Genus Chaetopelma

One of very few tarantulas from the Middle East, with a range covering Israel, Lebanon, Cyprus and Turkey. C. olivaceum is the species that moves.

Arid-adapted, burrowing, moderate size, and drab olive to brown. They handle temperature swings better than tropical species and want dry substrate with depth, which is a different setup than most keepers default to.

The genus is interesting mainly for where it comes from. There is almost no tarantula trade out of that region, so everything in circulation traces to a small number of European captive lines, and supply moves in step with a handful of breeders. Availability is the constraint, not cost, and it can vanish for a year at a time.