Some advice for those wanting to ventral sex: Getting good at ventral sexing is something that comes with experience. Keep your tarantula in a glass or plastic aquarium with a secure top that has ventilation. Male tarantula live around 8-10 years compared to the female that can live up to 20+ years, if you find an old male then he is obviously a Casanova, it means he's survived brushes with the women in his life. It can look startling and appear as though the spider is sick or dying, but it's all normal. Mexican red knee tarantulas live pretty long. Females tend to be larger and live longer than males. Before breeding, youll need to prepare the tank by reducing the humidity, as an overly humid environment can be off-putting to the female spider. Aside from using the spermathecae to determine gender this reproductive organ is often used to identify and distinguish certain species. The Mexican Red Knee Tarantula can vary in size, anywhere from 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 centimeters) and weigh around 15 to 17 grams (0.5 to 0.6 ounces). Potting soil can be used in place of peat and you can incorporate a small amount of bark chips. The Mexican red knee tarantula originates from the semi-desert scrubland of Mexico and Panama. Many of the species we sell are easy to maintain, docile and pretty and make excellent pets for a first-time keeper. Maintaining a consistent temperature and humidity level is an important element of Mexican red-knee tarantula care. When molting, your tarantula will be lethargic and may lie on its back or side to ease the molting process. A female pet tarantula can live for decades, making it a long-term commitment. Terrarium vs. Aquarium vs. Vivarium: The Differences Explained, 14 Tarantula Species That Make Great Pets (With Pictures), How to Take Care of a Pet Tarantula (Care Sheet & Guide 2021). This species is one of our favorites. Fake plants are a good option to mimic the Mexican red knees natural environment. For the most part, Mexican Red-Knee Tarantulas survive off insects like crickets, locusts, and cockroaches. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. They can live between 20 to 25 years while male Chaco Golden Knee Tarantulas have a lifespan half as long (5 to 10 years). Occasional substrate changes can cost between $10 and $20 on average. Dorsal form the latin dorsum meaning back and/orridge of a hill. You will need to provide a water bowl, offer a hide at ground level, and maybe offer some plastic plants to brighten the place up, although this is only for your benefit. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Not all tarantulas will much on their molt however, if the molt is recovered quickly after the tarantula has shed not only will the molt be soft and pliable (which makes the next step much, much easier) but you wont give him/her the chance to eat it. the gender of a specimen is to look at it's molt/exuviae. The materials should be durable and moisture-retaining, and be biologically neutral to promote the growth of bacteria. Its illegal to catch and sell wild Mexican red-knees, so if you have any reason to be suspicious, its best to buy from a different seller. the looking methods are not considered to be completely accurate the topic still be covered in depth as to help others to make educated guesses as to the gender of their specimen, at least until an intact molt/exuviae can be recovered. Use the search! How can you determine the gender of a tarantula? Green Bottle Blue Tarantula. The spermathecae is being manipulated with a toothpick. The tank doesnt need to be anything special, but it should have a locking lid and should not have any holes or areas that would provide an easy escape. Both species of Mexican red-knee have dark bodies and bright red knees, hence their names. Its important to sit on the floor when handling one, as an accidental drop from even a few feet can be seriously damaging. You might notice less hair on your tarantula's abdomen or even a bald spot on your tarantula's abdomen. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The reason some say a Brachypelma smithi isn't a great beginner tarantula is because they readily flick hairs with little provocation. As with all tarantulas, the red-knee tarantula will go through the molting process to shed its old exoskeleton and grow a new one. If the spider is fortunate enough to find a large meal, it does not need to eat again for several weeks, sometimes as long as a month. There are many gender-defining characteristics potentially visible from the, Mature Male C. cyaneopubescens (Green Bottle Blue). Crawling bugs can stress a Mexican red-knee tarantula if the spider isnt hungry. . While a small amount of condensation is fine, too much water can indicate that the tank is too humid for your tarantula. Does the Mexican red-knee tarantula make a good pet for kids? As pets, these spiders are favored for their beauty, generally docile temperament, and long lifespan. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It will bite, but only if threatened, and although it is venomous, its venom is only equivalent to that of a bee sting and not fatal. Nichepets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. The Mexican Redrump is a low maintenance spider and can be purchased for $25 to $50. How to Tell if a Tarantula is Male or Female 5,373 views Apr 21, 2021 128 Dislike Share Save Reptiles, Fish, and More 330 subscribers Hey everyone. The Mexican blood leg tarantula is beautiful and distinctive. Brachyphelma smithi. As the name implies, the Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula can be differentiated from other spiders by the bright orange to red coloring of their joints. While you dont usually need to worry about this, the symptoms can last anywhere from a few hours to a couple days. Keep in mind that typically the younger the specimen the specimen is, the more subtle the differences. Another option is to search online for breeders in your area, who may have tarantulas selling at other price points. In the wild, the spider would eat insects like crickets, but it would also eat small animals including mice, frogs, and even some small lizards. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Their legs have orange to dark red-orange joints, giving them their name. If the slinger feels threatened, it will fire the hairs at its predator, and they become lodged in the skin or eyes, causing considerable discomfort. He will crawl underneath the web, upside down, and deposit a droplet of seamen. Lighter carapace with a black triangle. We do not use the looking methods to determine gender here at Jamie's Tarantulas with theonlyexception of "suspect, not guaranteed males" offered every-so-often. When Mexican red-knees feel threatened, they shoot barbed hairs from their bodies that embed into the eyes and skin of a predator. Brachypelma hamorii, 'Mexican Red Knee' Quick View. Didn't find what you need? The same molt (Female G. porteri) approx. The right substrate can even help the spider shed its skin. Caribena laeta, 'Puerto Rican Pink Toe' $55.00. This will allow your spider plenty of room to move around and give her distinct hide, feeding, and other spaces in their living area. University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Nandini Balial is a writer and fact checker specializing in a variety of lifestyle topics, including film/TV, literature, and feminism, with work appearing in Slate, Wired, Pacific Standard, and more prestigious outlets. However, greenbottle blues are skittish and shouldnt be handled. The Mexican redknee tarantula is considered a good first spider and it is a suitable spider for novice owners because it requires little space and minimal care and while it is venomous, the bite is only equivalent to that of a bee sting. It is one of the game's Exhibit Animals. Its important to keep this in mind while purchasing one, as they are definitely a long-term commitment. Getting an intact, read-able molt is a feat in itself You must be quick to grab the molt soon after the tarantula has shed it's skin or else the tarantula is likely to much on it. They do, however, eject hairs if they feel threatened. Personally, it's hard for me to look at something 2D representing a 3D image. Plan to spend between $5 and $10 on average. You will also need the tank and other equipment, but this species does not need lighting and requires only a small amount of space, so the initial setup can be had for around $150. It rarely bites. We do not attempt to "pick out" females or males from the unsexed specimens. Feel free to read our article on our recommendations for tarantula enclosures here. This Tarantula Is Rather Sluggish Which Makes It Very Easy To Handle. However, their vision is relatively poor. . Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Physical Description and Identification Adults Size: They are large in size with the females having a length of 52mm to 54mm, while the male counterparts are shorter, being 46mm to 52 mm long. Female Mexican red-knee spiders live longer than males. And don't feed any live prey for about a week after the molt is complete, as even a cricket can damage the fragile new exoskeleton. Female Mexican red-knees can lay eggs for between 150 and 550 spiderlings at a time. . Mexican red-knees molt once a year. This is often one of the biggest questions that goes through a keepers mind when acquiring a new tarantula. The Mexican redknee tarantula is a popular arachnid pet because it is docile and quiet, is not prone to running quickly, and doesnt take too much care or room. They also dont take up a lot of space. Urticating hairs, also called urticating bristles, are a defense mechanism employed by plants and some small animals. Even bringing male and female together for breeding is risky. However, this spider doesnt need a great deal of exercise. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. However, the rash isnt serious and should clear up on its own without medical intervention. Still, many Mexican red-knee tarantulas are comfortable with gentle handling, though they dont need the socialization. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Like most tarantulas, it has a long lifespan. Mexican redknee tarantulas are generally between 12 to 14 centimetres (4.7 to 5.5 inches) long and weigh 15 to 16 grams (0.5 to 0.6 ounces), while females are typically larger than males. They should be housed individually and kept away from other household pets to prevent injury and stress. - House tarantulas separately and do not house . You can measure the tank humidity with a hygrometer. Although males have slightly shorter bodies, they have longer legs. The Mexican Red Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii) is a large North American arachnid featured in the Standard Edition of Planet Zoo. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". They are loved in the pet trade because of their long lifespan, beauty, and temperament. The Mexican red knee tarantula is a carnivore. Part 1 Providing Housing and Care Download Article 1 Get the right sized tank. Compare this to another tarantula called the Goliath bird-eating tarantula. 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