Ornithoctonus sp. Siam Satu
Siam Satu Earth Tiger - complete care guide
Siam Satu Earth Tiger
Temperature
22-26 °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 Siam Satu Earth Tiger - an undescribed Asian fossorial whose trade name is geographic nonsense ("Siam" = Thailand, "satu" = Malay for one, vendor origin panel: Vietnam) - typical of pre-formal-description naming. Defensive, deep-burrowing, fast-growing, £35 CB slings. Standard earth-tiger husbandry and respect; the description flags the naming muddle for the record.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Vietnam (trade name is Thai)
- 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
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Ornithoctonus sp. Siam Satu
Siam Satu Earth Tiger - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Siam Satu 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 Siam Satu Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Heating
The Siam Satu Earth Tigers is comfortable at 22-26 °C; most UK homes need gentle supplementary warmth in winter only.
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 Siam Satu Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
15 cm
Notes
Deep and packed, holding burrows. Damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Siam Satu 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 Siam Satu Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Siam Satu Earth Tiger Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Siam Satu 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 Siam Satu 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 Siam Satu 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 fast. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Siam Satu Earth Tiger Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep moist substrate for burrows
- Strong cross-flow
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Anchor points for web collars
- Respect: defensive, fast, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling
- Dry substrate
- Shallow setups
- Trusting the trade-name geography
Keep exploring: related care guides
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