Chilobrachys sp. Aladdin
Thai Purple Earth Tiger - complete care guide
Thai Purple Earth Tiger
Temperature
24-28 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
11-13 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 Purple Earth Tiger ("Aladdin", named for the Thai hotel garden where it was first found) - one of the very few Chilobrachys showing blue-violet colour on TOP rather than just the underside: purple legs and abdomen over the standard earth-tiger frame. All the genus charm comes too: teleport speed, theatrical defensive tantrums, fortress-grade webbing over a deep burrow, and medically significant venom. Cheap (£10 slings), fast-growing and endlessly entertaining for experienced Asian-fossorial keepers.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Thailand (island population)
- Habitat
- Tropical forest - deep burrow fortresses
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maturity
- ♀ 30mo ♂ 18mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 12yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Uncommon
Care Guide
Chilobrachys sp. Aladdin
Thai Purple Earth Tiger - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Thai Purple Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Adults
25 × 25 cm footprint with 12-15 cm of substrate.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 8 cm of substrate and web anchors.
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 Thai Purple Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Heating
The Purple Earth Tigers is comfortable at 24-28 °C. UK homes need supplementary warmth for much of the year; warm the room, never the tank floor.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the lower substrate damp (never sodden) with strong cross-flow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with high humidity - heavy webbing plus wet air invites mould without it.
What substrate is best for a Thai Purple Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
10-15 cm
Notes
Deep and packed, holding burrows and web anchors. Moisture gradient - damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Thai Purple Earth Tiger Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own deep burrow capped with thick silk - provide 10 cm+ of substrate and web anchors.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level where the web permits.
Lighting
Ambient room light only. Avoid bright spots.
How often should you feed a Thai Purple Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Thai Purple Earth Tiger Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Thai Purple Earth Tiger 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 Thai Purple Earth Tiger 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 Thai Purple Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults deep in the burrow behind a silk plug. Do not excavate. Keep humidity steady and prey out; wait until it reopens and the fangs are black before feeding. Adult intervals apply to mature FEMALES - a mature male never moults again.
🧹 Cleaning
Spot clean with long tongs; refresh the water dish weekly. Full cleans need a rehouse plan.
✋ Handling
Never - fast, defensive, medically significant venom. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Thai Purple Earth Tiger Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep moist substrate for the burrow fortress
- Warm and humid with strong cross-flow
- Long tongs for all maintenance
- Anchor points for heavy webbing
- Respect: fast, defensive, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling or leaning over the enclosure
- Dry substrate
- Shallow setups
- Expecting a calm display spider
Keep exploring: related care guides
More deep-burrowing species and close relatives from our full library:
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