Ephebopus cyanognathus — Fact Sheet

Ephebopus cyanognathus · Ephebopus cyanognathus

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Secure low fossorial enclosure; one spider only; no routine handling
• Adult: about 30 x 25 x 30 cm, with the empty height kept short
• 15-20 cm compact unfertilized soil, coco fibre, and a little clay
• Vent holes narrower than the carapace; locking lid and cross-ventilation
• Quarantine new arrivals 6-8 weeks with separate tools and records

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Angled cork hide with a starter hole for the tubular burrow
• Leaf litter and a light cork strip for juvenile web anchors
• Shallow stable water dish; no heavy rocks or hard fall hazards

💡 Lighting

• No UVB or basking lamp; use indirect room light
• Photoperiod: 10-12 h, followed by a fully dark night
• Keep away from direct sun and hot display lamps

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 24-26 °C

• Warm zone: 22-26 °C

• Cool zone: 20-22 °C

• Night: 20-22 °C

• Warm the room first; if needed, heat one side through a thermostat

• Never heat beneath the burrowing substrate; avoid sustained 28°C+

💧 Humidity & water

• Working range: 70-85%, but judge substrate and airflow, not the number alone
• Keep lower layers damp and let the surface and entrance partly dry
• Keep clean water available; water one corner slowly
• Avoid flooding, persistent condensation, sour odour, and stale air

🪳 Feeding

Feed regularly:

• Captive-reared crickets, roaches, or locusts no longer than the abdomen
• Slings: tiny prey or freshly killed pieces twice weekly

In moderation:

• Juveniles every 5-7 days; adults every 7-14 days, adjusted to abdomen size

Avoid:

• Wild insects, vertebrate prey, oversized feeders, and prey left in premolt
• Remove uneaten food within 24 h; never probe the burrow

Supplements:

• No calcium or vitamin powder

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Wrinkled abdomen or tucked posture → dehydration
• Persistent wall climbing → wet or unburrowable substrate
• Mold, mites, or phorid flies → leftovers, excess water, or stale air
• Sealed entrance and fasting → usually premolt; do not excavate
• Hemolymph leak, fall injury, failed molt, or uncoordinated movement → urgent specialist help

All tarantulas are venomous; this fast defensive species also has type V urticating hairs on the pedipalps. Do not handle it, and seek medical care for serious bite symptoms or eye exposure.