Selenobrachys philippinus
Philippine Orange - complete care guide
Philippine Orange
Temperature
24-28 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
80-85 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
13-16 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 Philippine Orange (Selenobrachys philippinus) - freshly moulted specimens glow fluorescent tangerine, one of the most genuinely orange tarantulas. The name journey matters: described as Selenobrachys in 1999, folded into Orphnaecus in 2012, and RETURNED to Selenobrachys by the April 2025 revision - UK vendors still use the old label. A fast, defensive Philippine terrestrial from Negros that thrives in root-tangle setups with high humidity. Cheap (£10 slings), undemanding to keep alive, demanding to respect.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Philippines (Negros Island)
- Habitat
- Tree root and burrow tangles
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 36mo ♂ 24mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 12yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Uncommon
Care Guide
Selenobrachys philippinus
Philippine Orange - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Philippine Orange Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 25 cm footprint with 8-10 cm of substrate and root-style décor.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 5-6 cm of damp 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 Philippine Orange Tarantula need?
Heating
The Philippine Oranges is comfortable at 24-28 °C. UK homes need supplementary warmth for much of the year; warm the room, never the tank floor.
Humidity
80-85 %: the wet end of Asian husbandry - keep the substrate consistently damp (never waterlogged) with strong airflow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with high humidity - tropical without stagnation.
What substrate is best for a Philippine Orange Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
8-10 cm
Notes
Moderate depth, consistently damp, holding webbed retreat structure.
How do you set up a Philippine Orange Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
A webbed retreat among root-style décor (spider wood, bamboo, cork) near or below ground level.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level - keep full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a Philippine Orange Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Philippine Orange Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Philippine Orange 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 Philippine Orange 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 Philippine Orange Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults in the webbed retreat. Do not disturb; keep prey out and humidity high; wait until the fangs are black and hard 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
Never - fast and defensive. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Philippine Orange Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Warm and very humid with cross-flow
- Root-tangle style décor
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Anchor points for webbing
- Respect: fast, defensive, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling
- Dry conditions - a genuinely humid species
- Stagnant air
- Expecting calm behaviour
Keep exploring: related care guides
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