Chilobrachys guangxiensis
Chinese Fawn - complete care guide
Chinese Fawn
Temperature
24-28 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
13-15 cm
Average - varies per individual
Moult interval
Sling 3-5w - Juv 1.5-2.5mo
Adult 8-12mo
Adult cycle = mature females; males never moult again after maturity
About
The Chinese Fawn (also traded under its synonym C. jingzhao, and found on Hainan despite the name) - a big fawn-and-smoke earth tiger with a temperament to match: UK vendors literally rate it the nastiest in a packed field of Asian fossorials, making a Cobalt Blue look friendly. What you get for your nerve is spectacular sheet-web funnel architecture engulfing the enclosure, teleport-speed defence and a ferocious feeding response, at 13-15 cm for pocket-change sling prices. Advanced keepers only - strong Old World venom and zero hesitation.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- China (Hainan)
- Habitat
- Tropical rainforest - deep burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maturity
- ♀ 30mo ♂ 18mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 12yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Commonly available
Care Guide
Chilobrachys guangxiensis
Chinese Fawn - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Chinese Fawn Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 25 cm footprint with 15 cm of substrate - the funnel will claim all of it.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 8 cm of substrate - they start funnel-building as slings.
To map exact floor space and substrate safety limits for your setup, use our free interactive tarantula enclosure planner.
What temperature and humidity does a Chinese Fawn Tarantula need?
Heating
The Chinese Fawns is comfortable at 24-28 °C. UK homes need supplementary warmth for most of the year; warm the room, never the enclosure floor.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the lower substrate damp (never soggy) and the web lightly misted; cross-flow must be strong.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation is essential with high humidity - stagnant wet air plus heavy webbing invites mould and mites.
What substrate is best for a Chinese Fawn Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
12-15 cm
Notes
Deep, packed and able to hold both burrows and web anchors. Keep a moisture gradient - damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Chinese Fawn Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
It builds its own - deep funnel webs from the substrate up the walls. Anchor points and a starter burrow are all it needs.
Water
Shallow dish on the web floor if accessible; much hydration comes from the humid funnel microclimate.
Lighting
Ambient room light only. Avoid bright spots.
How often should you feed a Chinese Fawn Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Chinese Fawn Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Chinese Fawn Tarantula fasting is almost never an emergency in itself. Watch for slowing down and spending more time in the hide, sealing the burrow entrance with silk (a sealed door usually means "do not disturb - moulting in progress"), laying a thick moult mat of web on the floor. Old World species do not flick urticating hairs, so there is no bald patch to watch - rely on fasting, lethargy and hide time instead.
On its back is MOULTING, not dying
A Chinese Fawn Tarantula lying upside down or on its side with legs curled inwards is almost certainly mid-moult. Do not touch it, do not right it, do not mist it - just remove any live prey (crickets can kill a defenceless moulter) and leave the room.
How long between moults?
For this species, expect a moult roughly every 18-35 days for spiderlings, every 45-75 days for juveniles, and every 110-180 days for sub-adults, with adult females moulting around every 8 months (up to 12 months at the extreme). Males never moult again after their ultimate (mature) moult.
After the moult: fang hardening time
The new exoskeleton stays soft, with fangs that cannot grip, for roughly 7 days in this species. Offer no food and no handling for about 7 days - feeding too early is how fresh moulters get injured. The shed exuvium is also the best sexing tool there is - see our tarantula sexing guide for what to look for.
Genuinely worried about behaviour that is not moulting? Our "Is my T okay?" triage tool walks the danger signs one by one.
What ongoing care does a Chinese Fawn Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults deep in the funnel, often sealed behind a web plug. Do not open the system to check. Keep prey out and humidity steady; wait until it re-emerges with hard black fangs before feeding (about a week for adults). Adult intervals apply to mature FEMALES - a mature male never moults again.
🧹 Cleaning
Spot clean through the web with long tongs; refresh the water dish weekly. Full cleans require a full rehouse plan - catch cup and secure container ready.
✋ Handling
Absolutely not - among the most defensive tarantulas in the hobby. Catch cup and lid discipline at all times.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Chinese Fawn Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep substrate for its funnel systems
- Warm and humid with strong cross-flow
- Long tongs for all maintenance
- A rehouse plan before you ever open the lid
- Respect: fast, defensive, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling or leaning over the enclosure
- Shallow substrate
- Letting the web dry out completely
- Expecting to see it out in the open
Keep exploring: related care guides
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