Scientific Name: Heterothele villosella
Common Name: Tanzanian Chestnut Tarantula
Origin: Tanzania
Classification: Old World
Lifestyle: Semi-arboreal / Communal webber
Appearance:
Small tarantula with a chestnut to golden-brown carapace and dark legs covered in fine hairs.
Abdomen typically displays a delicate leaf-like or net-like pattern.
Adults rarely exceed 2.5–3 inches in leg span.
Temperament:
Generally docile and shy, though fast and alert.
Old World species, so it lacks urticating hairs, but rarely shows defensive behavior.
Known for its communal potential—can be kept in groups if provided adequate space and food (though monitoring is essential to prevent cannibalism).
Enclosure Tips:
Needs a vertically-oriented enclosure with cork bark, twigs, and web anchor points.
Provide good ventilation and moderate humidity (65–75%).
Temps around 75–80°F (24–27°C).
Will create dense web tunnels throughout the enclosure.
Notes:
Popular among hobbyists for its manageable size, temperament, and potential for communal setups (rare in tarantulas).
Ideal for intermediate keepers looking for something different and visually interesting.
Sometimes mistaken for Monocentropus balfouri in terms of communal behavior, but H. villosella is more reclusive and less colorful.