Nature Mikey

Nature Mikey

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Species of the Day: Mexican Bloodleg Tarantula



Scientific Name: Aphonopelma bicoloratum
Range: Scrub lands and deserts of the Pacific side of southern Mexico
Type: Terrestrial
Diet: Crickets and other insects
Adult Size: 3 1/2 to 4 inches
Growth Rate: Slow
Preferred Temperature: 75 to 90 degrees F
Preferred Humidity: 70 to 75%
Temperament: Docile and calm
Housing: Spiderlings can live in clear plastic deli cups with air holes; adults can live in a 10 to 15 gallon aquarium. Floor space is more important than height.
Substrate: 4 to 5 inches of potting soil or peat moss mixed with vermiculite. Be sure to provide something for the tarantula to hide in

    The Mexican bloodleg tarantula is easily one of the best beginner tarantulas on the market. A combination of color and a gentle disposition makes the Mexican bloodleg tarantula a great display and pet species. These tarantulas are docile and they wont flick urticating hairs very often. Due to their extremely slow growth rates, Mexican bloodleg tarantulas are also one of the longest lived tarantula species. Unfortunately this species is still quite rare, and isn't a species that you can find in any pet shop. Also, captive breedings are not very frequent and it's still a new species to the hobby, so when a Mexican bloodleg is available for sale, the price can be high. A unique thing about this species is that upon maturity the males lose all the orange and gold that you see in the picture and become completely black. This tarantula does not get very large, but it makes up for it with its beauty. Mexican bloodleg tarantulas can be expensive and hard to find, but for a beginner or an expert, they are well worth the money and will be with you for a long time.

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