• A mature female Aphonopelma seemanni, a tarantula species known as the striped-knee tarantula, poses on sandy clay.
  • A close up of the face of a female Aphonopelma seemanni, a tarantula species known as the striped-knee tarantula.
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Buddha Bugs

Aphonopelma seemanni (striped-knee tarantula) 0.66"

Aphonopelma seemanni (striped-knee tarantula) 0.66"

$20.00 USD
$30.00 USD $20.00 USD
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Before ordering: Unless marked “exact animal pictured,” photos are representative; refer to the product title or selected option for the size or sex offered. Shipped live-animal orders require a $50 cart subtotal and are normally held for pickup at an authorized FedEx Ship Center. Please review our Shipping & Live Arrival and Refund & Cancellation policies before purchasing.

Species Overview

Aphonopelma seemanni, commonly known as the striped-knee tarantula, is a medium-sized terrestrial tarantula native to Central America. Sometimes also referred to as the Costa Rican zebra tarantula, this species is instantly recognizable by the bold cream-to-white bands encircling its otherwise dark legs, a characteristic reflected in both of its widely used common names. Typical coloration includes a dark gray to olive-gray carapace and a brown to black abdomen clothed in tan to copper-colored hairs, along with peach-colored spinnerets and a peach to salmon-colored ventral surface. Well known for its hardiness, long lifespan, and relatively straightforward husbandry, A. seemanni has remained one of the most popular tarantulas in captivity for decades.

This species grows at a moderate rate and spends much of its time within a burrow or beneath enclosure décor. Juveniles readily excavate extensive tunnel systems, while adults typically establish a permanent retreat that they may reinforce with silk and substrate over time. Although generally considered calm, individuals often retreat when disturbed and may rely on urticating hairs as their primary means of defense.

  • Common Name: Striped-knee tarantula, Costa Rican zebra tarantula
  • Native Range: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica
  • Life Habit: Terrestrial burrower
  • Adult Size: 5–6 inches in diagonal leg span
  • Lifespan: Males 4–6 years; females 15–20+ years under optimal conditions
  • Temperament: Generally calm but may flick urticating hairs
  • Care Difficulty: Easy

Aphonopelma seemanni Care

Aphonopelma seemanni is a hardy terrestrial species that thrives when provided with deep substrate suitable for burrowing and a predominantly dry enclosure with access to a localized humidity gradient.

  • Enclosure: 1 oz condiment cup or equivalent for spiderlings, upgraded as needed with growth; 14” x 10” x 8” or larger terrestrial enclosures for adults
  • Substrate: Provide sufficient depth of moisture-retentive substrate to accommodate natural burrowing behavior. Coconut fiber, peat moss, topsoil, and similar substrates work well.
  • Temperature: 72–82°F
  • Humidity: Moderate ambient humidity is generally sufficient. Approximately 25–50% of the substrate should retain moisture to provide a humidity gradient while allowing the remaining substrate to stay drier.
  • Diet: Fruit flies, crickets, cockroaches, and other appropriately sized feeder insects
  • Feeding: Spiderlings can be offered appropriately sized prey once or twice weekly. Juveniles and adults are typically fed every 7–14 days, with feeding frequency adjusted based on prey size, growth rate, and the condition of the individual animal.
  • Water: Lightly moisten part of the substrate as needed for smaller specimens; larger specimens should have access to a water dish.
  • Routine Maintenance: Remove uneaten prey, monitor substrate moisture, and spot-clean when necessary.

Natural History

Aphonopelma seemanni is distributed throughout portions of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, where it occurs across a variety of habitats. It constructs silk-lined burrows beneath rocks, roots, fallen logs, and other natural cover, using these retreats to shelter from predators and environmental extremes while emerging primarily after dark to ambush passing invertebrate prey.

Although best known for its striking cream-colored leg bands, A. seemanni exhibits a greater range of coloration than is often appreciated. Recently molted specimens frequently display a pronounced bluish cast across the legs, carapace, and abdomen, particularly under natural sunlight or full-spectrum lighting. This coloration is most pronounced during the first few months after molting and gradually fades to the darker gray, olive, brown, and black coloration typical of the species. Despite specimens occasionally being marketed within the hobby as “Aphonopelma seemanni ‘blue,’” no evidence supports the existence of a distinct blue color form or locality. Rather, this attractive blue coloration is a normal part of the species’ molt cycle.

Molecular research suggests that Aphonopelma, as currently defined, contains several distinct evolutionary lineages. A. seemanni is the type species of the genus Aphonopelma, meaning that the generic name is permanently anchored to the genus containing this species. In any future taxonomic revision, other species currently assigned to Aphonopelma would need to be evaluated to determine whether they belong in the same genus. Many species outside the Central American lineage containing A. seemanni may eventually be placed in other genera.

Shipping

Shipping method for live animal orders:

Orders containing live animals must have a subtotal of at least $50 to qualify for shipping.

For orders containing live animals, we ship throughout the continental U.S. (48 states) via FedEx Priority Overnight. Orders containing both live and non-live products may be shipped together or separately, depending on the items in the order, their sizes, and whether everything can fit safely in one shipment. When non-live products must be shipped separately by USPS, additional shipping charges will apply.

Live-animal packages are normally dropped off on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for next-day arrival. By default, packages are held for pickup at the nearest reasonably accessible FedEx Ship Center authorized to accept the shipment and must be collected in person.

Home delivery is available upon request. When a reasonably accessible authorized FedEx Ship Center is available, customer-requested home delivery is not eligible for our live arrival guarantee and is sent at the customer’s risk.

FedEx Ship Center availability varies by destination, and not every FedEx location is authorized to accept live-animal shipments. If no reasonably accessible authorized FedEx Ship Center is available, we will contact the customer and arrange home delivery. In this circumstance, home delivery remains eligible for LAG, provided all other LAG requirements are met.

Checkout shipping rates and free-shipping offers are based on FedEx Ship Center pickup. Any additional amount charged for home delivery is the customer’s responsibility and must be paid before shipment. For qualifying orders, free shipping covers standard Ship Center service but not any additional home-delivery cost. If no reasonably accessible authorized Ship Center is available and the customer declines the additional charge, the affected portion of the order—or the entire order when necessary—may be canceled without the standard cancellation fee.

We also offer expo pickup and a DFW local-meetup option. Please see our Expo Schedule for additional information.

Shipping method for non-live orders:

For shipments containing no live animals, shipping is available to all 50 states via USPS Ground Advantage or USPS Priority Mail. We will ship non-live orders directly to the address listed on the order, typically the day the order is placed or the following day. 

What to expect after placing an order:

If your order contains live animals that will be shipped, we will contact you within 12 hours with a proposed delivery date and, when applicable, the FedEx Ship Center pickup location. If home delivery is requested or required, we will provide the delivery arrangements and any additional shipping charge. We will not ship the package until you confirm the arrangements and any outstanding shipping balance has been paid. Tracking information will be provided on the day of shipment.

Shipping may be delayed because of weather, carrier conditions, our schedule, or if an animal has recently molted or appears likely to molt. We will notify you if a delay is necessary and arrange another suitable date.

Carrier delays can occur. Customers remain responsible for meeting the applicable pickup or receipt requirements on the day the package actually arrives, even if it arrives later than originally scheduled.

Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG):

Buddha Bugs offers a live arrival guarantee only when all of the following conditions are met:

  • Freebies are not covered by LAG.
  • When a reasonably accessible FedEx Ship Center authorized to accept the shipment is available, the package must be held for pickup at that location.
  • If no such location is available, we will arrange home delivery. In this circumstance, home delivery remains eligible for LAG, provided all other requirements are met.
  • Packages held at a FedEx Ship Center must be picked up on the day they arrive. Pickup at any time during the location’s regular opening hours is acceptable. Please bring valid identification.
  • In the unlikely event of a DOA, the customer must contact us and provide clear photographic or video evidence within three hours of FedEx Ship Center pickup—or within three hours of delivery when an LAG-eligible home delivery applies.
  • Shipping costs are not refunded, and replacements may not always be available.

ANY DEVIATION FROM THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY VOID THE LAG.

Home delivery is available upon request. When a reasonably accessible FedEx Ship Center authorized to accept the shipment is available, customer-requested home delivery is not eligible for LAG and is sent at the customer’s risk. When no such location is available, home delivery arranged by Buddha Bugs is eligible for LAG, provided all other requirements are met.

For animal safety, we do not ship live animals for home delivery when temperatures are 90°F or higher or 35°F or lower, regardless of whether the shipment would otherwise qualify for LAG.

FedEx does not reimburse Buddha Bugs for lost packages or the loss of live animals. We take every reasonable precaution to give each shipment the best chance of arriving safely.

Returns & Refunds

Returns & Refunds:

We DO NOT accept returns on live animals.

You may return non-live animal products for a refund within 14 days of delivery. The product must be unused and in its original packaging. After we receive your return, we will process refunds within 5-10 business days. Refunds will not include shipping costs. We will reject used products and, when possible, ship them back to the customer. 

If an animal arrives deceased, contact us within the required three-hour period and provide clear photographic or video evidence. When all live arrival guarantee requirements are met, we will provide the applicable refund or arrange a replacement when available. Multi-count products are handled according to the number of live animals received. Shipping costs and freebies are not covered. Please review our Shipping & Live Arrival Policy for complete requirements.

For online purchases with local pickup, pickup at a show, or for purchases made at a show, the customer is responsible for inspecting the purchased items and verifying that they are to their satisfaction. If they are not, they must express any dissatisfaction before the sale is completed, as all sales are final. We are not liable for damages after the customer receives their items due to issues including but not limited to the customer mishandling transport and/or overheating animals. 

Cancellations:

Customer-requested cancellations are subject to an approximately 3% cancellation fee. For card payments, the fee is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction; different payment methods may have slightly higher or lower fee amounts. This reflects the nonrecoverable payment-processing cost charged when the order is placed and not returned to us when a refund is issued. Canceling an order also creates additional labor and temporarily removes inventory from availability, so please make sure you are committed before placing an order.

If a product is unavailable because of an inventory error, we will contact the customer and offer to cancel the affected product or the complete order without a cancellation fee.

If we determine after an order is placed that no reasonably accessible FedEx Ship Center authorized to accept the shipment is available, we will contact the customer with any additional cost required for home delivery. If the customer declines that additional charge, the affected portion of the order—or the entire order when necessary—may be canceled without the standard cancellation fee.

Certain ESA-listed Poecilotheria species cannot be shipped across state lines and are clearly marked “TX SALES ONLY” in their product titles and descriptions. If a customer outside Texas purchases one of these animals, the restricted portion of the order—or the entire order when necessary—will be canceled. The approximately 3% cancellation fee will be deducted from the refund because the restriction was disclosed before purchase. Refunds will be issued to the original payment method, but the time required for the credit to appear depends on the payment provider.

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