Care Sheet
Attachment 4775
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Attachment 4775
| Subfamily: | Theraphosinae |
| Genus: | Brachypelma |
| Species: | smithi |
| Common Name: | Mexican Redknee |
| Explorer: | F. O. Pickard-Cambridge |
| Year of Discovery: | 1897 |
| Country: | Mexico |
| Tarantula World: | New World |
Their Natural Habitat: |
Terrestrial, opportunistic burrowing species and lives in ground burrows, in rocky areas under thorny vegetation, usually in scrubland or desert, dry thorn forest or tropical shrub forest |
Temperament: |
Docile, some species can be more defensive and will flick urticating hairs. |
Growth/Size: |
Slow, this species reaches 5"- 6" with a stocky body |
Experience Level: |
Novice |
Handling |
Can be handled, but always use caution. It is recommended to sit close to the floor when handling any species. If your Tarantula falls to the ground it can be fatal, their exoskeleton is very fragile. Be careful! |
Temperature: |
60° - 95°F |
Humidity: |
40 - 60 % |
Enclosure: |
Any enclosure from 5-10 gallon will work. Provide a hiding spot, a flower pot or wood bark can be used. Be creative, there are lots of different ways to make a hide for a Tarantula. Artificial plants are optional. When keeping this species in a larger enclosure make sure to add enough substrate to prevent any injuries from a potential fall. |
Substrate: |
Eco Earth or Peat Moss, you may make a mix of Vermiculite and Peat Moss (75/25). Avoid any Evergreen woods (Cypress, Reptile Bark) inside of the enclosure. Evergreen contain natural insecticidal oils that can harm your Tarantula if exposed long enough. Also keep in mind that this species likes bone dry substrate. |
Diet: |
Crickets, meal worms, wax worms, giant worms, Blaptica dubia or Blatta lateralis roaches. Please do not offer wild caught prey, as it may contain pesticides which can harm your Tarantula. |
Water: |
Make sure to offer a water bowl, the size should be half the size of the species. Do not use any sponges, cotton balls or paper towel or water crystals inside of water bowl, just clean water. Small rocks may be added. Cleaning the water bowl once a week or when you feel it is necessary. Crickets or roaches may end up dead in the water, in which case you should clean it right away. Spiderlings are too small to have a water bowl, misting one side of the enclosure wall 1-2 times a week, should be plenty enough. |
Longevity: |
It has been said that this species can live up to 25- 30 years if well cared for. |
Maturity female: |
6-7 years, this is only an estimate. |
Maturity male/ Tibial Apophysis: |
4 years, which is only an estimate. // Yes, on first set of leg. |
Communal Setup: |
Not recommended for this species. |
Color Markings: |
Carapace is black with a beige color at the edge, abdomen, tarsus, metatarsus and upper part of the tibia are black with light satae, where the lower part of the tibia is beige, the patella however has a reddish orange color but beige on the lower part. Each femur has a deep dark black color. Above the pedicel the color changes from brown to black. |
Special Note: |
B. smithi is by far the most recognized Tarantula. This species has been in many movies/TV series like Fierce Creatures, James Bond films, CSI Las Vegas and many more. Make sure never to keep a Tarantula enclosure directly in the sun. No light is necessary for your Tarantulas habitat. Natural lighting is perfectly fine. For more information on this classic species, check out the fan club page here: http://www.tarantulasus.com/showthre...mithi-Fan-Club |
CITES List and IUCN Red list of Threatened Species |
B. smithi was first listed on Appendix II of CITES in 01/08/85. Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List |
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