Defining Characteristics:

• Dwarf species—females rarely get over 3 inches in diagonal leg span
• This species’ abdomen is black with a golden ring going horizontally from the carapace to the spinnerets
• As babies they spend much of their time hidden, but are seen out and about more as they mature

Name: Homoeomma orellanai, commonly known as the Chilean Yellow Flame Tarantula. The genus Homoeomma comes from Greek roots, meaning "eyelike". The specific epithet orellanai honors Francisco de Orellana, an early explorer of the Amazon River.

Recommended Enclosure Size & Set Up: Homoeomma orellanai is a tropical terrestrial species that displays semi-fossorial behavior, meaning this animal will spend a lot of time underground and may need additional substrate to burrow. The surface area of the enclosure should be no less than 2 times the spider's diagonal leg span in one direction and 3 times the diagonal leg span in the other. We recommend against allowing your terrestrial spider more than 2 times their diagonal leg span as head space above their substrate, as a fall from any higher could result in serious injury.

The enclosure should be tall enough to accommodate 2 inches of substrate for slings and 4+ inches for adults. Arachnid BioBedding is our top pick for substrate, as it was developed specifically with the needs of tarantulas in mind! ABG Mix, coco cradle, or Dig-It are good substrate options, as well.

They will benefit from a variety of terrarium furniture as well to climb on and foliage to hide behind. Live plants can be beneficial to air quality.

Temperature (°F): This species thrives in the mid 70s to low 80s, so a temperature range of 75° is ideal. Temperatures regularly dipping below 65 or spiking above 85° should be avoided. A reliable thermometer is strongly recommended.

Humidity: These spiders thrive in a humid environment, so the recommended ambient humidity is between 55 and 70%. This can be achieved by making sure the substrate is always at least lightly moistened. Depending on your location, you may need tools such as a humidifier to maintain this environment.

The enclosure sides and décor should be spritzed at least lightly around twice a week to provide your animal droplets to drink from and keep humidity up, do not spray your spider directly. A hygrometer is a great way to monitor the humidity for your animal and see any needed adjustments . 

Size: At the time of sale, this animal will be around 1/2-3/4 of an inch. Females can grow to be up to 3 inches, and typically the males are a bit smaller. We use diagonal leg span to measure our spiders.

Age: Before making this species available to our customers, we ensure that they are well-established. This means our spiders are generally molted to a minimum of third instar and will have hatched 2 to 3 months prior to being listed for sale.

For this species, the average lifespan is 3 to 5 years in males, and 20+ years in females when provided an adequate environment. They are currently approximately 6 to 10 months old. 

Feeding: These spiders are currently eating 3 to 6 hydei fruit flies a week. As your spider grows, there are a variety of appropriate prey items that you can offer, such as roaches, waxworms, black soldier fly larvae, hornworms, and silkworms.

We recommend that the prey items not be much longer than the tarantula's “head” is wide. Larvae are an exception—our larvae are harmless. Since they are very high in fat, they're not the best staple diet, however they make a great weight gain supplement. Consider feeding your prey items with our gutload formula to give your pet well-rounded nutrition.

Remove uneaten prey items after 24 hours, these may stress your animal out or endanger the spider during molting. Never attempt to feed a freshly molted tarantula less than a week after their molt to prevent injury to the spider. Depending on its age, the hardening process could take anywhere from 48 hours all the way up to a week.

Sexing: Due to age, Homoeomma orellanai sold by Josh’s Frogs are sold as unsexed.

Check out our individually listed spiders to see if we have what you’re looking for!

Color/Pattern: Adult females have jet black carapace and femurs (first leg segment from the body). They are a frosty gray from the knee (patella) on down to the toes. Their abdomen is black with a golden ring going horizontally from the carapace to the spinnerets.                                                                                        

Social Behavior: Homoeomma orellanai is not a sociable animal and should be housed as an individual. Attempts at cohabitation can result in cannibalism. 

As babies they spend much of their time hidden, but are seen out and about more as they mature.

Natural Range: Homoeomma orellanai is native to the O'Higgins, Maule, and Biobío regions of south-central Chile.

History in the Hobby: While Homoeomma orellanai was described in 2018, it was first recorded in Chile by Ausserer in 1871. This species is rarely available in the hobby.

Links of Interest:

• Arachnoboards.com
• TarantulaForum.com
• TheTarantulaCollective.com

Still not sure if Homoeomma orellanai from Josh's Frogs is the right pet for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!