Mexican Redknee Tarantula
Origin
Mexican redknee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) is one of the most impressive tarantula species which is native to deciduous tropical forests in southwestern Mexico. Its enormous popularity worldwide has severely reduced its population in the wild and in 1985, the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) proclaimed it an endangered species. All Mexican redknee tarantulas on the pet market today are obtained from breeding in captivity, however, excessive export is not the only threat to this impressive creature. There have been reports of some local populations nearly systematically killing these tarantulas, so the exact number of Mexican redknee tarantulas living in the wild remains unknown.
Characteristics and Behavior
Mexican redknee tarantula is probably best known for its colorful appearance which makes it one of the most popular tarantula pets. Its body which is about 5.5 inches long is nearly black, while the legs are marked by orange to reddish stripes. The colors become more pronounced after molting. Both males and females reach about the same size but the males tend to have longer legs and smaller mass. They grow slowly and become sexually mature relatively late, however, they are believed to be the most-long lived of all tarantulas. Males are expected to live about 15 to 20 years, while the females are reported to live up to 30 years.
They are very calm, docile and gentle. They are not poisonous to humans and bite very rarely. The bite is harmless, however, it can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals because it injects venom when it bites. Unless being allergic to spider venom, Mexican redknee tarantula is a great choice no matter if you are a beginner or an experienced spider owner.
Mexican redknee tarantula is a terrestrial spider but it burrows deep in order to protect itself from predators as well as to ambush prey. When laying eggs or molting, it typically covers the entrance to the burrow with silk or soil and leaves.
Diet
These tarantulas are not picky eaters. Spiderlings can be fed with pinhead crickets and other smaller insects, while adult Mexican redknee tarantula should be fed with a variety of large insects and smaller lizards. You can occasionally also offer it a pinky mouse when adult. A shallow water dish should be always filled with clean water.
Housing
A 5 to 10 gallon tank is large enough to house a single Mexican redknee tarantula, however, make sure that the tank’s width is at least two times the leg span of your tarantula. Like in other terrestrial spiders, the height of the tank is not important. Since Mexican redknee tarantula likes to burrow, you should provide it about 3 inches of substrate such as potting soil or peat moss. The temperature of the tank should be about 75°F to 80 °F, while the required humidity levels are 60% to 75%. This means that you do not need to provide any additional heating nor humidity monitoring despite the fact that it is a tropical spider. Tank decoration is not necessary but your pet will appreciate if you add a cork bark for instance, to provide a retreat.
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