Buddha Bugs

Melopoeus lividus, formerly Cyriopagopus lividus (Cobalt blue tarantula) 0.75"

Name: Melopoeus lividus, formerly Cyriopagopus lividus (Cobalt blue tarantula) 0.75"
Brand: Buddha Bugs
Price: 45.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$45.00 USD

Sale Sold out

Shipping calculated at checkout.

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

Melopoeus lividus, commonly known as the cobalt blue tarantula, is a medium-sized fossorial tarantula native to Myanmar and Thailand, with a range likely extending into Cambodia. Juveniles and adult females are robust, with intensely iridescent cobalt- to violet-blue legs; the color is strongest on the femora and tibiae, while the remaining segments often appear slate blue or blue-gray. The chelicerae bear contrasting silver-gray hairs, and the carapace ranges from silvery or greenish gray to dark olive- or brownish gray, usually with a paler margin and fine pale to copper-colored hairs along the radiating grooves. The abdomen varies from slate blue-gray to dark brown or nearly black and may show a darker longitudinal median field with faint paired spots or chevrons. Coloration is generally most vivid following a molt and shifts substantially with lighting. Immature males resemble females, but mature males become much slimmer and proportionally longer-legged, with a copper-brown carapace displaying a bronze sheen and a pale tan to bronze-brown abdomen. Their legs combine nearly black to dark chocolate femora with dusty violet-gray, mauve-brown, or reddish-brown distal segments that may darken with age; narrow pale copper to pinkish-tan longitudinal lines extend across several segments.

In captivity, M. lividus is an accomplished excavator that normally establishes a deep, silk-lined burrow and may incorporate much of the surrounding substrate into its retreat. Individuals often remain completely concealed during the day but commonly wait just inside the entrance after dark and respond rapidly when they detect prey. Once a suitable burrow and moisture gradient have been established, this is a hardy species with straightforward environmental requirements. Its speed and defensive response when exposed, however, require deliberate enclosure maintenance, particularly with larger specimens. Like other Old World species, M. lividus lacks urticating hairs and relies primarily on speed, retreat use, and defensive displays when disturbed.

Common Name: Cobalt blue tarantula
Native Range: Myanmar and Thailand; likely extending into Cambodia
Life Habit: Fossorial
Adult Size: 5–6 inches in diagonal leg span
Lifespan: Males 2–3 years; females 10–15+ years under optimal conditions
Temperament: Fast and defensive when exposed
Care Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Melopoeus lividus Care

Melopoeus lividus adapts well to captivity when provided with deep, compactable substrate, a moderate humidity gradient, and adequate ventilation. Design the setup around the species’ fossorial behavior, with most of the enclosure height devoted to substrate and only limited open space above it. A starter burrow or partially buried piece of cork bark can encourage excavation. Once the tarantula has established a permanent retreat, minimize unnecessary disturbance.

Enclosure: 2.5” cube or similar for spiderlings, upgraded as needed with growth; 10” x 10” x 10” or larger for adults
Substrate: Provide a deep layer of compactable, moisture-retentive substrate that holds its shape when excavated. Coconut fiber, peat moss, topsoil, or similar substrates work well, and a small clay component can improve burrow stability. Devote most of the available enclosure height to substrate.
Temperature: 72–82°F
Humidity: Moderate ambient humidity is generally sufficient. Approximately 50% of the substrate, particularly the lower layers, should retain moisture to provide a humidity gradient while allowing the remaining substrate and most of the surface to stay drier. Avoid consistently saturated substrate, excessive condensation, and stagnant air.
Diet: 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: Moisten part of the substrate as needed and provide water droplets on enclosure surfaces and webbing for spiderlings; larger specimens should have access to a water dish.
Routine Maintenance: Remove uneaten prey, monitor moisture levels, and spot-clean when necessary.

Natural History

Melopoeus lividus was described by British arachnologist Andrew M. Smith in 1996 under the name Haplopelma lividum. The male holotype and female paratypes originated from Kawkareik in present-day Kayin State, Myanmar, near the border with Thailand. The species epithet derives from the Latin lividus, a term applied to bluish, leaden, or bruise-colored shades, and refers to the coloration for which the species is known.

Smith and Michael Jacobi transferred the species to Cyriopagopus in 2015, and Cyriopagopus lividus subsequently became the name most familiar to contemporary hobbyists. In 2026, Smith, Bexell Ayyachamy Daniel, and Benoît Vignaud restored Melopoeus as a valid genus and transferred the species to its currently accepted combination, Melopoeus lividus. The former names Haplopelma lividum and Cyriopagopus lividus therefore refer to the same species and remain widespread in older literature, care information, and captive breeding records.

The formally documented native range includes Myanmar and Thailand, but the species likely extends into Cambodia as well. A 2026 checklist records M. lividus from Kayin State and Tanintharyi Region in Myanmar, while photographic and field records in Thailand include Phetchaburi Province. Citizen science observations from Cambodia have also been identified as this species, including a well-localized individual photographed at a heavily silk-lined retreat near Thma Bang in the Cardamom Mountains region. These spiders closely resemble M. lividus, making a Cambodian range extension plausible; however, confirmation through examination of diagnostic morphology is still lacking, and other closely related Melopoeus species occur in Cambodia.

Wild M. lividus have been documented in burrows excavated into level ground and roadside embankments within moist forest landscapes. These permanent silk-lined retreats allow the tarantula to remain protected below ground during the day and detect passing prey from near the entrance after dark. The extensive burrowing and secretive behavior observed in captivity therefore closely reflect the species’ natural ecology.

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.