They’re not a pet for just anyone, but spider enthusiasts recognize the beauty and appeal of different spider species. Discover the five most expensive spiders you can buy in 2024! Learn a little about each as well as their starting prices. We start with the most expensive one first!
Top 5 Most Expensive Spiders You Can Buy in 2024
1. Mexican Jade Fuego Tarantula
Scientific name: Aphonopelma moreae
The Mexican jade fuego tarantula is one of the most expensive spiders you can buy. It costs, at minimum, $3,000! These tarantulas are found in Mexico and it’s ultimately their colors that make them so unique — and pricy. The legs of this tarantula are dark, almost black but closer to its body, the legs have a metallic blue shade to them. These are hairy spiders but instead of black hairs, they are covered in bright red hairs, which gives them that distinctive fiery appearance.
Around its mouth are more metallic bluish-green colorations. Its abdomen is dark but covered in red hair, which makes the color pop against the darker aspects of the tarantula’s body. Aside from the rare appearance of this spider, what adds to its value is its personality. Contrary to its fiery appearance, the Mexican jade fuego tarantula is docile, making it a prime choice for those looking to keep their first spider as a pet. In captivity, females live long lives, upwards of 20 years. Males don’t live as long and make it up to eight years on average.
2. Neon Blueleg Tarantula
Scientific name: Birupes simoroxigorum
The neon blueleg tarantula was observed recently, in 2019. As you might imagine, this tarantula has blue legs. The blue is metallic, which gives the spider a sharp luster. You can only find these tarantulas in Sarawak, Malaysia where they dwell in forested environments. This spider’s body contrasts its showy blue legs with a creamy brown reminiscent of toffee.
The neon blueleg tarantula has metallic-blue legs and a cream-brown body.
©Lauren Suryanata/Shutterstock.com
Two archeologists, Ray Gabriel, and Danniella Sherwood came upon these specimens. They described them in an article in The Journal of the British Tarantula Society. They illegally transported the specimens to Europe, which wasn’t known until they published their article. The starting price for this spider is $1,200.
3. Brazilian Jewel Tarantula
Scientific name: Typhochlaena seladonia
The Brazilian jewel tarantula goes by other names, including the candy shop spider and the jeweled pink toe. This spider is native to Brazil and costs a pretty penny. The starting price for this visually appealing tarantula is $900. Whereas other pet tarantulas have pops of eye-catching colors, the Brazilian jewel tarantula’s colorations take you on a journey from head to every last leg.
When threatened, pink toe tarantulas may propel feces toward an attacker, assume a defensive posture, or bite.
©Photo Spirit/Shutterstock.com
Their colors include blue, pink, red, yellow, green, black, and white. The females are the most colorful of the two sexes. They are known as calm spiders, which makes them sought-after pets. In Sergipe, Brazil, they dwell in the rainforest, making use of the bark of trees to settle into. They create trap doors that they camouflage well while they wait for unsuspecting prey to approach.
4. Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula
Scientific name: Poecilotheria metallica
The gooty sapphire ornamental tarantula goes by other names, including the peacock tarantula and peacock parachute spider metallic tarantula. These wordy names attempt to describe the beauty of this rare spider native to India. It’s an old-world tarantula that lives in the southern region of India, specifically Andhra Pradesh. It’s a critically endangered species that has been bred in captivity for about a decade. These spiders cost approximately $500.
Gooty Sapphire tarantulas are fast spiders with powerful venom.
©Blake Frye/Shutterstock.com
The body of the gooty sapphire ornamental tarantula has unique geometric markings and its legs are a beautiful and bright metallic blue. Females live longer than males, making it up to 12 years on average. The males live up to four years. In their natural environment, these tarantulas make use of tree hollows to create their homes. They move quickly, and they bite. Their venom is powerful, which makes their bites medically significant.
5. Colombian Lesser Black Tarantula
Scientific name: Xenesthis immanis
The Colombian lesser black tarantula is not nearly as showy as some of the other tarantulas in this list, but it is equally beautiful. This spider sells for about $400. It has a velvety black body and it’s big. Its body length is nearly three inches long.
The Colombian lesser black tarantula has a velvety black appearance.
©Jens Otte/Shutterstock.com
The females feature dark purple on their carapaces and in the males, this color is more obvious. On their abdomens, they have strawberry blonde hairs, and the rest of their bodies have olive-colored hairs. Interestingly, in its native environment, the Colombian lesser black tarantula works with frogs as allies. They protect one another’s eggs!
Summary of the Top 5 Most Expensive Spiders You Can Buy in 2024
Here’s a summary of the top 5 most expensive spiders a person can buy in 2024 and how much they cost:
| Number | Spider | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexican Jade Fuego Tarantula | $3,000 |
| 2 | Neon Blueleg Tarantula | $1,200 |
| 3 | Brazilian Jewel Tarantula | $900 |
| 4 | Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula | $500 |
| 5 | Colombian Lesser Black Tarantula | $400 |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Lukasz Kowalkowski/Shutterstock.com
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