check enclosure security, airflow, water access, and temperature stability. Old World arboreal species should be approached calmly because rushed interventions can make a situation worse.

📌 Conclusion

Poecilotheria miranda is a striking arboreal ornamental tarantula for keepers who can provide security, height, and calm maintenance. Stable warm conditions, airflow, and a reliable vertical retreat are the essentials.

📚 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 miranda — 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