Phormingochilus pennellhewlettorum
Bario Bat-Eater - complete care guide
Bario Bat-Eater
Temperature
20-25 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
13-16 cm
Average - varies per individual
Moult interval
Sling 4-7w - Juv 2-3.3mo
Adult 10-15mo
Adult cycle = mature females; males never moult again after maturity
About
The Bario Bat-Eater (Phormingochilus pennellhewlettorum, 2015) - a HIGHLAND tree tiger from the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, named for the Pennell-Hewlett family ("Jaman's Tree Tiger" honours a Bario village elder). Cooler-kept than its lowland cousins, which suits British houses perfectly. Defensive, agile, medically significant venom - a true advanced keeper's arboreal, rarely bred and priced at £45 a sling when CB stock appears.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Malaysia (Sarawak: Kelabit Highlands)
- Habitat
- Highland rainforest canopy
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 36mo ♂ 24mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 14yr ♂ 4yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Phormingochilus pennellhewlettorum
Bario Bat-Eater - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Bario Bat-Eater Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 30 × 40 cm tall. Generous vertical cork and anchor points.
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 Bario Bat-Eater Tarantula need?
Heating
The Bario Bat-Eaters is comfortable at 20-25 °C - a cool-kept highland species; UK room temperature often suffices, and supplementary heat is usually a mistake.
Humidity
70-80 % with strong cross-flow: light misting of walls and web, barely damp substrate.
Ventilation
Cross-flow (top + side mesh) is non-negotiable.
What substrate is best for a Bario Bat-Eater Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
3-5 cm
Notes
Mostly a moisture buffer - keep one corner lightly damp, never wet throughout.
How do you set up a Bario Bat-Eater Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
A vertical cork tube retreat up off the floor, silk-lined within days.
Water
Shallow dish on the floor - keep it full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only. Avoid basking lamps.
How often should you feed a Bario Bat-Eater Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Bario Bat-Eater Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Bario Bat-Eater 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 Bario Bat-Eater 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 25-50 days for spiderlings, every 60-100 days for juveniles, and every 140-220 days for sub-adults, with adult females moulting around every 10 months (up to 14.7 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 Bario Bat-Eater 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 Bario Bat-Eater Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Tall enclosure with vertical cork
- COOL-side temperature - highland species
- Humid with strong cross-flow
- Clamping lid
- Respect: defensive, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Overheating above ~27 °C - highland stock
- Free handling
- Stagnant air
- Dry conditions
Keep exploring: related care guides
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