The Arizona blond desert tarantula is a burrowing cute, and hairy enormous spider. They are seen during the summer rainy season in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. These blond tarantulas have 3-4-inch (70 to 100 mm) long legs and a laid-back outlook. They have beautiful blonde fur and long legs. The male spider has beautiful black legs, a reddish front and copper-coloured cephalothoraxes. But the females have tan colour bodies.
They have eight legs and two pedipalps. They use their claws to grab and carry their prey and bring food to the mouth and fangs on the bottom of the head portion. The growth rate of these Arizona tarantulas is very slow; they take many years to become adults and mature. The female can live for up to 30 years so, keep in mind the lifespan while purchasing.
| Scientific Name | Aphonopelma chalcodes |
| Temperature | 75 to 85 degrees F |
| Family | Theraphosidae |
| Care Level | Low |
| Temperament | Solitary |
| Lifespan of Male | Male: 5-10 years |
| Lifespan of Female | Female: 24-30 years, |
| Color Form Female | tan |
| Color Form Male | black legs with red abdomen |
| Size | 5 to 6 inches |
| Diet | Crickets |
| Other common names | western tarantula, desert tarantula |
| Compatibility | Low |
| Minimum Tank Size | 5 gallons |
Habitat of Arizona Blond Tarantula
The Arizona blond tarantula is native to saguaro-dominated plant populations. In the desert southwest, there are many similar species, but they are not easy to distinguish. The size of caves can be 1 to 2 inches in diameter. There are also some threads of silk across the entrance. Arizona tarantulas are burrowing spiders, so you will frequently see them digging around in their surroundings. In their natural habitat, they excavate tunnels as extensive as 2 inches in width and can be much extended. They mostly do this task of digging and climbing in the evening.
Environmentalism
Tarantulas are night-time predators that never come out from caves unless when they are ready for formatting. These blond tarantulas block their burrows with soil, rocks, and silk in the winter season. During this season, the animals prey on stored fat reserves.
Behaviour & Temperament
Like all other tarantulas, the Arizona blond tarantula is also a defensive species. These tarantulas only attack when annoyed, but this attack is not very serious for humans. The venom from a tarantula is only slightly irritating, but sometimes it shows an allergy to some sensitive skins. The Desert Blonde Tarantulas are poisonous, but their venom is not dangerous to humans.
In many cases, a bite from an Arizona blond will not cause much itching. At a standstill, You should not handle tarantulas regularly. First, test your Arizona blonde’s temper. You can test it by touching your tarantula with a small paintbrush or straw. If they react in good health, you can pick her up.
These tarantulas have a fascinating defensive capacity. The hairs on the abdomen are specialized for protection. These urticating hairs are inclined toward the rear pointing barbs. When these Blond tarantulas feel threatened in any way, they throw these hairs on the face, hand or another body part of their enemy. These hairs irritate and are very tricky to eliminate because of the barbs.
Matting/ Reproduction of Arizona Blond Tarantula
Male tarantulas become adults when they are 10 to 12 years old. At that time, they feel quest formatting and depart their burrows in seek of female tarantulas. They will try to find a mature female who is usually at least ten years old. The male will stroke the silk at the peak of the burrow and tap particular series until the female responses to the male. In the process of mating, the male put his pedipalps into her gonophores to leave sperms. During matting, he is chiefly susceptible to predation by the female. After mating, the female leaves her eggs in a burrow. The young tarantulas stay in the burrow until they scatter.
After the summer mating, the male tarantula does not stay alive long. Sometimes the female eats the male. Occasionally he dies due to the revelation of heat and cold. Even in detention, after mating, males only stay alive a few months. Mostly Arizona blonde tarantulas are trapped in the wild. The main reason is that the males breed only one time in their lifespan.
Also read about:
Accessories for Tarantula’s Enclosure
Choose the Best Enclosure for your Tarantula
Arizona Blond Tarantula Care Sheet
Enclosure
A tank of 5 to 10 gallons large is required for these tarantulas. The common rule of thumb is used for habitat at least three times as long as the leg span of your tarantula. A locking cap is essential that is not made of lattice, as moving lids could injure your tarantulas, and their legs can get stuck in a lattice cap. You should position a three and a half-inch tall shelter in your tank. You can buy one from rubbery or slice a hole through a small flower pot turned the wrong way up.
. These tarantulas are burrowing spiders so, at least 4 inches of the substrate is required (like peat moss) at the base of your tank. The peat moss, soil, or vermiculite of three or more inches can be used in the substrate. These tarantulas are comestible with desert conditions so, they can settle dry since these tarantulas are used to dry. You can wet the substrate once a week for humidity and then let it dry out the substrate.
Temperature
The temperature for your tarantulas should be 68-72 degrees F, which is perfect for making a comfortable house. Mostly, the enclosure does not need a heating pad. But if your home temperature dipping below, keep a handy heater nearby that will keep the enclosure warm and kick off cold.
Food and Water
Tarantulas are hunters, and we provide live prey for feeding. Many large insects are good options for adult’s food. Adult tarantulas need food once or twice a week, whereas young spiders need it more frequently. Spiderlings can eat cricket legs, confused flour beetles, pre-killed small crickets, etc., adults eat small live crickets or roaches. Feeding them properly also means keeping pet crickets beside your spider to eat and providing them with food that will fulfil the nutrient. According to some keepers, sometimes a full grown-spider and the occasional pinky mouse is the best food for your pet.
A smooth ceramic pan that contains clean and chlorine-free water is required in the tank. The deeper dishes create a drowning danger for tarantulas. This species belongs to deserts so, avoid drips when refreshing water, otherwise it will become strained if their tank substrate is drenched. Always provide fresh water in a small dish to keep your tarantula happy.
Cost of Arizona Blonde Desert Tarantulas
Does the cost depend on how many you want to buy? One Arizona blonde will cost around $50. If you buy, more some stores will provide a discount and lower the price by 10% to 25%. Different sellers of tarantula offer different discounts for buyers. to know more about Arizona Blond tarantula visit here.
Do Arizona Blonde Desert Tarantulas live with other Pets?
Any tarantula species would like to live alone, one to each territory, except you, breed them. They should not live together because they are cannibalistic; they can kill and eat each other in the same habitat. The Arizona blonde is not happy with other pets, like dogs or cats, because they don’t consider them friends. They treat other pets as a threat. This means that tarantula tries to hurt other pets or run away when they live with them.
Compatibility of Blonde Desert Tarantulas
Tarantulas are enormous pets for people who want something long-living, low-preservation and take less space housed within a tank. Arizona blondes are one of those who also do not need any special care. They don’t need heating pads, as long as your house temperature stays comfortable. These tarantulas are very easy to keep and take care of. But if you want to handle these tarantulas, then an Arizona blonde may not be suitable for you.
The Aphonopelma chalcones are native to the American desert (Arizona, California, and New Mexico). These blond desert tarantulas are not costly and easier to attain than other striking tarantulas. They are normally passive and easy to keep and care for, so first-time tarantula owners often purchase them. These species are defensive so, avoid handling them. They are very charming pets, and the hobbyists and older children like to keep them as pets, but they are not suitable for children younger than age 10.
Common Health Problems
These desert blonde tarantulas don’t require special care tarantulas. They are usually very enduring and long-lived species. But sometimes, they need some care when behavioural changes in them such as tiredness, loss of appetite, or abnormal restiveness.
If your spider remains without food for more than two weeks, then it may be dehydrated or sick. In this case, consult with experts to share the exotic veterinarian of your tarantula. Set up a plan to make sure your spider is not dehydrated, malnourished or sick. These tarantulas may have fungal infections if kept on a damp substrate. Similarly, parasites can also cause infection in tarantulas.For more information visit Tarantulas.
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One Response
Cool, I’ve been looking for this one for a long time