Brachypelma Page

Welcome to my page dedicated to the 21 species of Brachypelma tarantulas. These wonderful spiders could almost be said to be the bread and butter of the tarantula hobby as many of the species are some of the earliest kept in the hobby due to their bright colours, mostly docile temperament, and relative hardiness.

Many have been long term favourites and remain highly demanded today, with adult females (species dependant) sometimes commanding high prices. This is because Brachypelma species are protected by CITIES so we rely mainly on CB specimens, which although are often readily available, are exceptionally slow growing. Most start life as tiny 1cm pinkish hairless creatures that can take over a year to even start showing a hint of their adult colours to come.

These New World tarantulas are native to parts of Central America and many boast rich colours and moderate size. They do not tend to be exceptionally fast or aggressive, though many species are skittish and very prone to flicking urticating hairs, which are their primary defence.

In my opinion many of the Brachypelma species make excellent beginners tarantulas as they are easy to keep, relatively undemanding, and not prone to hiding away from view making good display spiders for people who like to view their pet. They are all terrestrial, opportunistic burrows. They are however not all that active and will be content to sit in the same spot for hours if not days.

In some people’s mind these spiders can be considered boring and the ultimate “pet rock”, however I find them beautiful and particularly a pleasure to grow. Even though it takes a very long time, patience will reveal a very plain hairless 1cm spider becoming a splendid and beautiful specimen.

What follows is a list of the species and descriptions:

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Mexican Red Knee - Latin name: Brachypelma smithi

This is a very well known tarantula, and is possibly what most people think of when asked to picture a tarantula. It hardly needs an introduction.

With its striking black and orange markings, this tarantula is dressed to impress. It can reach a pretty good size with adult specimens obtaining a leg span of almost 6 inches.

Temperament wise it is not aggressive, but I have known specimens to be skittish and prone to making the odd run for it – although they are not anything like the super speedsters of the tarantula world. They are also very keen flickers, and if this is the case care should be taken not to disturb the spider too much or else it will soon have a very bald abdomen. This does no harm to the spider really, but does make them look less attractive.

They make a great display spider and will spend a great deal of time out in the open – albeit just sitting there. They are slow growing but this comes coupled with longevity, females can live up to and even exceeding 20 years.

In the wild this species inhabits both dry and tropical deciduous forests. In captivity they prefer a drier enclosure with a humidity of 55-65%, the temperature should be 24-30°C. They are content with minimal decor, though you should offer a shallow water bowl and a hide which can be a piece of cork bark or half a flower pot works well – it should be noted though these spiders may not bother making use of the offered hide.

Due to CITIES this species cannot be taken from the wild. Captive breedings are common, but the spiderlings are very slow growing. It is however rewarding when at last your little, hairless creature moults and starts to show the first signs of the magnificent tarantula it will become.

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Giant Orange Knee – Latin name: Brachypelma annitha

Brachypelma annitha is only rarely available in the hobby so you will be lucky if you can obtain one. The spider is very similar to B. smithi and some believe it is actually a colour form of B. smithi, although this is not certain, so the two should not be interbred.

The main difference between B. smithi and B. annitha is the carapace. B. smithi tend to have a darker carapace with less orange than black, for B. annitha there tends to be less black with a larger area of orange, although the two do look quite similar and it can be hard to tell.

The temperament of this spider is a little skittish, and it is prone to kicking hairs. However like many other Brachypelma it does make a good display specimen if left alone.

Keep as described for B. smithi.

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Common name unknown – Latin name: Brachypelma hamorii

This spider looks pretty much identical to B. smithi and is also considered to be a possible colour variant, although this has not been established.

B. hamorii is unknown in the tarantula hobby and is likely to remain so as it is protected by CITIES.

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Curly Hair - Latin name: Brachypelma albopilosum

Brachypelma albopilosum is very popular in the hobby and is an excellent spider for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike. They are moderately sized leg span wise, but stocky tarantulas that tend to be plump. They are brown with a bronze sheen and have a unique look about them due to the curly brown hairs which cover them. Some appear almost fluffy and cute (for spiders).

Temperament wise they tend to be calm, though they are as with other Brachypelma species prone to kicking urticating hairs. Unlike many other Bachypelma however these spiders grow at a moderate speed. Also, because they are found in tropical rain forest regions, these spiders appreciate a humidity of 70-80%. The temperature should be maintained at around 21-27°C.

These opportunistic burrowers are easy to house. As with all terrestrial species ground space is more important than height – the tank should not be too high to prevent the spider from falling and injuring itself. The substrate should be slightly moist and a shallow water bowl should be available. You can provide half a flower pot or ideally a piece of cork bark as a hide, although the spider may not adopt it as these tend to spend a lot of time out in the open, making excellent display spiders.

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Mexican Red Rump - Latin name: Brachypelma vagans

Another hobby favourite, this popular Mexican species is jet black, except for the abdomen which is covered with pretty red hair. It is a stocky animal that can attain a leg span of about 5 inches. Adult females can be truly stunning, the black really contrasts well with the red making it look even more vivid.

Easy to keep, these make good beginners spiders and can also make great display spiders as they may be happy to spend a great deal of time out in the open. They are keen feeders and in my experience will be happy to over eat so feeding should be carefully monitored to prevent the spider from becoming overweight.

Spiderlings of this species grow faster than some other Brachypelma species, being about medium speed when compared to other species of tarantulas.

The enclosure should have more ground space than height, a good amount of slightly moist substrate should be provided along with a shallow water bowl and a hiding place, such as a piece of cork bark. Another other decoration you wish to add will not really benefit the spider, but can make the enclosure look pleasing for you and other people.

The humidity should be about70% with temperatures maintained at approximately between 24-28°C.

These spiders are sometimes loosely referred to as “red rump tarantulas” and it should be noted that there are several Brachypelma species that look pretty much identical to B. vagans these being: B. sabulosum, B.angustum and B.epicureanum. Due to the easy confusion between these species interbreeding has occurred and it can be very difficult to know whether you in fact have a true Brachypelma vagans or a hybrid. This will not matter all that much if you intend to keep your spider as a pet, however if breeding this species, extensive research should be done to prevent further watering of the bloodlines.

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Costa Rican Red – Latin name: Brachypelma angustum

This species of Brachypelma is very similar to B. vagans, however B. vagans is usually larger with B. angustum reaching about 4 inches in leg span. It should be remembered though it can be difficult to tell if you are looking at an immature B. vagans or a full sized adult B. angustum.

Preferably this spider will be purchased labelled with its latin name, if seen in a petstore labelled as Costa Rican Red or Red Rump it will take specialist examination to determine the true identity of the tarantula. This would involve having a moult of the spider and examining the spermathacae – best done by an expert. It should also be noted that B. vagans have jet black legs but some red hairs may be visible on the legs of B. angustum.

This aside, like B. vagans, B. angustum makes an excellent pet and beginners tarantula is very beautiful. It should be noted however these have been known to be a little less docile than other brachypelma species. They feed well and have a medium growth rate as spiderlings.

The enclosure should be as described for B. vagans with temperatures of 24-28°C and humidity of approximately 70%.

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Guatemalan Redrump – latin name: Brachypelma sabulosum

This species is extremely similar to B. angustum and it is exceptionally hard to tell the two apart. This would certainly be beyond my skills and is best established by an expert. Buying the spider labelled with the latin name can help and questioning the source, but again if labelled as common name, or red rump tarantula, it will be hard to know exactly with species you have acquired.

I personally have not encountered this species for sale, although would assume it is occasionally available.

Keep as described for B. vagans.

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Central American Black - Brachypelma epicureanum

Another species that looks pretty much identical to B. vagans, B. angustum and B. sabulosum, taking expert analysis of the spermathacae to be certain on identity.

I personally have never encountered this spider for sale and have not personally dealt with anyone who has kept it. It is very rare in the hobby and little seems to be known about it.

If you are lucky enough to acquire one, keep as described for B. vagans, and be sure to share your experience with the tarantula community.

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Mexican Red Leg - Latin name: Brachypelma Emilia

The Mexican Red Leg as it is commonly called is a remarkably beautiful tarantula, and yet another very popular hobby favourite. The markings on these are stunning with the carapace being orange with a distinct black triangle. The legs have orange bands and the abdomen is reddish.

These are robust hardy spiders that are easy to care for and can be good for beginners, although they are a little more nervous than other docile spices and prone to flicking hairs. My adult female is a tad defensive and if disturbed she will go into the threat pose. I believe she would bite given the opportunity.

Like several other Brachypelma tarantulas this is a long lived, slow growing species. Females can live over 20 years and spiderlings can take several years to grow.

Size wise this spider attains a leg span of about 5-6 inches, that together with the colours and its habits of not hiding away from view can make for an excellent display specimen. The growth speed is slow.

The enclosure should be that of a terrestrial opportunistic burrower with floor space being more important than height. The substrate should be dry, a shallow water bowl must be provided and once a week this can be slightly over filled to make the surrounding substrate ever so slightly damp. This species prefers a drier enclosure with about 50% humidity and likes temperatures to be between 23-27°C.

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Mexican Fire Leg – latin name: B. boehmei

The Mexican Fire Leg is another very popular, colourful and strikingly marked tarantula. The common name comes from the bright red/orange on the legs. The abdomen is black with light orange hairs, and the carapace is orange. Full grown adult specimens are extremely beautiful.

The temperament of these spiders is docile, but they are nervous, might attempt to make the odd run for it if no suitable hide is available, and they readily kick hairs when disturbed. However left alone they make good display spiders, many being content to sit out in the open.

These spiders like a dry enclosure. The substrate should be dry or very slightly moist. Personally I like to keep them dry with a water dish that once a week I very slightly overflow to moisten the surrounding substrate. The humidity should be about 60-70% with a temperature of 26 and 30°C.

The tank should have more ground space than height and you can offer a hiding place such as half a flower pot or nicely shaped piece of cork bark. Other decor can be added to make a beautiful display but this is optional as it is of no benefit to the spider.

In all Brachypelma boehmei is a hardy spider that is easy to keep and not difficult to breed. It can make a good beginner’s tarantula. The growth rate of the spiderlings is slow, and adults can attain a leg span of approximately 15cm.

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Mexican Pink – Latin name: Brachypelma klaasi

Although less strikingly marked than say Brachypelma smithi, Brachypelma klaasi is still a stunningly beautiful spider, especially when adult. The carapace is black, and the legs and abdomen have a coating of pink (or rust red) hairs. Leg span wise adults get to be about 14cm.

Slightly less common in the hobby than B. smithi and the like, this spider is known to be quite nervous and will readily kick hairs if disturbed. It can however be suitable for beginners providing they do not wish to try and handle their pet (in my personal opinion tarantulas should not be handled, although it is of course personal choice).

Breedings of this spider are not all that common, however spiderlings are occasionally available. These start off as tiny hairless creatures that eat well and grow a little faster than the really slow growing Branchypelma.

This spider will appreciate an enclosure with more ground space than height. The substrate should be either very slightly moist or dry (it does prefer drier conditions). I find dry substrate with a shallow water bowl provided works well – especially if the water bowl is very slightly overflowed about once a week.

A hiding place should be provided, which the spider may or may not make use of. Like many Brachypelma these can make very good display spiders if left undisturbed. The hiding spot can provide a secure place for the spider to run to when you open the enclosure for maintenance and feeding. The temperature should be about 24-28°C with a humidity of 60-70%.

It should be noted that this species has two colour forms, one being known as Lowland, the other as Mountain. The Lowland tends to look more orange where as the Mountain is more pink/red.

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Mexican Rose Grey – Latin name: Brachypelma verdezi

This stocky spider is subtly marked, but beautiful nonetheless. The main colour is dark brown to almost black, with the carapace being light golden brown. There are also light coloured hairs on the abdomen. Adults get a leg span of about 15cm.

It should be noted that this spider has only recently been classified as Brachypelma and used to be sold in the hobby as Aphonopelma pallidum. It was also sometimes known as Brachypelma pallidum, however this is not a valid name.

Again another good spider for beginners, Brachypelma verdezi is known for being docile, but an occasional hair kicker. If left undisturbed it is often happy to spend its time sitting out in the open so it can be displayed.

The enclosure should be as for many other Brachypelma – more ground space than height, dry to very slightly moist substrate, with a shallow water dish and hide provided. The best way to maintain a humidity of approximately 55-65% is to slightly overflow the water bowl about once weekly. The temperature should be about 26-28°C.

Spiderlings of this species are hardy. They start off as tiny hairless grey coloured creatures and eat well, growing a bit faster than the really slow growing Brachypelma species.

All round this is a lovely species that can make an excellent spider for beginners and experts alike.
 
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Mexican Flame Knee – Latin name: Brachypelma auratum

Brachypelma auratum was for a long time considered to be a highland form of Brachypelma smithi however it has since proved to be a separate but similar looking species. These spiders have a darker more vivid red on the patella, and the common name flame knee comes from this red marking resembling a candle flame in colour and shape. Below the red knee, white bands can also be seen on each of the legs joints thereafter.

Like B. smithi, B. auratum can make a good beginner’s spider, however they are very nervous and very keen to flick hairs when disturbed.

The enclosure should have more ground space than height, and an artificial hide should be provided. This can be a piece of cork bark which can be safely positioned so the spider can nestle under it, half a flower pot will work or perhaps a commercially produced spider cave. You should also provide a shallow water bowl. Other decorations are not really necessary or beneficial to the spider, however so long as you do not make the enclosure too packed, you can add some artificial plants to make it look aesthetically pleasing. With luck B. auratum should be happy to spend a good portion of its time standing out on display.

The temperature for this spider should be warm, ideally maintained between 26-30°C with a humidity of between 60-70%.

Spiderlings of this species are very slow growing, so if you decide to raise one, you will have to wait years (4-5) for your specimen to reach maturity. However these are stunning as adults, so well worth the wait.

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(Further descriptions coming soon, page under construction)

Mexican Gold Red Rump – Latin name: Brachypelma albiceps

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Common Name Unknown – Latin name: Brachypelma andrewi

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Florida Golden Chestnut Tarantula – Latin name: Brachypelma aureoceps

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Mexican Orange Beauty – Latin name: Brachypelma baumgarteni

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Common Name Unknown – Latin name: Brachypelma embrithes

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Common Name Unknown – Latin name: Brachypelma fossorium

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New Mexican – Latin Name: Brachypelma kahlenbergi

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Mexican Black Velvet – Latin name: Brachypelma schroederi

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