Not furry either, still lovely.
Curly Hair Tarantula
Tliltocatl albopilosus
Also called Curlyhair tarantula, Brachypelma albopilosum (former name)
From Central America: Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, in tropical scrub and cleared forest patches.12
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Diagonal leg span. Wikipedia: just over 15 cm; The Tarantula Collective: about 17 cm.
Females 20-25 years (Wikipedia gives up to 20, The Tarantula Collective up to 25); males about 5 years.
Looks how to spot one
Hairy exoskeleton (tarantula)
A round, chunky tarantula covered in dark brown to black hair, with longer curly golden-tipped hairs that give it a fuzzy, slightly bronze look, especially on the back legs. Young spiders start lighter and darken as they grow.1
Personality what they are like
A calm, easy-going spider as an adult, rarely showing any defensive display. If it feels bothered it may flick hairs from its abdomen. Spiderlings can be a bit skittish.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A semi-burrowing ground spider that likes to dig and rearrange its home, but otherwise spends long periods resting.2
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Provide a full water dish for juveniles and adults. Feed adults roughly every 2-3 weeks and check that the abdomen does not get much bigger than the front body part. Leave it undisturbed while moulting.2
Home where they are happiest
A wider-than-tall terrestrial enclosure about 3-5 times its leg span, half filled with substrate for burrowing. Keep it at about 20-24 C, with the lower substrate layers slightly moist and the top dry.2
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Company who they like around
A solitary spider; house one per enclosure.2
The story where it all began
Carlos Valerio described the species in 1980 from Costa Rica, naming it for its pale curly hairs. It spent decades in the genus Brachypelma before a 2019 revision moved it to Tliltocatl. Today it is bred in captivity worldwide.1
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- CITES (via Wikipedia)
- Listed on Appendix II, so international trade needs permits.1
- World Spider Catalog (via Wikipedia)
- Described by Valerio in 1980 as Brachypelma albopilosa; moved to the genus Tliltocatl in 2019.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Curly Hair Tarantula. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Humidity checkevery 2 days
- Water dishevery 2 days
- FeedingDepends on species, size and moult stagevaries
- Spot cleanRemove leftover foodevery week
- Moult noteLeave them in peace while moulting and note it in the diaryvaries
- Substrate changeevery 6 months
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Curly Hair Tarantula?
Feed adults roughly every 2-3 weeks, and check that the abdomen does not get much bigger than the front body part. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests feeding depends on species, size and moult stage. Always leave your tarantula undisturbed while moulting.2 Furry Diary plan
What does a Curly Hair Tarantula eat, and what should it never eat?
It eats insects such as crickets, roaches and superworms. Never feed it wild-caught insects or any vertebrate prey, and avoid any food that could be too large or harmful. For specific amounts, check the food label and ask your vet.12
How much space does a Curly Hair Tarantula need?
A wider-than-tall terrestrial enclosure about 3-5 times its leg span, half filled with substrate for burrowing. This gives it room to dig and rearrange its home.2
What temperature, light or water does a Curly Hair Tarantula need?
Keep it at about 20-24 C, with the lower substrate layers slightly moist and the top dry. Provide a full water dish for juveniles and adults. Furry Diary's plan suggests checking the water dish every 2 days.2 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Curly Hair Tarantula's home?
Spot clean weekly by removing leftover food, and change the substrate every 180 days as per Furry Diary's plan. Always leave your tarantula undisturbed while moulting. Furry Diary plan
Can a Curly Hair Tarantula live with others?
No, it is a solitary spider and should be housed one per enclosure. They do not need or enjoy company.2
How long does a Curly Hair Tarantula live?
Females can live up to 25 years, while males have a shorter lifespan of around 5 years. This is a long-term commitment, especially for a female.12
Can I handle a Curly Hair Tarantula?
It is a calm, easy-going spider as an adult, but it may flick hairs from its abdomen if bothered. Handling is possible but always be gentle and avoid stressing it; spiderlings can be skittish.12
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- Tliltocatl albopilosus (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for names, range, size, lifespan, colour, temperament, diet, taxonomy, CITES
- Curly hair tarantula care sheet (The Tarantula Collective) thetarantulacollective.comused for leg span, lifespan, enclosure, temperature, humidity, feeding, forms
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.