The Mexican Red Knee Tarantula is one of the most preferred pet tarantulas among exotic pet enthusiasts. The calm and non-aggressive nature and beautiful color pattern make it more adorable to first-time spider keepers. This stunning arachnid is known for its vibrant orange and black markings on its legs with a creamy beige carapace having a distinctive black square on it.
This stunning arachnid possesses bilateral symmetry and is ectothermic.
As its name suggests, the Mexican Red Knee tarantula hails from the Central Pacific Coast of Mexico, it is a New World tarantula. The Red Knee Tarantula loves to live in dry areas, scrublands, deserts, thorn forests, or tropical deciduous forests. In the wild, these tarantulas inhabit burrows and spins web near the entrance of burrow . These are wonderful nocturnal hunters. It has been observed that Red Knee Tarantula grows well in captivity as compared to that in the wild.
This eight-legged striking arachnid has 8 eyes which enables it to see both forward and backward. However, its vision is relatively poor and it uses hair and legs to sense vibrations.
Brachypelma Hamorii or Brachypelma Smithi?
It has been a matter of confusion among exotic pet keepers when it comes to the Mexican Red knee Tarantula.
The Mexican Red knee Tarantula with the scientific name, Brachypelma Hamorii was misidentified as Brachypelma Smithi until 2017. These two species of arachnids resemble each other in most of the physical features such as color, reddish-orange knees, and black bodies.
These two species have some distinctive features as well which makes their identity.
Male vs Female Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
The male and female Mexican Red Knee Tarantula have some distinctive physical attributes such as different size, color of Carapace, age of sexual maturity, and body span and leg span. The male is of shorter size with longer legs to help it to hold its slightly bigger female counterpart.
Behavior
Though Mexican Red Knee Tarantula shows a docile temperament but can behave differently in certain circumstances, when Hamorii is threatened, it gears up to display its fangs and flip barbed hairs off of its abdomen. These hairs can penetrate in skin or eyes of the victim and may result in irritation or swelling. The bite of the Mexican Red Knee Tarantula is venomous, but it doesn’t usually bite. Furthermore, unless the victim of the bite has an allergic reaction, the agony from the venom has been compared to a bee sting if it bites a human. The juvenile spiders are just like their adult counterparts. The Mexican Red Knee Tarantula sling, with its captivating appearance and intriguing development, is a fascinating subject for arachnid enthusiasts and collectors alike.
The slings of Mexican Red Knee Tarantula molt every 2 weeks for the first 4 months and then less frequently in the subsequent months. The spiderlings need more attention and care as compared to the adult ones.
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Care
The Mexican Red Knee Tarantula requires less care from the pet owner. However replicating their natural habitat, providing well-balanced nutrition, and addressing their health concerns can help you to increase the longevity of your pet tarantula. Here is a detailed comprehensive guide to nurturing your pet properly
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Enclosure
The setup of the terrarium of the Red Knee Tarantula requires a well-maintained ratio between the size of the Tarantula and the height of the cage. The substrate should be filled up to a height that is nearly 1.5 times the leg span of the spider to avoid any damage due to fall. The substrate should have a proper ratio of coco fiber, peat moss, and creature soil. The temperature of the habitat should be maintained at about 75- 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In colder regions or during nighttime, a heat mat can be used on one side of the enclosure to provide adequate warmth to the arachnid. The humidity level inside the cage should be around 60-70% and can be monitored using a hygrometer. A shallow water dish is a must component of the tarantula enclosure.
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Slings Enclosure
The Mexican Red Knee Tarantula slings can be kept safe inside an acrylic box of small size whereas the adults require an 8-10 gallon tank of glass or acrylic with an appropriate substrate depth for burrowing. These stunning spiders love to hide beneath the base of thorny vegetation like cacti in the wild so artificial plants or bark pieces should be an essential component of their home in captivity.
Red Knee Tarantula Diet
Mexican Red Knee Tarantulas are carnivores, feeding on insects such as crickets, roaches, and mealworms. As these arachnids are nocturnal and prefer to hunt in the dark, live prey should be served in its terrarium. For example,6-8 crickets every other week can be given to an adult Tarantula. Apart from insects, amphibians such as frogs and mammals such as mice can be given at some time. However pre-killed pinhead crickets can be given to the spiderlings. The efficient digestive system allows it to liquefy its prey before consuming it, showcasing its unique feeding mechanism.
You should offer appropriately sized prey once or twice a week and adjust the quantity based on your tarantula’s size and appetite.
- Crickets
Tarantulas love crickets as food, and you can easily find them at your neighborhood pet store. Vita-Bugs crickets are boosted with beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin A, and omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, adding to their excellent nutritional content. - Dubia Roaches
Another excellent choice is Dubia roaches, which have up to 28% protein and can provide a nutritious meal for larger tarantulas. - Mealworms
Although mealworms and waxworms are high in calcium, phosphorus, and protein, their high-fat content means that feeding amounts should be controlled. It is advisable to check for the frequency of diet and the amount from a veterinarian.
Handling a Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
Because tarantulas can be delicate and agitated, you should avoid handling them needlessly. If handling is required, you should go cautiously and gently. Hands should always be washed before touching anything that could damage them.
Molting is a process of self-grooming and self-transformation in which a tarantula sheds an exoskeleton and attains a new look. This process of molting takes place many a times in a life-cycle of a female tarantula especially. The molting process is a mandatory process for the optimum growth of your tarantula.
Another important point is to keep in mind that Tarantulas are vulnerable during molting and the slightest contact with them can be devastating for them. No food should be given during and after molting. You should recognize signs of pre-molt, such as a darkened abdomen and reduced appetite.
It’s important to keep a close eye out for any indications of disease or unusual behavior in your tarantula. Consult a veterinarian with spider care experience if you observe any changes. Monitoring their molting cycles is important for their growth and health, so keep an eye on them.
Your tarantula needs some special attention from you in terms of handling and feeding during all the three stages: Pre- molt, Molting and Post-molt.
Interesting Facts about Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
Impressive Longevity: Mexican Red Knee Tarantulas can live over 20 years in captivity, with a notably slow growth rate.
Substrate Communication: These tarantulas communicate through substrate vibrations, tapping, or drumming to convey signals, particularly during courtship rituals.
Courtship rituals: The male uses a special pair of spurs on his front legs to lock her jaws open.
After mating, males generally flee as females are known to be aggressive after mating m some may try to kill and may even eat it.
Egg sac production: A female guards her egg sac, turns it, and moves it around to ensure appropriate humidity and temperature.
Expert Burrowers: Displaying instincts, they are skilled burrowers, using pedipalps and fangs to create intricate underground homes for protection and humidity regulation.
Related Species
- Brachypelma Smithi
- Brachypelma Emillia
- Brachypelma Auratum
