• A mature female Omothymus violaceopes, a tarantula species known as the Singapore blue tarantula, poses on natural cork bark.
  • A close up of the face of a female Omothymus violaceopes, a tarantula species known as the Singapore blue tarantula.
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Buddha Bugs

Omothymus violaceopes (Singapore blue tarantula) 0.75"

Omothymus violaceopes (Singapore blue tarantula) 0.75"

$40.00 USD
$55.00 USD $40.00 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

Omothymus violaceopes, commonly known as the Singapore blue tarantula, is a large arboreal tarantula native to Peninsular Malaysia, including Tioman Island, and Singapore. Females and immature males display intense cobalt- to violet-blue iridescence on the legs, contrasting with darker segments, slate-gray to blue-black distal portions, narrow pale bands at several joints, and long pale setae. The chelicerae bear dense silvery-white hairs, while the coxae are clothed in silvery-gray to pale lavender-gray hairs. The carapace ranges from silvery gray, champagne-gold, or pinkish bronze to darker gray-brown or muted bronze and often displays paler radiating lines; females generally darken with age, although lighting also influences their apparent coloration. The abdomen varies from lavender-gray to nearly black and may display a darker median field with branching lateral markings or irregular chevrons; scattered reddish-orange hairs are often visible posteriorly. Mature males are much slimmer and proportionally longer-legged, losing their blue coloration at the final molt and becoming olive-green, yellowish olive, or pale golden-brown. Their abdomens are smaller and range from grayish brown to tan, and long pale setae fringe the body and legs.

In captivity, O. violaceopes is strongly photophobic and usually remains within a dense, silk-lined retreat during the day, emerging after dark or waiting near its entrance for prey. Spiderlings and juveniles frequently excavate beneath cork bark or connect a burrow to an elevated retreat, while larger specimens increasingly occupy hollow cork, narrow spaces behind bark, and other enclosed vertical cavities. This species is fast and generally retreats when cover is available, but it may stridulate, assume a defensive posture, or strike when exposed and unable to escape. Like other Old World tarantulas, it lacks urticating hairs and relies on speed, concealment, and direct defense.

  • Common Name: Singapore blue tarantula
  • Native Range: Peninsular Malaysia, including Tioman Island, and Singapore
  • Life Habit: Arboreal retreat-dweller; spiderlings and juveniles may burrow
  • Adult Size: 6–8 inches in diagonal leg span
  • Lifespan: Males approximately 2–3 years; females 10–15+ years under optimal conditions
  • Temperament: Reclusive and strongly photophobic; fast and potentially defensive when exposed
  • Care Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Omothymus violaceopes Care

Omothymus violaceopes adapts well to captivity when provided with a tall, secure enclosure built around a dark, enclosed retreat. The setup should accommodate both the burrowing behavior commonly displayed by small specimens and the increasingly arboreal habits of larger juveniles and adults. A nearly vertical piece of cork bark extending into the substrate, a cork tube, or overlapping pieces of bark positioned close to an enclosure wall allow the tarantula to construct the narrow, silk-lined cavity it prefers. Although this species originates from humid lowland environments, avoid consistently saturated substrate and stagnant conditions. Ample cross-ventilation and a moisture gradient matter more than trying to maintain a specific relative-humidity reading.

  • Enclosure: 25-dram vial or equivalent for spiderlings, upgraded as needed with growth; 10” x 10” x 15” or larger for adults
  • Substrate: Coconut fiber, peat moss, topsoil, or a similar moisture-retentive substrate; provide sufficient depth for juveniles to excavate and include vertically oriented cork bark, a hollow cork tube, or another protected climbing structure
  • Temperature: 72–82°F
  • Humidity: Moderate ambient humidity is generally sufficient. Approximately 50% of the substrate should remain slightly moist to create a humidity gradient while allowing the rest to stay comparatively dry. Small spiderling enclosures should not be allowed to dry completely, but avoid saturated substrate, persistent condensation, and poor ventilation.
  • 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: Lightly 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

Omothymus violaceopes was described by Henry Charles Abraham in 1924 under the name Lampropelma violaceopedes. The female holotype was collected at Kranji, Singapore, on February 9, 1923, from a mangrove environment. Günter Schmidt later corrected the species epithet to violaceopes in 2003 because violaceopedes was a plural nominative form rather than the singular form required under Article 11.9 of the ICZN. A male from Penang Island was originally associated with the species, but subsequent examination determined that this specimen belonged to Omothymus schioedtei. Claims that the O. violaceopes type specimen originated from Penang therefore confuse this misidentified male with the female holotype from Singapore.

Placement of the species in Omothymus was proposed in 2015 but was not initially accepted because the transfer had not been sufficiently justified. Ray Gabriel and Danniella Sherwood formally transferred it from Lampropelma to Omothymus in 2019 after examining the female holotype, additional conspecific females, and correctly identified males. They based their decision on comparative leg proportions, geographic distribution, and the morphology of the male palpal bulbs and tibial apophyses. The currently accepted distribution encompasses Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, with photographic observations also indicating its presence on Tioman Island off the east coast of Pahang.

Available records indicate that O. violaceopes inhabits enclosed cavities within trees in humid lowland habitats. A 2024 study collected specimens from lowland forest in Johor, southern Peninsular Malaysia, where they were found living inside tree trunks. The same study documented audible stridulation in adult females when deliberately provoked, while the mature males, subadults, and juveniles examined did not produce audible sounds.

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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