Mexican Fire Leg Tarantula, Brachypelma boehmei
Please note that tarantulas for sale require specific care, including a suitable habitat and a good tarantula substrate. We recommend Vivarium Naturals Arachno-Thrive Tarantula Burrowing Substrate to ensure the well-being of your new eight-legged friend. Embrace the world of exotic pets and experience the wonder of Tarantulas for sale today!
Background: A native to Mexico, the Fire Leg Tarantula has characteristic & bright red legs which contrast with its black body and carapace. These medium-sized tarantulas are popular among arachnid enthusiasts across the world for their distinctive appearance. This species of tarantula prefers a dry, terrestrial environment with plenty of materials to burrow and hide in.
Feeding: Feed them once or twice a week depending on their hunger levels. Adult tarantulas should be fed roughly once a week while juvenile tarantulas can eat every day or two. Simply drop in the prey close to where your tarantula is in the enclosure. Feeding is best done in the evening when the tarantula is more active.
Habitat Humidity: Keep humidity moderate in the cage or high in the cage (if a tropical species).
Diet: Feed your tarantula a diet of crickets supplemented with other insects, including mealworms, super worms, and roaches. Large tarantulas can even be given pinkie mice and small lizards. The crickets should be gut loaded (fed nutritious foods) prior to feeding your tarantula and dusted with vitamin powder. What goes into the cricket is what you're ultimately feeding your tarantula. In general, the size of the food should be smaller than the tarantula's body.
Hydration: A small dish of fresh water should be provided at all times for your tarantula. It must be very shallow to prevent drowning. You can place some pebbles in the dish to give your tarantula something to climb out on as a precaution.
Health & Longevity: Tarantulas are generally hardy animals and don't have many health problems as long as they are kept secure in the proper environment. However, they still might face some issues. Some tarantulas might acquire oral nematodes, a parasitic infection, and though this is not very common for captive tarantulas, you should always keep an eye out for signs of this infection. Symptoms include decreased appetite and white material around the tarantula’s mouth.
Molting: Molting is how tarantulas grow to a larger size, by shedding their old exoskeleton and producing a new one. This is a stressful time for a tarantula, and it will typically lose its appetite prior to molting. Don't feed your tarantula during the molting process, which can take several days. Live prey can injure the tarantula while its new exoskeleton is hardening. In addition, the tarantula should never be handled during the molting process. It can take up to two weeks for your tarantula to fully recover after molting. Make sure that there are no crickets in the cage when your tarantula molts or else the cricket will kill the spider.
Mexican Fire Leg Tarantula FAQs
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How long do Mexican Fire Leg Tarantulas tend to live for?
Brachypelma boehmei can live quite a number of years compared to your average tarantula species, with females having an up to 20 year lifespan and males living between 5-10 years on average. -
How large do Mexican Fire Leg Tarantulas grow to be?
Fire Leg tarantulas can have a leg span between 5 - 6 inches when fully grown. This makes them a medium-sized tarantula species. -
Do Brachypelma boehmei have urticating hairs?
Similar to many species of tarantula, the Mexican Fire Leg has urticating hairs. These can be kicked off as a defensive mechanism if the tarantula feels threatened, so caution is always advised while handling the spider. It's recommended to avoid direct contact with these hairs, esecially around the face and eyes.
