Psednocnemis brachyramosa
Malaysian Blue Femur - complete care guide
Malaysian Blue Femur
Temperature
20-26 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
10-12 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 Malaysian Blue Femur (Psednocnemis brachyramosa, ex-Coremiocnemis) - a compact Fraser's Hill highlander whose drab brown slings transform into adults with iridescent blue femurs banded in gold. Relatively docile FOR an Old World (bolter more than brawler), but still fast with medically significant venom and a deep-burrow, seen-once-a-month lifestyle. Care-sheet sources conflict wildly on temperature - a moderate 20-26 °C with moist substrate is the safe highland compromise. Rare at £45 a sling; a gem for genus collectors.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Malaysia (Peninsular: Fraser's Hill)
- Habitat
- Highland rainforest - deep moist burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 36mo ♂ 24mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 12yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Psednocnemis brachyramosa
Malaysian Blue Femur - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Malaysian Blue Femur Tarantula need?
Adults
25 × 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 Malaysian Blue Femur Tarantula need?
Heating
The Malaysian Blue Femurs is comfortable at 20-26 °C - split the difference between the conflicting care-sheet extremes with moderate highland warmth; avoid baking.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the lower substrate consistently damp (never sodden) with strong cross-flow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with high humidity.
What substrate is best for a Malaysian Blue Femur Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
15 cm
Notes
Deep, moist and packed, holding burrows. Damp below, slightly drier above.
How do you set up a Malaysian Blue Femur Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own deep moist burrow - 15 cm of packed substrate; rarely seen by day.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level - keep full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a Malaysian Blue Femur Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Malaysian Blue Femur Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Malaysian Blue Femur 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 Malaysian Blue Femur 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 Malaysian Blue Femur 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 - males never moult after their ultimate moult.
🧹 Cleaning
Weekly: refresh the water dish and clear boluses with tongs. Full cleans need a rehouse plan.
✋ Handling
Never - fast with potent venom even if docile by Old World standards. Catch cup.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Malaysian Blue Femur Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep moist substrate for burrows
- Moderate-highland temperature
- Strong cross-flow
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Enjoying the sling-to-adult colour transformation
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling
- Dry substrate
- Overheating - highland stock
- Expecting a display spider
Keep exploring: related care guides
More deep-burrowing species and close relatives from our full library:
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