There are currently 883 species of spider described in the scientific literature. A large number of species are found in Mexico and Brazil and about 20 species in Panama that were previously found in Mexico, which indicates their migration.
Many Brachypelma species are found along the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madres (Western and Southern Mexico), and the western side of the Transverse Volcanic Belt and mountain ranges of Mexico. Brachypelma Vagans and Brachypelma epicureanum are found in the Atlantic states of the United States.
The spider has a calm character and flexible nature, quite colorful coloring and is not aggressive. Easy to maintain and forgiving of many mistakes, suitable as a first pet.
In Mexico, spiders live in areas with the following climate:
- rainy season, which lasts from June to July:
- October to November is the dry winter season, which lasts until July.
Average life expectancy of spiders of this species:
- females from 20 to 30 years old;
- males up to 10 years old.
In Russia, three species are popular as pets; we will consider them below.
Brachypelma Emilia
The northernmost species is found west of the western Sierra Madres range in the State of Sinaloa, Durango and Coahuila.
Habitats range from dry coastal areas to palm transitional forests and tropical rainforests. Found at various altitudes. Nevertheless, it builds its burrows under leaves and soil, thereby providing itself with the necessary humidity and protection from sunlight. The size of the hole is from 20 to 100 cm.
Brachypelma smithi
Brief description and appearance features
The tarantula has a bright, unusual appearance that attracts the eye. The average size of arthropods varies from 8 cm to 30 cm.
Spiders are covered with fur, which makes them look like a plush toy.
A particularly notable feature is the color. Most tarantula spiders are characterized by brownish or black and white colors. Blue insects are less common. The belly is orange, and the paws stand out thanks to their blue or bright yellow coloring.
The external features of the tarantula spider are largely determined by its species, of which there are a huge number.
Brachypelma smithi
It has a bright orange-red coloration on the kneecaps of its feet and is found on the upper edges of tropical deciduous forests and cool, dry uplands. Less demanding on high temperature and humidity.
All Brachypelma love to dig holes and hide from the light. In home spiders, they dig holes only if something bothers them and if they have nowhere to hide. Young spiders often dig holes.
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In nature, a spider is sometimes found in cohabitation with frogs or snakes in the same hole, and lives peacefully with them.
Small spider Brachypelma smithi 3-4 molt
Tarantula spider Aphonopelma bicoloratum
Habitat – Mexico Type – Burrow Feeding – Standard Dimensions Body – 4-5 cm, leg span 15 cm Sexual maturity: males 2-3 years, females 3-4 years Temperature – 25 Humidity – 77% Temperament – Active, non-aggressive Substrate – Minimum 4 cm
Spider Aphonopelma bicoloratum
A. bicolouratum is a good choice for beginners, although it can be active. A. bicolouratum is a nocturnal spider and is rarely seen during daylight hours. Feed A.bicoloratum on medium to large crickets, 2 or 3 times a week.
Reproduction
The breeding season of almost all brachypelma species occurs during the monsoon season.
The male and female spiders are similar in color and pattern, but have some differences in morphology, color intensity, body size and lifespan.
The spider's clutch matures in the dry winter months and usually breaks open in late spring, from where small spider nymphs emerge.
Some breeding studies of Brachypelma species have shown that adult females do not mate or lay eggs every year, although they have not yet been able to prove this.
Brachypelma Smitty spider in a glass spider cage
Tarantula spider of the species Acanthoscuria geniculata
Species: Acanthoscurria geniculata Subfamily: Theraphosinae Range: northern Brazil Type: terrestrial Size: up to 9 cm in body and about 20 in paw span. Sexual maturity: males 1.5-2 years, females 2-2.5 years. Life expectancy: up to 20 years. Temperature: 23-26°C Humidity: 70-80%
Spider Acanthoscuria geniculata
The A. geniculata spider is quite nervous and can be aggressive; the spider can shed intense hairs, which are among the most irritating hairs, which can result in severe itching. A. geniculata will skillfully dig the ground, as, for example, a half-filled flower pot can turn into its hole. This is a very fast growing spider and very rarely refuses the food offered.
Contents of brachypelm
As can be seen from the habitat of these spiders, they are quite unpretentious in terms of humidity and temperature.
Small spiders can be kept in small plastic containers that they cannot chew and escape, such as plastic food containers. There is no point in planting them in a large spider bed, as they will simply bury themselves and it will be difficult to feed them.
In both small and large spider plants, it is necessary:
- Use coconut substrate as soil;
- Make a shelter for the spider;
- Maintain the necessary soil moisture, there should be no swamp, the soil should simply always be moist;
- Remove uneaten food residues;
- You can put a drinking bowl, but spiders practically don’t use it, it just adds moisture;
- In a large spider bed it is necessary to change the soil approximately once a year, in a small one every six months;
- Be sure to provide ventilation;
For large specimens, special glass spider cages are best suited, although the spider can easily live in a plastic container with ventilation.
It is necessary to take into account that these spiders are burrowers and do not like light; they leave their burrows mainly at night.
If you do not provide shelter and do not maintain the humidity level, they will begin to dig holes and hide in the ground. Under acceptable conditions and the presence of shelters, they do not dig holes.
Be sure to make places where he can climb, for example, like in my spider bed, place pieces of pine bark, only without resin. You can find some branches or roots, the main thing is that the tree is not susceptible to rotting, since the spider plant is always damp.
The bark or tree must be boiled in boiling water and dried well, this will kill insects and other pests and parasites.
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For me, he almost always sits on it and doesn’t hide anywhere, which makes it very convenient to watch him.
The normal temperature for them is about 24 degrees, they live without problems from 19 degrees, so it doesn’t make much sense to heat the spider, although mine has a favorite place under the LED lamp, where it is always warm, the spider spends there most of the time, mainly in winter.
Brachypelma smitty warms itself under a lamp
Maintain a humidity level of 60 to 70 percent by regularly misting the substrate or placing a large bowl of water.
If you see your spider sitting over a bowl of water, but not drinking, most likely the spider web is too dry; if it sits in the farthest and driest corner, then it is too wet, watch your animal.
In nature
Habitat
Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens
is an inhabitant of the semi-deserts of South America.
Tarantulas inhabit all continents except Antarctica. The range includes the entirety of Africa, South America, Australia and Oceania.
Tarantula spiders are rare in Europe and their range includes the southern half of Italy, Spain and Portugal. They are found as moisture-loving species that live in the crowns of equatorial forests, for example Caribena versicolor
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unauthorized source?
] and drought-resistant semi-deserts, for example
Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens
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Nutrition
Tarantulas are obligate (strict) predators. Contrary to the name, their digestive system is not designed to constantly feed on meat (poultry). The main diet of tarantula spiders consists of insects or smaller spiders. Spiders are quite omnivorous and can eat a variety of food: flies, cockroaches, bloodworms, frogs, small rodents, birds, fish and much more [ unauthorized source?
]. Tarantulas ambush prey rather than using webs to make traps.
Behavior
Psalmopoeus irminia - woody species
Various species of tarantulas prefer to live in the crowns of trees, shrubs, rosettes of bromeliad leaves, in shelters at ground level or in burrows. They often change their behavior patterns throughout their lives; if the larvae behave like burrowers, then the adults can spend most of their time on the surface, which is typical for terrestrial and semi-arboreal species. Burrowing spiders dig shelters in the ground, using webs to strengthen the soil; arboreal ones weave tubes from cobwebs. In most cases, spiders are active only when it is clearly necessary. Even hungry spiders can sit completely motionless for a long time, stalking their prey in ambush. Well-fed spiders tend to be even less active: adult female tarantulas often do not leave their hiding places for months.
How dangerous are brachypelmas for humans?
Among the domestic tarantula spiders, brachypelmas are the most obedient and calm pets, for this reason they are ideal for novice breeders and are not afraid to be left with children, although it is not recommended.
Nevertheless, like any spider, it has means of defense, this is poison and hairs on the body.
When he feels in danger, he sheds prickly and toxic hairs from his body, which fall on the skin or eyes of the attacker, causing him discomfort and irritation. In humans, these hairs can cause an allergic reaction, mild inflammation and itching that can last up to several days. For this reason, if the spiderling is near people, it is recommended to cover the ventilation holes with a fine mesh, such as gauze.
The spider is not aggressive and when threatened, if shedding hairs does not help, it usually tries to run away and hide; it is very difficult to force it to bite someone.
Like all spiders, it is poisonous , but it bites only when absolutely necessary, since it needs poison to digest and kill food; often the bite can be dry.
The bite is not fatal if there is no allergic reaction, the poison is similar in effect to bees, consequences: pain, swelling of the bitten part of the body, fever, etc., it is better to consult a doctor.
Temperament
Brachypelma smithie is a non-hostile and calm species of spider . However, the tarantula is able to use the protective hairs located on the abdomen as defense. Incidents with bites, or attempts at them, are quite rare. Spider venom does not pose a particular threat to human life. Despite this, the risk of consequences that contribute to the development of allergies, leading to death, cannot be ignored. Brachypelma does not react hostilely to cleaning the terrarium, but waits patiently and calmly for it. This helps reduce the risk of a bite at this moment.
Health problems
Like most tarantula spiders, brachypelmas rarely get sick.
The most likely health problems can be caused by the following reasons:
- Fall from a height - the spider's exoskeleton is similar in structure to an eggshell, so a fall leads to its splitting and subsequent death of the pet. You can avoid the problem if you use a soft substrate and do not build too high structures in the spider web.
- Dehydration – Brachypelmas require higher humidity than other tarantulas. Make sure that the spider plant always has moist soil and a drinking bowl with water. Spiders do not drink water, but the water bowl maintains the humidity level, and they can sometimes bathe in it. Signs of dehydration in the spider, a slightly shriveled abdomen and very low activity. If he is severely dehydrated, he may curl his paws under him. If you see these symptoms, move the spider to a separate container containing a damp towel, after a while it will come to its senses. Do not put him in a container with water, he may drown, since his lungs are located in the lower part of his body.
- Molting - do not touch the spider while it is molting, even if it is lying upside down. This state is normal during this process. But any attempt to touch it can lead to damage to the new fragile exoskeleton and subsequent death of the pet.
Origin
Brachypelma smithie lives in North and Central America, the southern United States and the Pacific coast of Mexico. It was in Mexico that the appearance of this spider was first noted. In the region where this type of insect originates, a dry climate prevails, which can be characterized as dry savannah. In these places, the rainy season occurs during the warm season - from May to October. However, rain does not bring much moisture. And from October to November there is no precipitation at all.
In the 70s of the 20th century, brachypelmas became popular among exotic lovers and virtually disappeared, due to their catching for sale. Today, this species of tarantula is under the protection of CITES, thanks to which the catching of brachypelma was prohibited, and it was decided to use home-bred spiders for sale. A ban has also been introduced on the import and export of any spiders of the genus Brachypelma.
