The Mexican Flame Knee tarantula is a spider species of the genus Brachypelma and family Theraphosidae. It is found in Mexico. Brachypelma auratum is also known as the Mexican Flame Knee Spider. Keepers of this species are generally very experienced, and this spider is often sought out by beginners and experienced keepers alike. Known for its beautiful red and black color pattern and its docile nature this scrub-land tarantula is very hardy. Females live longer than males.
Spiderlings are slow to achieve their full-grown colors, but for me, it’s part of the fun of tarantula-raising. It takes many years for 3/4-1 1/2″ leg-span spiderlings to start showing the first signs of adult coloring. Remember that these are estimates and they do vary from specimen to specimen. There’s nothing better than observing the transformation of an unassuming brown spider into a large, colorful tarantula.
| Scientific Name: | Brachypelma auratum |
| Common Name: | Mexican Flame Knee |
| Type: | Terrestrial |
| Endemic Location: | Guerrero and Michogan regions of Mexico |
| Diagonal Leg Span (DLS): | 5.5” (14cm) |
| Growth Rate: | Medium – Slow |
| Life Expectancy | Females 25-30 years / Males 10 years |
| Recommended Experience Level: | Beginner |
A relatively new species of the family Theraphosidae, these spiders have been called New World tarantula. This is a beautiful tarantula and a rare one at that. It is found in the Guerrero and Michigan regions of Mexico usually in the savanna and scrub. Brachypelma spindale was discovered in 1992, and before that, it was considered just a subspecies of the Brachypelma smithi.
Personality and Temprament
Brachypelma is a genus of extremely docile spider species. They’re not aggressive at all. Since they do kick urticating hairs when agitated, they are better off not being held near your body. Brachypelma aurata is a carnivorous arachnid that might rupture its abdomen when it falls from a huge height. We would suggest you, let your pet sit on your couch or bed if you are planning to pet them. To pick this tarantula, you’ll have to simply place your hand in front of it.
Lifespan
The female Mexican Flame Knee spider has a lifespan of up to 15 years, while males usually live only 4 to 5 years in captivity.
The enclosure of the Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula
There are so many rare spiders out there that can easily be kept as pets. These include the Mexican Flame Knee tarantula. Proper ventilation is important, but safety should be a top priority when designing your tarantula enclosure.
The enclosure should be no taller than necessary to provide the spider with a safe place to build its web. For Spiderlings less than about 1 1/4″ in length, this is the enclosure you need. For specimens larger than 2″ we recommend the Juvenile Enclosure Kit. In this way, you won’t have to worry about a spider escaping, as it wouldn’t have anywhere to go. It would be thrown into the enclosure.
Substrate
Most adult tarantulas will adopt a hide, slings often prefer to burrow. Coco fiber, vermiculite, peat moss, and/or potting soil (or a mix) are all excellent substrate choices for a tarantula. Please make sure the substrate you choose is organic and chemical/fertilizer free. You should not use sand, pebbles, rocks or wood pieces, or anything else that could possibly cut or harm the tarantula.
In many cases, a larger tarantula would rather adopt or retrofit an existing hide than create one from a deep substrate. You should use a small number of plastic tubing (3/8”) that are half buried in the substrate. They’re used for adult females. The cork specimen will remove one side of the cork tube to its liking. This makes the spider feel “at home” while minimizing the time and effort required to set up a trap.
Most spiders that you find will have the desire to build their burrow. There’s nothing wrong with a tarantula with such skills and preference for tunneling – it’s called obligate burrowing. When you place a new tarantula in its container you’ll want to add a few inches of substrate and place it near the top of the container. The Terrestrial Spiderling and Terrestrial Juvenile Enclosure Kit have both been proven to encourage burrowing.
Temperatures
Ideally kept in the mid 70° range with a bit of wiggle room in either direction. Cold temperatures are fine, but heat is not. Temperatures below 65° or above 85° should not be used.
There is no need for a heat source for your tarantulas, as they are not active at night. During the day they will be very active, and as long as you keep them out of direct sunlight, you should be fine. If they get too hot during the day, they will have trouble climbing the sides of their container. You should also give them a dark place to hide at night. They are not good climbers, so you shouldn’t leave them outside on the ground.
Humidity
60%-70% of the time, slings should remain in a lightly moist substrate, adult tarantulas should have a water dish, and they should be given a corner of their enclosure to go through a wet/dry cycle.
Water
Tarantulas should have a shallow water dish for drinking. Larger species (such as larger species of Tarantula) should be provided with a shallow water dish to drink.
Make sure the water bowl is cleaned out and filled with fresh, cold water at least once a day. You shouldn’t need to mist them in the scrubland zone, but if you do, make sure it’s one corner. You can use the water bowl for misting. A few drops of water at the bottom of the enclosure will keep them from dehydrating in hot weather.
Feeding
Spiders like adult tarantulas will eat every 6-14 days depending on the size of the spider and its prey. It’s important to feed the spiderlings every 5 to 10 days. For adults, you might feed them crickets, mealworms, or roaches.
Spiderlings are only as large as they are because they’re feeding on insects, which are small and easy for them to overpower. Don’t feed your tarantula wild-caught food. You may end up being bitten. Be careful about what foods you feed your pet, because you may be exposing it to potentially fatal health risks. Don’t give your pet any foods that are known to have parasites or pesticides in them.
Keep your tarantula’s enclosure clean. Excess food waste in the enclosure will attract insects, mites, and other pests. It is a good idea to remove any prey you haven’t eaten in the last 3 to 12 hours. If you have a captive-raised tarantula who has not been fed to a point of stress or illness you can leave the tarantula and its food on the floor of the terrarium for a day or two.
If you have a tarantula that has not been fed recently, then you can simply clean out the terrarium using a small sieve and tap water. Make sure you rinse out the terrarium thoroughly. Insects are attracted to your tarantula’s enclosure. This can be a problem if you have an outdoor setup.
Feeding as a pet
These tarantulas are very slow growers. They don’t eat very much, so you don’t have to worry. The majority of pet tarantulas can survive on just one meal of insects every five to seven days. However, you can always feed them more often if they seem to be starving. For the food, you can use any medium-sized insect-like crickets, locusts, or cockroaches. Tarantulas don’t need a lot of maintenance, and they are getting all of their food in the evening. It’s better to remove the tarantula’s food before it’s too late.
Pet enclosure habitat layout
A substrate of about an inch or so is great for these tarantulas. For the temperature, however, you will require a heater or heating pad for enclosure. This is because the Mexican Flame Knee tarantula is familiar with being hot. This is why the Mexican flame knee is habituated to living in the warm regions of Mexico.
If you don’t have a heating pad you can use a pillow, sweater, or towel instead. You should regularly spray your spider’s web so that you can avoid the spiders getting trapped in it. This will keep the humidity levels high throughout the day.
Mating / reproducing of Mexican Flame Knee tarantula
Mating these tarantulas won’t be a huge deal, and they won’t be aggressive toward humans. After the female has completed a successful course of mating, it may take several months before successfully laying an egg. While the females do store sperm for a significant amount of time, if they shed their sperm, there is no chance of them getting fertilized eggs. The eggs will hatch after 8 to 9 weeks. They’re ready for your home.
Development rate
The Mexican Flame Knee Spider can grow to be quite large and does reach into the moderate sizes of spiders
Fun Fact
I think that B. auratum has the most remarkable contrast of the color of all Brachypelma. It’s very dramatic – almost all black with bright red flames on its knees. B. bifarius is known for its similarity to B. smithi.
Red Slate Ornamental Tarantula
