Chilocosmia dichromata
Black Femur Fury - complete care guide
Black Femur Fury
Temperature
22-26 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
13-16 cm
Average - varies per individual
Moult interval
Sling 3-6w - Juv 1.7-2.8mo
Adult 9-13mo
Adult cycle = mature females; males never moult again after maturity
About
The Black Femur Fury (Chilocosmia dichromata) - velvety black body with a contrasting orange-pink carapace, from New Guinea. Taxonomic history: bounced from Chilocosmia to Selenocosmia to Orphnaecus and BACK to Chilocosmia when the genus was revalidated in April 2025. UK vendor disposition rating: "Satanic" - fearless, lightning fast, and willing to bite, but oddly less secretive than most Asians (often seen in the open, which is when the problems start). WC slings surface occasionally at £22; advanced keepers only.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- New Guinea (western PNG)
- Habitat
- Moist tropical forest burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maturity
- ♀ 30mo ♂ 20mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 13yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Oceania
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Chilocosmia dichromata
Black Femur Fury - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Black Femur Fury Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 25 cm footprint with 12 cm of substrate.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 8 cm of substrate and a starter hole.
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 Black Femur Fury Tarantula need?
Heating
The Black Femur Furies is comfortable at 22-26 °C with a night drop; most UK homes manage with gentle warmth in winter only.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the lower substrate damp (never sodden) with strong cross-flow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with moderate-high humidity.
What substrate is best for a Black Femur Fury Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
12 cm
Notes
Deep and packed for burrows; moisture gradient - damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Black Femur Fury Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
A deep burrow under cork, but expect it visible at the mouth - this species sits in the open more than most.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level - keep full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a Black Femur Fury Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Black Femur Fury Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Black Femur Fury Tarantula fasting is almost never an emergency in itself. Watch for slowing down and spending more time in the hide, 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 Black Femur Fury 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 20-40 days for spiderlings, every 50-85 days for juveniles, and every 120-190 days for sub-adults, with adult females moulting around every 8.7 months (up to 12.7 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 Black Femur Fury Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults in the burrow or the open. Do not disturb; keep prey out and humidity steady; wait until the fangs are black and hard before feeding. Adult intervals apply to mature females - males never moult after their ultimate moult.
🧹 Cleaning
Weekly: refresh the water dish and clear boluses with tongs. Full cleans need a rehouse plan.
✋ Handling
Never - genuinely one of the boldest Asian terrestrials. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Black Femur Fury Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep moist substrate for burrows
- Warm with a night drop
- Strong cross-flow
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Respect: fearless, fast, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling - it will not bluff
- Dry substrate
- Open-lid maintenance
- Assuming it hides like other Asians
Keep exploring: related care guides
More ground-dwelling species and close relatives from our full library:
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