Ornithoctoninae sp. Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger - complete care guide
Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger
Temperature
15-24 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
65-85 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
14-16 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 Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger - an undescribed Vietnamese ornithoctonine with black femurs and orange knee banding, genus placement unresolved (hence the subfamily label). Vendor disposition rating: colourful. "Feeding response of a viper" and a defensive attitude to match - advanced keepers only. The cool end of its panel (15-24 °C) suggests highland Vietnamese stock; £20 CB slings.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Vietnam
- Habitat
- Tropical forest burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maturity
- ♀ 34mo ♂ 22mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 13yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Uncommon
Care Guide
Ornithoctoninae sp. Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 25 cm footprint with 15 cm of substrate.
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 Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Heating
The Ho Chi Minh Earth Tigers is comfortable at 15-24 °C - cool-tolerant; UK room temperature usually suffices and supplementary heat is a mistake.
Humidity
65-85 %: keep the lower substrate moist (never sodden) with strong cross-flow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with high humidity.
What substrate is best for a Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
15 cm
Notes
Deep and packed, holding burrows. Damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own deep burrow with a web collar - 15 cm of packed substrate and a starter hole.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level - keep full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Ho Chi Minh 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 Ho Chi Minh 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 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 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 Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults at the burrow bottom behind a 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 with tongs.
✋ Handling
Never - defensive and genuinely fast. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Ho Chi Minh Earth Tiger Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep substrate for burrows
- Cool-side temperature tolerance
- Moist (not wet) with strong cross-flow
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Respect: defensive, fast, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling - viper-quick strike
- Shallow substrate
- Stagnant wet air
- Overheating
Keep exploring: related care guides
More deep-burrowing species and close relatives from our full library:
⭐ Community Ratings
No ratings yet - be the first to rate this species!