Selenocosmia arndsti
New Guinea Rust Orange - complete care guide
New Guinea Rust Orange
Temperature
24-27 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
70-80 %
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 New Guinea Rust Orange ("Rusty Striker") - bright orange legs and carapace against pitch-black femora and abdomen, on a slender 15-18 cm frame. UK vendor disposition: "Psycho" - skittish, defensive, bolts first and stridulates when cornered, with potent Old World venom and no urticating hairs. Straightforward warm-and-humid husbandry with WC slings cheap at £25; the challenge is respect, not care. Advanced keepers.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- New Guinea
- Habitat
- Tropical forest - shallow burrows and heavy webbing
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maturity
- ♀ 36mo ♂ 24mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 14yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Oceania
- UK availability
- Uncommon
Care Guide
Selenocosmia arndsti
New Guinea Rust Orange - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantula need?
Adults
35 × 25 cm footprint (bolting space) with 8-10 cm of substrate.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 5-6 cm of substrate and a hide.
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 New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantula need?
Heating
The New Guinea Rust Oranges is comfortable at 24-27 °C with a night drop; UK homes need supplementary warmth for much of the year - warm the room, never the tank floor.
Humidity
70-80 %: keep the substrate lightly and consistently moist with strong airflow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with moderate-high humidity.
What substrate is best for a New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
8-10 cm
Notes
Moderate depth, lightly moist, holding a shallow burrow and web structure.
How do you set up a New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
A shallow burrow under cork or a heavy webbed retreat around a hide.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level - keep full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy New Guinea Rust 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 New Guinea Rust 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 8 days in this species. Offer no food and no handling for about 8 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 New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults in the retreat 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
Weekly: refresh the water dish and clear boluses with tongs.
✋ Handling
Never - skittish, fast, potent venom. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Warm with a night drop
- Moist (not wet) substrate with cross-flow
- A hide plus anchor points for webbing
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Respect: skittish, fast, potent venom
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling
- Dry conditions
- Open-lid maintenance
- Crowding the enclosure - it bolts
Keep exploring: related care guides
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