Mexican Red-Knee

[ArachnidFairy777]

Hi everyone!

I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to tarantula care & husbandry. I plan on purchasing a Mexican Red-Knee within the next three months as I want to give myself ample time to learn about them.

Do you guys have any tips, specifically on terrarium size and setup? I've done some research on my own online, but get some conflicting advice.

How large/wide should their terrarium be? Is there any use/benefit of a substrate barrier? (I've seen some keepers say yes, others no)

Is a heating mat the best option for temperature control or a lamp?

I'm sorry, I just want the spidey to live their best life and I want to mimic their natural environment as closely as possible Thanks in advance!!!

 

[Mustafa67]

Hi everyone!

I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to tarantula care & husbandry. I plan on purchasing a Mexican Red-Knee within the next three months as I want to give myself ample time to learn about them.

Do you guys have any tips, specifically on terrarium size and setup? I've done some research on my own online, but get some conflicting advice.

How large/wide should their terrarium be? Is there any use/benefit of a substrate barrier? (I've seen some keepers say yes, others no)

Is a heating mat the best option for temperature control or a lamp?

I'm sorry, I just want the spidey to live their best life and I want to mimic their natural environment as closely as possible Thanks in advance!!!

SEARCH THE FORUM

 

[Gevo]

Hi everyone!

I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to tarantula care & husbandry. I plan on purchasing a Mexican Red-Knee within the next three months as I want to give myself ample time to learn about them.

Do you guys have any tips, specifically on terrarium size and setup? I've done some research on my own online, but get some conflicting advice.

How large/wide should their terrarium be? Is there any use/benefit of a substrate barrier? (I've seen some keepers say yes, others no)

Is a heating mat the best option for temperature control or a lamp?

I'm sorry, I just want the spidey to live their best life and I want to mimic their natural environment as closely as possible Thanks in advance!!!

Welcome! I have a Brachypelma hamorii (Mexican Red Knee) and love the species. It's a great beginner's species.

• When doing your research over the next few months, get into the habit of using the scientific name. Common names are easily confused and can be used to refer to many different species, and much of the information you'll find in the forums here will be more searchable with the scientific name.
• For terrarium setup, an arid terrestrial setup is what you're looking at. Keep it simple: Some dirt that can hold a burrow, a piece of cork bark, a water dish, and, if it suits your fancy (your tarantula won't care) a fake plant or two. (That's assuming you're getting something that's at least a juvenile or older--small slings have different needs.)
• For terrarium size, it'll depend on how big the tarantula is. Small slings are usually kept in dram vials or something similarly small so keepers can feed them and keep tabs on their health more easily. Larger slings, juveniles, and adults should be kept in an enclosure that is a few times their diagonal legspan in length and width and that has enough dirt in it that there's no more than about 1-1.5 times the spider's legspan to the top. It will be easier for you to start with an adult, juvenile or larger sling (something 2 inches or larger, I'd say).
• Substrate barriers are for planted enclosures with real plants in them and are there to provide a drainage layer so that the soil doesn't get too soggy when the plants are watered. That's an advanced setup and one that isn't even that great for this species because it is an arid species that will not appreciate the added moisture and humidity that most real plants will offer. As a beginner, keep it simple and use fake plants and don't worry about a drainage barrier. Just use dirt all the way down and moisten a corner of it once in a while (like, once every couple of weeks, probably).
• Heating mats and lamps are generally not needed or recommended. Tarantulas are fine if the room temperature is in the mid teens (celsius) or mid 60s (fahrenheit) to the high 20s(C) or low 80s(F). If your home is colder than that, there specific ways to use a heat mat, but do not use them like you would for reptiles. The forum has information about this if you need it.

Check out Tom's Big Spiders (YouTube, website, and podcast). He just did a podcast episode this week about keeping tarantulas in the winter, and he has tons of other good info.

 

[viper69]

I've done some research on my own online

what are your specific questions that resulted from the info you researched, ie the conflicts?

mats are perfect for killing Ts

barriers- not helpful at all

asking for tips is not helpful to you or the writer/ peeps could type stuff you know

check the sticky for NEW OWNERS!

 

[Brewser]

Welcome to the Hood & Congrats on Your Brachy.
*Search Function* - upper right - can be useful as well
Keep Em Hydrated.

Best Wishes 2 U Both,

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Hi everyone!

I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to tarantula care & husbandry. I plan on purchasing a Mexican Red-Knee within the next three months as I want to give myself ample time to learn about them.

Do you guys have any tips, specifically on terrarium size and setup? I've done some research on my own online, but get some conflicting advice.

How large/wide should their terrarium be? Is there any use/benefit of a substrate barrier? (I've seen some keepers say yes, others no)

Is a heating mat the best option for temperature control or a lamp?

I'm sorry, I just want the spidey to live their best life and I want to mimic their natural environment as closely as possible Thanks in advance!!!

Welcome to AB

I like to provide the link below to soon-to-be or new keepers. The authors put alot of work into it so I like to provide it as much as possible. It's the best info to get you started.

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com