Ornithoctonus sp. Phan Cay Red
Phan Cay Red - complete care guide
Phan Cay Red
Temperature
26-28 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
16-18 cm
Average - varies per individual
Moult interval
Sling 3-6w - Juv 1.7-2.8mo
Adult 9-13mo
Adult cycle = mature females; males never moult again after maturity
About
Phan Cay Red - the red counterpart of the Phan Cay Blue: same garbled Vietnamese locality name, same arboreal 18 cm "bitey" (4/5) biology, warmer red setae over the dark frame. Presumably one locality complex with its blue sibling - nobody knows until somebody formally describes them. £36 slings for advanced arboreal Old World keepers.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Vietnam
- Habitat
- Tropical forest - arboreal root and canopy tangles
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maturity
- ♀ 32mo ♂ 20mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 13yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Ornithoctonus sp. Phan Cay Red
Phan Cay Red - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Phan Cay Red Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 30 × 45 cm tall with generous vertical cork.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tall vials with vertical cork.
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 Phan Cay Red Tarantula need?
Heating
The Phan Cay Reds is comfortable at 26-28 °C; UK homes need consistent supplementary warmth.
Humidity
70-80 %: light misting of walls and web, barely damp substrate.
Ventilation
Strong cross-flow with high humidity.
What substrate is best for a Phan Cay Red Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
3-5 cm
Notes
Mostly a moisture buffer.
How do you set up a Phan Cay Red Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
A vertical cork tube retreat up off the floor, silk-lined.
Water
Shallow dish on the floor.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a Phan Cay Red Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Phan Cay Red Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Phan Cay Red Tarantula fasting is almost never an emergency in itself. Watch for slowing down and spending more time in the hide, thickening the silk hammock it sleeps in. 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 Phan Cay Red 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 22-44 days for spiderlings, every 50-85 days for juveniles, and every 120-190 days for sub-adults, with adult females moulting around every 8.7 months (up to 12.7 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 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 a Phan Cay Red Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Arboreals often moult suspended in a web hammock. Do not disturb, remove prey, and slightly raise humidity around the time. Wait 5-7 days post-moult before offering food. Adult intervals apply to mature females - males never moult after their ultimate moult.
🧹 Cleaning
Spot clean webbed boluses; refresh the water dish weekly.
✋ Handling
Never - a bitey 18 cm arboreal Old World. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Phan Cay Red Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Tall enclosure with vertical cork tubes
- Warm (26-28 °C) and humid with cross-flow
- Clamping lid
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Respect: bitey at 18 cm
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling
- Terrestrial-style enclosures
- Cool rooms
- Stagnant wet air
Keep exploring: related care guides
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