Davus sp. Chiapas
Chiapas Tiger Rump - complete care guide
Chiapas Tiger Rump
Temperature
23-26 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
6-10 cm
Average - varies per individual
Moult interval
Sling 3-7w - Juv 1.8-3mo
Adult 9-14mo
Adult cycle = mature females; males never moult again after maturity
About
The Chiapas Tiger Rump - an undescribed Davus from Mexico's Chiapas with bronze carapace, black-and-orange tiger abdomen and startling WHITE legs ("Frozen Flame" in US lists). Size reports conflict (5 cm dwarf vs TSS's 8-10 cm - possibly mixed forms in trade), so treat stats as provisional. Same bulletproof Davus husbandry as pentaloris; docile, active and visibly out and about. Rare and priced to match (£80 slings) after recent first US captive breeding.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Mexico (Chiapas)
- Habitat
- Tropical dry forest floor
- Temperament
- Docile
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maturity
- ♀ 44mo ♂ 30mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 12yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- North/Central America
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Davus sp. Chiapas
Chiapas Tiger Rump - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Chiapas Tiger Rump Tarantula need?
Adults
25 × 20 cm (10 × 8 in) for a mature adult.
Slings & Juveniles
Small deli cups with 4-5 cm of substrate.
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 Chiapas Tiger Rump Tarantula need?
Heating
The Chiapas Tiger Rumps is comfortable at 23-26 °C; most UK homes need gentle supplementary warmth in winter only.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the substrate lightly and consistently moist - not a fussy species.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation is essential.
What substrate is best for a Chiapas Tiger Rump Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
5-8 cm
Notes
Standard depth, lightly moist, packed firm.
How do you set up a Chiapas Tiger Rump Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
A cork bark half-log or bark slab retreat.
Water
Always provide a shallow fresh water dish.
Lighting
No special lighting needed.
How often should you feed a Chiapas Tiger Rump Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Chiapas Tiger Rump Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Chiapas Tiger Rump 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. New World species like this one often show a bald spot on the abdomen that darkens to near-black as the new skin underneath readies - a darkening bald patch is a reliable countdown, not a disease.
On its back is MOULTING, not dying
A Chiapas Tiger Rump 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 24-48 days for spiderlings, every 55-90 days for juveniles, and every 130-210 days for sub-adults, with adult females moulting around every 9.3 months (up to 14 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 6 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 Chiapas Tiger Rump Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Signs: refuses food, abdomen darkens, becomes sluggish. Do not disturb; keep water available; wait for black hard fangs before feeding. Adult intervals apply to mature FEMALES - a mature male never moults again.
🧹 Cleaning
Daily: check the water dish. Weekly: remove boluses and spot-clean.
✋ Handling
Docile and active - handle rarely and low.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Chiapas Tiger Rump Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Simple terrestrial setup - substrate, hide, water dish
- Consistently moist (not wet) substrate
- Cross-ventilation
- A proper hide
- Enjoying an active, visible species
✕ Common Mistakes
- Trusting size expectations - unproven forms
- Bone-dry substrate
- Expecting fast growth
- Overcomplicating the setup
Keep exploring: related care guides
More ground-dwelling species and close relatives from our full library:
Acanthoscurria cordubensis
Argentinian Bronze Birdeater
Terrestrial - full guide →
Acanthoscurria geniculata
Brazilian Giant White Knee
Terrestrial - full guide →
Acanthoscurria musculosa
Black Velvet Rump
Terrestrial - full guide →
Acanthoscurria natalensis
Natal Brown Birdeater
Terrestrial - full guide →
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