Phormingochilus sp. Sabah Blue
Sabah Blue Earth Tiger - complete care guide
Sabah Blue Earth Tiger
Temperature
20-24 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
18-21 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 Sabah Blue Earth Tiger - the most sought-after undescribed Phormingochilus: blue-grey legs on a brown tree-tiger frame at a whopping 20 cm, field-documented around 2015 and in the hobby since 2017. A defensive speed demon with a near-mythical reputation and a premium price (£60 slings) to match. Cool-kept (20-24 °C), deep-webbed and strictly for experienced Old World keepers - but the adult colour makes it a grail worth the discipline.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Malaysia (Sabah, Borneo)
- Habitat
- Bornean rainforest - burrows and root tangles
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 42mo ♂ 30mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 14yr ♂ 4yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Phormingochilus sp. Sabah Blue
Sabah Blue Earth Tiger - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Sabah Blue Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Adults
35 × 30 × 30 cm with vertical cork and 10+ cm of substrate.
Slings & Juveniles
Tall-ish tubs with 8 cm of substrate and a cork tube.
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 Sabah Blue Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
Heating
The Sabah Blue Earth Tigers is comfortable at 20-24 °C - cool-kept; UK room temperature often suffices and supplementary heat is usually a mistake.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the lower substrate damp (never sodden) with strong airflow.
Ventilation
Strong cross-flow with high humidity.
What substrate is best for a Sabah Blue Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
10-12 cm
Notes
Deep (10 cm+) and packed for the burrowers; aerial builders web above it regardless.
How do you set up a Sabah Blue Earth Tiger Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Vertical cork or a deep substrate burrow - offer both and let it choose; heavy webbing either way.
Water
Large shallow dish - keep it full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only. Avoid bright spots.
How often should you feed a Sabah Blue Earth Tiger Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Sabah Blue Earth Tiger Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Sabah Blue Earth Tiger 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 Sabah Blue 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 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 Sabah Blue Earth Tiger Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults in the web hammock or burrow. Do not disturb; keep prey out and humidity steady; wait until the fangs are black and hard before feeding. Adult intervals apply to mature females - males never moult after their ultimate moult.
🧹 Cleaning
Spot clean with long tongs; refresh the water dish weekly.
✋ Handling
Never - fast, defensive, medically significant. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Sabah Blue Earth Tiger Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- COOL-side temperature - montane Bornean stock
- Tall enclosure with deep substrate options
- Humid with strong cross-flow
- Clamping lid
- Respect: fast, defensive, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Overheating above ~26 °C
- Free handling
- Dry conditions
- Small enclosures for a 20 cm Old World
Keep exploring: related care guides
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