Phormingochilus arboricola
Borneo Black - complete care guide
Borneo Black
Temperature
21-26 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
75-85 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
15-18 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 Borneo Black (Phormingochilus arboricola, described 2015 as a Lampropelma subspecies, raised to full species in 2019) - a jet-black, long-legged arboreal ornithoctonine with tiger-striped abdomen and stout front legs. Classic tree-tiger package: defensive bursts, medically significant venom, and gorgeous web tubes up any vertical cork you provide. Surprisingly cheap for such an impressive animal (£9 slings) and the most available entry into the genus.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Borneo
- Habitat
- Tropical rainforest canopy
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 36mo ♂ 24mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 14yr ♂ 4yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Uncommon
Care Guide
Phormingochilus arboricola
Borneo Black - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Borneo Black Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 30 × 45 cm tall. Generous vertical cork and anchor points for webbing.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tall vials or arboreal sling tubs 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 Borneo Black Tarantula need?
Heating
The Borneo Blacks is comfortable at 21-26 °C. Most UK homes need gentle supplementary warmth in winter; warm the room, never the tank floor.
Humidity
75-85 % with strong cross-flow: mist the walls and webbing lightly, keep the substrate barely damp, never a wet box.
Ventilation
Cross-flow (top + side mesh) is non-negotiable for humid arboreal Old Worlds.
What substrate is best for a Borneo Black Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
3-5 cm
Notes
Substrate is mostly a moisture buffer - keep one corner lightly damp, never wet throughout.
How do you set up a Borneo Black Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
A vertical cork tube or propped bark retreat up off the floor - they silk it into a fortress within days.
Water
Shallow dish on the floor - canopy dwellers descend to drink. Keep it full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only. Avoid basking lamps.
How often should you feed a Borneo Black Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Borneo Black Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Borneo Black 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 Borneo Black 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 Borneo Black 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 when visible; refresh the water dish weekly.
✋ Handling
Never - defensive, fast, medically significant. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Borneo Black Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Tall enclosure with vertical cork tubes
- Warm, humid, strong cross-flow
- Clamping/secure lid
- Long tongs for maintenance
- Respect: fast, defensive, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling - medically significant venom
- Short dry enclosures
- Stagnant air
- Feeding into a webbed-shut retreat
Keep exploring: related care guides
More arboreal species and close relatives from our full library:
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