Phormictopus sp. Dominican Purple - Gargantuan Purple Giant - For Sale

The Gargantuan Purple Giant (Phormictopus sp. Dominican Purple)

Looking for your next standout showpiece? Meet the Dominican Purple — a massive New World terrestrial from the Phormictopus genus that brings size, shimmer, and serious hunger to the table. This isn’t your average big brown spider. As they mature, these tanks of the tarantula world develop a rich, metallic purple glow over their carapace and femurs that looks straight-up radioactive under the right light. Add in their powerful build and gluttonous appetite, and you’ve got one of the most visually and behaviorally satisfying tarantulas in the hobby.

Metallic Majesty in Motion

While slings and juveniles start out looking solid Blue, but don’t be fooled — each molt brings more saturated purples, glossy gunmetal tones, and deep inky hues that shimmer across their body like oil on asphalt. Adult females often look like they’ve been airbrushed in liquid violet, especially right after a molt., Under natural sunlight or LED, their true beauty explodes into view.

A Bold and Beefy Terrestrial Powerhouse

This species doesn’t just look powerful—it embodies it. The Dominican Purple is large, leggy, and bold, regularly reaching 8 to 9 inches in DLS. They are active bulldozers that will happily rearrange their enclosure, taking down food like a machine. Feeding time is where they shine—expect explosive feeding responses and a “no prey left behind” attitude. You’ll be captivated by how confidently they stalk and subdue their prey.

Fast Growing with a Wild Appetite

Unlike many of their slow-growing New World cousins, Phormictopus are notorious for their fast growth rates—especially when kept warm and fed regularly. This makes them an excellent candidate for hobbyists who love watching their tarantulas evolve quickly from sling to beast. Just be sure to keep those tongs handy—this species has zero patience when it feels the presence of food!

Adult size - 8+ inches DLS 

Current size - 2.5 inches DLS 

Age - 13 months old 

Phormictopus sp. Dominican Purple Care - This is a large non-burrowing species, so a terrestrial enclosure with 1-2 inches of substrate is recommended! Amazingly this species is very tolerant of both dry and humid conditions so I recommend using a gradient method, where half the enclosure is more humid. While the other half is dry and on the humid side, provide the spider with a water dish. Lastly give your Phormictopus sp. Dominican Purple an enclosure 3 to 5 times the size of its legspan! If you do that your giant grape flavored tarantula will thrive!