Ornithoctonus costalis
Asian Mustard - complete care guide
Asian Mustard
Temperature
22-26 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
7-9 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 Thai Silver Earth Tiger (Ornithoctonus costalis, valid since 1998) - a DWARF earth tiger at just 8 cm, wearing silvery-grey setae over the classic tiger frame. All the Old World attitude in a pocket body: rears up readily, bolts like lightning, but with less margin for error thanks to the size. Often suggested as a "starter earth tiger with respect" for keepers graduating from New Worlds. WC females surface occasionally at £49; CB slings are the better buy.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Thailand
- Habitat
- Tropical forest - burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 30mo ♂ 20mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 11yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Ornithoctonus costalis
Asian Mustard - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does an Asian Mustard Tarantula need?
Adults
20 × 20 cm footprint with 10 cm of substrate.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 6 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 an Asian Mustard Tarantula need?
Heating
The Thai Silver Earth Tigers is comfortable at 22-26 °C. Most UK homes need gentle supplementary warmth in winter; warm the room, never the tank floor.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the lower substrate damp (never sodden) with strong cross-flow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with moderate-high humidity; fine mesh only.
What substrate is best for an Asian Mustard Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
10 cm
Notes
Deep for the size and packed, holding burrows. Moisture gradient - damp below, drier above.
How do you set up an Asian Mustard Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own burrow with a silk collar; 10 cm of substrate suffices for the size.
Water
Small shallow dish at surface level.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed an Asian Mustard Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Asian Mustard Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - an healthy Asian Mustard 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
An Asian Mustard 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 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 an Asian Mustard Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults at the burrow bottom behind a plug. Do not dig. Keep prey out; wait until it reopens and hardens (3-5 days for the size). Adult intervals apply to mature females - males never moult after their ultimate moult.
🧹 Cleaning
Weekly: refresh the water dish (small) and clear boluses.
✋ Handling
Never - defensive and fast. Catch cup only.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Asian Mustard Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep substrate for burrows
- Warm and humid with cross-flow
- Long tongs
- Escape-proofing - a fast dwarf
- Respect: defensive, fast, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling
- Shallow substrate
- Coarse gaps in ventilation - small spider
- Expecting to see it often
Keep exploring: related care guides
More ground-dwelling species and close relatives from our full library:
⭐ Community Ratings
No ratings yet - be the first to rate this species!