Melopoeus sp. Bach Ma
Bach Ma Earth Tiger - complete care guide
Bach Ma Earth Tiger
Temperature
20-26 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
60-75 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
15-18 cm
Average - varies per individual
Moult interval
Sling 4-7w - Juv 2-3.3mo
Adult 10-15mo
Adult cycle = mature females; males never moult again after maturity
About
The Bach Ma Earth Tiger - a khaki-and-gold tiger-striped fossorial from the cloud forest of Bạch Mã National Park, central Vietnam, allied to C. schmidti and still formally undescribed (some 2026 nomenclature work shuffles these into a restored Melopoeus - contested, so Cyriopagopus is retained here). One of the most wanted Asian terrestrials: gorgeous colour, serious webbing, defensive speed and medically significant venom. Montane heritage means it runs COOLER than lowland earth tigers - 20-26 °C, not baking. CB females command £95 when they surface.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Vietnam (Bạch Mã National Park)
- Habitat
- Annamite cloud forest burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maturity
- ♀ 36mo ♂ 24mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 15yr ♂ 4yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Melopoeus sp. Bach Ma
Bach Ma Earth Tiger - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Bach Ma Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 25 cm footprint with 15-20 cm of substrate - depth over floor space.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 10 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 Bach Ma Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Heating
The Bach Ma Earth Tigers is comfortable at 20-26 °C - cooler than lowland Asian fossorials; UK room temperature often suffices, avoid baking.
Humidity
60-75 %: keep the lower substrate moist (never sodden) with a drier surface and strong cross-flow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with moderate humidity - airflow without drying the burrow.
What substrate is best for a Bach Ma Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
15-20 cm
Notes
Deep and packed, holding burrows and web collars. Moisture gradient - damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Bach Ma Earth Tiger Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own deep burrow with a web collar - provide 15 cm+ of substrate and a starter excavation.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level - keep full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only. Avoid bright spots.
How often should you feed a Bach Ma Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Bach Ma Earth Tiger Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Bach Ma 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 Bach Ma 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 25-50 days for spiderlings, every 60-100 days for juveniles, and every 140-220 days for sub-adults, with adult females moulting around every 10 months (up to 14.7 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 8 days in this species. Offer no food and no handling for about 8 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 Bach Ma Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults deep in the burrow behind a web 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
Weekly: refresh the water dish and clear boluses from the burrow mouth with tongs. Full clean rarely - plan a rehouse.
✋ Handling
Never - defensive, fast, medically significant. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Bach Ma Earth Tiger Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Very deep substrate for silk-lined burrows
- Cool-side temperature - montane species
- Moderate moisture with strong ventilation
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Respect: defensive, fast, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Overheating - cloud forest stock
- Free handling - medically significant venom
- Shallow substrate
- Stagnant wet air
Keep exploring: related care guides
More deep-burrowing species and close relatives from our full library:
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