Phlogiellus johnreylazoi
Palawan Blue - complete care guide
Palawan Blue
Temperature
20-25 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
9-12 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 Palawan Blue (Phlogiellus johnreylazoi - trade lists drop the final "i") - a solid-blue Philippine dwarf-ish earth tiger, heavy webbing, "moody" disposition, and famously one of the milder-venomed Old World genera (Phlogiellus lack the maxillary lyra). Described in 2016 from Brooke's Point, Palawan, with first UK captive-bred slings at £45. Cool-tolerant at 20-25 °C and a characterful web-architect for intermediate Old World keepers.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Philippines (Palawan)
- Habitat
- Tropical forest - opportunistic burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 38mo ♂ 26mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 12yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Phlogiellus johnreylazoi
Palawan Blue - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Palawan Blue Tarantula need?
Adults
25 × 20 cm footprint with 10 cm of substrate.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 6-8 cm of substrate and an anchor.
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 Palawan Blue Tarantula need?
Heating
The Palawan Blues is comfortable at 20-25 °C - among the cooler-kept Old Worlds; UK homes often need no supplementary heat.
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 Palawan Blue Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
10 cm
Notes
Deep and packable, holding burrow and web structure. Damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Palawan Blue Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own heavily webbed burrow or retreat - cork plus substrate depth becomes the scaffolding.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level - keep full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a Palawan Blue Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Palawan Blue Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Palawan Blue 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
A Palawan Blue 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 a Palawan Blue Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults in the webbed burrow. Do not open the system; keep the water dish full; wait until it reopens with hard black fangs before feeding. Adult intervals apply to mature females - males never moult after their ultimate moult.
🧹 Cleaning
Weekly: refresh the water dish and clear boluses with tongs.
✋ Handling
"Moody" - defensive without much warning. Catch cup only.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Palawan Blue Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Cool-side temperature (20-25 °C)
- Deep moist substrate for burrows + web anchors
- Cross-ventilation
- Long tongs
- Enjoying the web architecture
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling - still an Old World
- Dry substrate
- Overheating
- Expecting calm
Keep exploring: related care guides
More ground-dwelling species and close relatives from our full library:
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