Haplopelma Hainanus 1-1.25"

Melopoeus hainanus (Chinese Earth Tiger) The Chinese Earth Tiger, or Melopoeus hainanus (ex. Cyriopagopus, ex. Haplopelma), is a fossorial tarantula from Hainan, China. Adults have a black base, with gold banding at the patella, orange fringing on the tarsi, a darker carapace (head) with an orange edge, and an abdomen marked with orange patterning, creating a beautiful high contrast coloration similar to its cousin, the Thai Black Earth Tiger. Spiderlings do not start out colorful and the adult colors come in around 2 inches, while the species only grows to about 5 to 6 inches in diagonal leg span. This species also has a long lifespan, with females reaching about 10 to 15 years while males live only 2 to 3 years. This species is also fast and alert, and one we recommend for keepers who want a livelier, more active keeping experience. Grab this fast old world tarantula for sale today, offered here as a spiderling. Why do hobbyists keep the Chinese Earth Tiger? Black and Orange Coloration: This species has a bold black base, with gold banding at the patella, orange fringing on the tarsi, and an orange-edged carapace, the kind of high contrast look that makes an earth tiger stand out. Colorful Spiderlings: The gold and orange accents are not there from the start, they come in around 2 inches and keep intensifying with each molt after that, so there is a real transformation to watch as this one grows. Great Display Species: Fossorial doesn't mean hidden. This species is often seen posted up right at its burrow entrance when it feels secure, giving you plenty of chances to watch it out in the open. Fast Grower: With a medium to fast growth rate, this one reaches an impressive adult size in less time than many fossorial species, so you get to the full black and orange display sooner. Iconic in the Hobby: This is one of the classic earth tiger species, a longstanding staple that has earned its place in collections for years. How should Melopoeus hainanus be kept? Adult Size: Hatchlings start around 0.5 to 0.75 inch, and adults reach about 5 to 6 inches in diagonal leg span, so this one still has plenty of growing to do. Enclosure: A 4 by 4 by 6 inch enclosure works well here, with about 4 inches of substrate for burrowing. We size it ahead of the animal so it has room to settle in and dig. Rehousing: From here this species moves through two more enclosures, an 8 by 8 by 12 inch cage next and a 12 by 12 by 18 inch cage as an adult. Growing at a medium to fast pace, each enclosure should last roughly 8 to 16 months. Temperature: Keep them between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the optimal range for most tropical species like this one. Cooler temperatures are survivable, but increase the odds of trouble molting and growing, so we recommend staying in this range for the best results. Most keepers do not need any extra heating to hit it. Humidity: Never let the substrate dry out completely. This is a tropical species and it likes things a little wetter than most terrestrials, so keep it slightly damp and top it up before it goes dry rather than after. Water: Provide a water dish near the burrow entrance. Fossorial species benefit from ambient moisture and will use a dish placed at substrate level. Diet: At this size, a 1/4 inch cricket works well, offered at least once a week. Temperament: This species is fast and alert, quick to react when disturbed, which makes for an exciting feeding response and a lot of natural burrowing behavior to watch. Are there any additional notes or considerations for Melopoeus hainanus? Captive Bred: All tarantulas at Exotics Unlimited are captive bred. Earth Tiger Group: This species belongs to the broader "earth tiger" group of fossorial Asian tarantulas, prized across the hobby for exactly this kind of bold, high contrast coloration. Frequently asked questions about the Chinese Earth Tiger What happened to the name Cyriopagopus hainanus or Haplopelma hainanum? This species has gone by several scientific names over the years. It was first described as Selenocosmia hainana in 1999, then moved through Ornithoctonus hainana and Haplopelma hainanum, and most of the hobby has known it for years as Cyriopagopus hainanus. In 2026 it was reclassified again into the genus Melopoeus, making its current scientific name Melopoeus hainanus. Whichever name you know it by, it is the same classic Chinese Earth Tiger. Listing Notes This listing is for a Melopoeus hainanus Chinese Earth Tiger spiderling measuring around 1 to 1.25 inches in diagonal leg span, which is the size given in the title, unsexed, with roughly a 50/50 chance of male or female. It is not showing the gold and orange yet, and that is the point: it starts coming in around 2 inches, so you get to watch it come in and intensify from here. Looking for other sizes? This species is also available as a 0.75" Spiderling, 1.25-1.5" Spiderling, or 2-2.5" Juvenile.