Aphonopelma seemanni (Costa Rican Zebra, Stripe Knee Tarantula) 0.5" FREE AFTER $250
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Description
Aphonopelma seemanni (Costa Rican Stripe Knee Tarantula) 0.5" FREE AFTER $250
The Costa Rican Stripe Knee Tarantula, or Aphonopelma seemanni, is a tropical tarantula from Costa Rica. Adults of this species have a gray body with bold striped, banded knees that give the species its name. The striped knee pattern is visible from an early age, and we have noticed individuals often show a bluish tint right after a fresh molt that settles back into gray within a few days, while the species only grows to about 6 inches in diagonal leg span. Like others in the genus, along with Brachypelma, this species lives a long time, with females living 20 to 30 years while males live 3 to 5 years. This species is also very calm and forgiving, and one we recommend for beginner keepers or anyone who wants an easier keeping experience. Grab this docile new world tarantula for sale today, offered here as a spiderling.
Why do hobbyists keep Aphonopelma seemanni?
- Striped Knee Coloration: This species has a gray body with bold, striped, banded knees that give it its name.
- Docile Temperament: This species is slow moving and very deliberate, not particularly skittish, and docile on top of that.
- Great Beginner Species: A calm temperament and forgiving care needs make this one of the easiest Aphonopelma for a first-time keeper.
- Great Display Species: This species stays out in the open on the surface rather than staying hidden below ground, so there is usually something to see.
- Captive Bred, Not Wild: This is one of the most commonly wild-caught tarantulas in the US hobby, since imported specimens are cheap and plentiful. Every one of ours is captive bred instead. There is no ecological need to collect from the wild when captive-bred slings hatch out every year, and buying captive bred supports breeders rather than pulling animals out of their native habitat. If you ever see a full grown adult of this species selling for unusually little, that price alone is often a sign it was wild collected rather than captive bred.
How should Aphonopelma seemanni be kept?
- Adult Size: Spiderlings start out around 0.5 inch, and adults reach about 6 inches in diagonal leg span, so plan on upsizing the enclosure as it grows.
- Enclosure: A 6x6x4" enclosure with 2" of substrate works well at this size. Good ventilation is critical. Cross ventilation works best, but ample top ventilation can also be effective as long as the enclosure is not over-misted.
- Rehousing: From here, plan on two more upsizes: a 12x12x8" enclosure with 4" of substrate, then a final 18x18x12" enclosure with 6" of substrate. At this species' growth rate, 4 to 6 years to reach adult size, each cage typically lasts around 18 to 24 months before the next upsize.
- Temperature: Keep this species between 65 and 75°F, in line with the tropical range it comes from. Typical indoor room temperature works well without any extra heating.
- Humidity: Water it and let it dry rather than keeping it damp. Aim for substrate that dries out within about a day after you add moisture, and never let it sit soaking.
- Water: A shallow textured water dish works well, something they can grip when climbing out.
- Diet: Offer prey around 1/8" at this size, roughly the width of the carapace (head). Feed at least once a week.
- Temperament: Docile and unlikely to act defensively, more likely to retreat than stand its ground when startled.
Are there any additional notes or considerations?
- Captive Bred: All tarantulas at Exotics Unlimited are captive bred.
- Also Known As: This species is sometimes sold as the Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula. We use Costa Rican Stripe Knee Tarantula as our primary name for it here.
- Freebie Terms: Our invertebrate freebies are only valid on purchases of invertebrates, meaning tarantulas, spiders, centipedes and scorpions. They do not apply to reptiles, dry goods or merch.
Listing Notes
- This listing is for an Aphonopelma seemanni Costa Rican Stripe Knee Tarantula spiderling measuring around 0.50 inch in diagonal leg span and it is available free with a qualifying purchase of invertebrates, which includes tarantulas, spiders, centipedes and scorpions.
How our rewards and freebies work
How does the Exotics Unlimited rewards program work?
Our rewards program has three parts and they work together instead of cancelling each other out. Subscribe to our email list for free and you get 10% off invertebrate orders as an ONYX member, climbing to GOLD at 13% once your lifetime spend passes $1,000 and PLATINUM at 15% past $3,000. Any single pet invertebrate order over $1,200 takes 20% off on its own, whatever tier you are. The one exception is items already marked down for a weekly deal or an event special. Those say so in the title, and the discount is already built into the price. If your total after that discount reaches $300, shipping to a FedEx facility for pickup is free. And your freebie credit is built from that same total, so you are choosing free animals on top of both. Feeders and supplies get a flat 5% for subscribers, separate from the invertebrate discount.
A $340 invertebrate order is the clearest way to see it. Your 10% brings it to $306, that clears the $300 mark so facility pickup is free, and that same $306 is your freebie credit to spend on animals you pick yourself. One order, all three benefits. Full tier breakdown on our VIP program page.
What is a freebie tarantula and how do I get one?
Exotics Unlimited gives away free tarantulas, true spiders, scorpions, and centipedes with qualifying invertebrate orders. Most shops call this a free gift with purchase. Ours works differently because you choose the animal instead of us picking one for you.
Every freebie says so right in its title, like FREE AFTER $150 SPENT. That line is what makes something a freebie, so if a product does not carry it, it is not one. Older freebie listings stay up around the site after they sell out, so the Freebies page is the one to shop. It is where the current lineup lives.
Your freebie credit equals your pet invertebrate subtotal after discounts and before shipping. Dry goods, feeders, supplies, and enclosures do not count towards your credit.
How much do I have to spend to get a free tarantula?
Freebies start at just $25. Free tarantulas and other invertebrates start at $50. Every freebie shows its cost in the title: FREE AFTER $150 SPENT means you need $150 in credit. Thresholds range from $25 up to $800 for rare species. Not looking for another animal? We also offer freebie merchandise like stickers, so there is always something to claim.
Can I get multiple free tarantulas in one order?
Yes. There is no cap on how many you take, only on what they add up to. Mix and match anything you want, including multiples of the same species, as long as their combined cost fits your freebie credit. With $350 in credit you could take one $350 species, two $150s plus a $50, or seven $50 spiderlings. Freebie programs across the hobby often limit you to one per species or one per spend tier. Ours does not work that way. If your credit covers it, take as many as you would like.
What makes your rewards program different from other tarantula shops?
Most rewards programs make you pick one: take the discount or take free shipping. Ours run together, and freebies sit on top of both. That is the part people notice first.
The rest of it: subscribing is free and gets you 10% off invertebrates for as long as you stay subscribed rather than a one-time welcome code, and it climbs to 13% and 15% as your lifetime spend passes $1,000 and $3,000. You choose your own freebies instead of receiving whatever a shop decides to send. And there is no cap on how many you take, only on what they add up to, where most reward and loyalty programs limit you to one free item per order or one per spend tier.
Freebie thresholds start at $25 and free animals start at $50, so the program is doing something on nearly every order rather than only on big ones.
Do I really get 10% off just for subscribing to the email list?
Yes. Subscribing is free and it takes 10% off every pet invertebrate we sell, tarantulas, true spiders, scorpions and centipedes included. It stays active for as long as you are subscribed. Most shops hand you a one-time welcome code. This one keeps working.
From there it climbs with your lifetime spend, 13% past $1,000 and 15% past $3,000, and any single order over $1,200 takes 20% regardless of tier, with nothing to claim or remember. It applies itself at checkout and you do not need to be logged in for it to work. Subscribers also get 5% off feeders and supplies. That one is a flat 5% for every subscriber and does not climb with your tier, but it applies for as long as you stay subscribed just like the rest. Items already marked down for a weekly deal or an event special are the one exception. The discount is built into the price on those, so a subscriber discount does not come off on top. You will always know which ones they are because it says so right in the title, the same way freebies do.
Does my VIP discount change my freebie credit?
Your discount comes off first, and the total after it is what builds your freebie credit. So a $340 invertebrate order at 10% leaves $306, and that $306 is both your freebie credit and enough to clear the $300 free shipping mark.
That is worth knowing when you are close to a threshold, because the number that counts is the one after your discount. You never have to work it out yourself though. The calculator on the Freebies page always shows your real credit.
Why does it say I don't qualify for my freebies?
You can add any freebies you want to your cart, but you will need enough freebie credit to cover all of them. If you are short, the calculator on the Freebies page shows exactly how much more to add in pet invertebrates.
Freebies will still show as $0.00 in your cart either way. That is just how they are priced. What matters is whether your credit covers their total cost before you check out. If it does not, we will reach out to sort it before your order ships.
Does my qualifying total carry over from a previous order?
No. Your qualifying total for free shipping and freebies is based on your box, not a running balance. You can combine as many orders as you want into one box before it ships, and the combined total (after discounts) is what counts toward free shipping and freebie credit. Once that box ships, the total resets, a new order placed afterward starts fresh and does not carry over from a box that has already shipped.
If you want to build toward free shipping or more freebies, add to your order before it ships rather than placing a new one after.
What happens if I check out with more freebies than I qualify for?
Do not worry, we will reach out as soon as possible to help you get your freebies sorted before your order ships. We will work with you to either adjust your selection or add to your order to cover them. We never remove or swap your freebies without letting you know first.
To avoid the back-and-forth, check your freebie credit in your cart before checking out. We will always show you exactly where you stand.
What happens if my free tarantula arrives DOA?
Freebies are covered exactly like paid animals. There are two reporting windows and they buy different things.
Report within 2 hours of delivery and we reship. That is the full guarantee. A fast report tells us the problem came from transit, and it gives us the best shot at making it right properly.
Report within 24 hours and we replace it on your next order. You are still covered, the replacement just travels with your next shipment rather than going out on its own.
The 2 hour window is for FedEx facility pickup. Home delivery is 30 minutes, because by then the package has spent longer on a truck that is not temperature controlled. Either way, tell us the moment you see a problem rather than waiting.