Ornithoctoninae sp. Nhen Dep
Nhen Dep Earth Tiger - complete care guide
Nhen Dep Earth Tiger
Temperature
24-28 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
13-15 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 Nhen Dep Earth Tiger - "nhện đẹp" is Vietnamese for "beautiful spider", and this recently discovered fossorial lives up to it. Trade-label footnote: sold under the defunct genus "Haplopelma", which WSC no longer recognises (absorbed into Cyriopagopus and kin), so it is entered here at subfamily level pending formal description. Bitey (4/5), deep-burrowing, cheap slings (£10) with adult females at £85. Standard Vietnamese earth-tiger husbandry and respect.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Vietnam
- Habitat
- Tropical forest burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 36mo ♂ 24mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 13yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Uncommon
Care Guide
Ornithoctoninae sp. Nhen Dep
Nhen Dep Earth Tiger - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Nhen Dep 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 Nhen Dep Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Heating
The Nhen Dep Earth Tigers is comfortable at 24-28 °C; UK homes need supplementary warmth for much of the year.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the lower substrate damp (never sodden) with strong cross-flow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with high humidity.
What substrate is best for a Nhen Dep Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
15 cm
Notes
Deep and packed, holding burrows. Damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Nhen Dep Earth Tiger Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own deep burrow with a web collar - 15 cm of packed substrate.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a Nhen Dep Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Nhen Dep Earth Tiger Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Nhen Dep 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 Nhen Dep 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 Nhen Dep 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 - bitey and fast. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Nhen Dep Earth Tiger Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep substrate for burrows
- Warm and humid with strong cross-flow
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Anchor points for web collars
- Respect: bitey, fast, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling
- Shallow substrate
- Stagnant wet air
- Trusting the defunct "Haplopelma" label for breeding plans
Keep exploring: related care guides
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