Poecilotheria rufilata

🔤 Taxonomy

Poecilotheria rufilata is the currently accepted scientific name. World Spider Catalog treats it as an accepted Indian species and links the trade restriction to CITES.

Common names often emphasize red or slate colors, but use the scientific name for records. Several Poecilotheria species are traded under similar ornamental names.

English common names used in the hobby:

• red slate ornamental tarantula
• giant slate red ornamental
• Travancore slate-red

📌 Description

Poecilotheria rufilata is one of the largest Indian ornamental tarantulas, with long legs, slate-grey patterning, and reddish tones that are most obvious in well-lit adults.

Adults are usually about 18-22 cm legspan. Females become substantial arboreal spiders, while mature males are slimmer and more mobile.

This is an expert display animal: fast, vertical, capable of a medically significant bite, and strong enough that every door, vent, and water change needs planning.

☠️ Venom

Treat Poecilotheria rufilata as medically significant. A bite can cause severe local pain and possible systemic symptoms such as cramps, nausea, dizziness, and prolonged discomfort.

Do not handle it. Use tools, catch cups, and controlled rehousing containers. Medical advice is appropriate after any serious bite, allergic response, breathing issue, or spreading symptoms.

🌍 Distribution

World Spider Catalog lists Poecilotheria rufilata from India, and the species is associated with the Western Ghats and forested tree retreats in trade and field literature.

Captive care should provide warm humid air with excellent ventilation, bark hollows, and enough vertical space for a very large arboreal tarantula. A sealed wet enclosure is not a substitute for forest structure.

🌡 Climate across the native range

Monthly climate normals from reviewed GBIF occurrence locations:

Weather data by WorldClim v2.1 · Monthly normals queried by Herpeton Academy from raster values; relative humidity is derived from vapor pressure and mean temperature.

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

⚖️ Legal status

Poecilotheria rufilata 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.

Keep purchase invoices, breeder details, import or transfer paperwork where relevant, and photos or records that connect the animal to a lawful source. Local rules on ownership, import, sale, transport, exhibition, breeding, and proof of legal origin may still apply.

🤌 Husbandry

House Poecilotheria rufilata alone. Routine communal keeping is not appropriate for a large fast ornamental tarantula.

Spiderlings should be kept in secure vertical starter containers where prey can be found and molts can be checked. Large juveniles and adults need taller enclosures, strong ventilation, and a retreat that does not force them to sit in the open.

Plan maintenance before opening the enclosure. Large Poecilotheria can cross a door gap before the keeper reacts.

Useful adult priorities:

• tall enclosure with reliable locks
• large cork tube or bark slab
• strong cross-ventilation
• water dish reachable without contact
• open climbing path that does not aim at the door

Large females need a retreat wide enough to turn without stepping into the door path. Place the water dish within reach of long tongs, angle the cork opening away from the service gap, and keep branches independent of the main hide. Put the enclosure inside a larger clear tub for substantial work. A rigid catch cup, card, second secure container, and helper should be prepared in advance.

Spiderlings often remain near the floor and may burrow under bark. Begin with 3-5 cm of firm moisture-holding substrate, a diagonal cork strip, and fine escape-proof ventilation. Increase vertical space gradually as juveniles begin to use the bark. Do not move a growing spider merely to improve the display; transfer when feeding, water access, or the spider’s turning space has actually become inadequate.

Never touch the animal to test temperament. If it leaves the retreat during service, stop and allow it to settle. During rehousing, align the old and new hides inside the catch tub and guide from behind with a long soft brush. Do not use a hand to block a bolt, especially with this large, fast species.

💡 Lighting

No specialist lighting is required. A normal room day-night rhythm is enough.

Avoid hot display lamps. They can dry upper retreats quickly and make a fast arboreal spider more difficult to manage.

🌡 Heating and temperature

Use stable warmth around 23-27°C by day, with nights around 20-23°C. Avoid temperatures above the high twenties in small or sealed setups.

If extra heat is needed, warm the room or one side of the enclosure gently and thermostat-controlled. Never heat from a point that the spider cannot avoid.

💧 Humidity and water

Aim for about 65-80% with fresh water and high airflow. Moisture should support molts without making the enclosure stale.

Let bark surfaces dry between heavier moisture inputs. The water dish and a small damp zone are usually safer than frequent heavy misting.

Maintain moisture in one lower zone while allowing the upper bark and webbing to dry between waterings. A controlled overflow from the water dish is usually more predictable than misting the whole enclosure. Read conditions close to the occupied retreat. Lasting condensation, mold, or sour odor indicates an imbalance rather than useful humidity.

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

Use a tall enclosure with cork bark, vertical hides, stable branches, and a few centimeters of substrate to buffer moisture.

Avoid mesh lids, loose panels, and decorations that block access to the water dish. The layout should make routine care possible without flushing the spider out of its retreat.

🪳 Feeding

Feed roaches, crickets, locusts where legal, and occasional worms. Adults usually do well on suitable prey every 7-14 days.

A large Poecilotheria may strike hard and fast. Use tongs only to place prey, not to test the spider, and remove uneaten prey before molts.

Spiderlings can receive small prey once or twice weekly, whereas adults generally maintain condition with one appropriate meal every 10-14 days. Use abdomen size and activity to refine the interval. Retreat sealing, food refusal, and darkening coloration can signal premolt. Remove feeders and wait until the new fangs are fully dark and the exoskeleton is firm before feeding after a molt.

🩺 Common problems

Common problems include escapes, fall injuries during frantic movement, poor ventilation, stale wet bark, dehydration, and unsafe rehousing.

If the spider bolts during maintenance, close the room first, keep the catch cup ready, and avoid grabbing. Good enclosure design prevents most emergencies.

A spider on its back is normally molting and must not be turned over. Persistent condensation, mites clustered at the mouth, a shriveled abdomen despite water, unusual weakness, fall injury, leaking hemolymph, or limbs trapped in an old exoskeleton needs prompt attention. Correct obvious environmental causes, but involve an arachnid-capable exotics veterinarian for major injury or molt failure.

After a bite, secure the area without risking another exposure, wash the wound, and contact medical or poison-information services. Provide the full scientific name and event time. Do not cut, suction, freeze, or apply a tight tourniquet. Systemic pain and cramps can be delayed even when early local signs appear limited.

📌 Conclusion

Poecilotheria rufilata is for experienced keepers who want a large arboreal display spider and can manage speed, venom risk, and CITES paperwork without handling.

📚 Sources and further reading

• CITES Checklist and Appendices - legal-status references checked 2026-06-03
• EU wildlife trade regulations - legal-status references checked 2026-06-03
• Bern Convention appendices
• GBIF species backbone entry for Poecilotheria rufilata
• World Spider Catalog species entry
• Tom’s Big Spiders: Poecilotheria husbandry notes
• Clinico-epidemiology of Poecilotheria bites in Sri Lanka
• World Spider Catalog reference for the 2021 redescription note