Thiania bhamoensis 'Fighting Spider'
A jewel-like Southeast Asian species with electric blue-green iridescence — beautiful but demanding.
About Thiania bhamoensis
Thiania bhamoensis is a small, spectacularly coloured jumping spider from Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and surrounding regions). Adults are compact at 5–9 mm body length — noticeably smaller than Phidippus species. Both sexes display vivid iridescent blue-green colouration on the carapace and legs, created by structural colour in the cuticle rather than pigment.
The common name "fighting spider" comes from traditional spider-fighting practices in parts of Southeast Asia — males are naturally territorial and will display aggressively toward other males. Despite this, they are not aggressive toward keepers. Females live roughly 1–1.5 years; males 6–9 months.
Enclosure
T. bhamoensis must be housed alone. They are solitary arachnids. Males in particular are highly territorial, and any cohabitation will end in combat and cannibalism. Only introduce for supervised mating.
Their smaller size means a compact enclosure works well — 15×15×20 cm is sufficient for adults. Despite their small stature, they still need vertical space and elevated anchor points for their silk retreat. Use thin twigs, small pieces of cork bark, and live plants if possible. Cross-ventilation is critical, especially given the higher humidity this species requires — mesh on at least two sides prevents stale, stagnant air.
Temperature & humidity
As a tropical species, T. bhamoensis needs consistent warmth of 24–28°C. They do not tolerate cool temperatures well — avoid prolonged exposure below 22°C. A heat mat on the enclosure side may be essential in temperate climates.
This species requires higher humidity than most commonly kept jumping spiders. Maintain 65–80% by misting one side of the enclosure every 1–2 days. Balancing high humidity with adequate ventilation is the main husbandry challenge — without good airflow, mould and bacterial growth become serious risks. Never mist the spider directly.
Feeding
T. bhamoensis's small size dictates smaller prey throughout life. Feed live prey every 2–3 days:
- Spiderlings: springtails, melanogaster fruit flies
- Juveniles: melanogaster and hydei fruit flies
- Adults: hydei fruit flies, small crickets, micro moths, small flies
Prey should be no larger than the spider's abdomen — oversize prey can injure or stress them. Remove uneaten items after 24 hours. Pre-moult fasting is normal and may last a week or more.
Handling
T. bhamoensis can be handled but their small size and speed make it challenging. They are quick and prone to jumping unpredictably. Most keepers treat this as more of an observation species — their iridescent colouration is best appreciated through the enclosure glass under good lighting anyway.
If you do handle them, work over a contained area indoors. Their small size makes them easy to lose. Never handle during or after a moult.