The Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula is also known as the Giant White Knee tarantula. They are native to the rainforest of Brazil. They are the most famous Tarantula species being kept in custody nowadays. These giant knee spiders are skittish and potentially aggressive; that’s why they are suitable for more advanced keepers. Like other species, they will not hide and run when they feel threatened. There is the danger of flicking tremendously irritating hairs, especially in the eyes and other body parts.
These tarantulas take shelter in caves and plants. They are a giant species, and their name is due to the white stripes on the legs. These are noticeable on the dark brown body, which typically has a pink touch to the hairs. They don’t bite very often but are still a little skittish to handle.
The female reaches the size of 8 inches but the. Like all other tarantulae, species male has a small size. The Spiderlings are generally known in technoculture. They mostly feel comfortable doing burrowing. With the growth of Whiteknee, they become more confident. They would be fantastic display spiders, especially when eating if they spent time out of their burrow. These species tend to be docile and aggressive hunters. They become more provoking when a meal is served.
| Scientific name | Acanthoscurria geniculata |
| Family | Theraphosidae |
| Temperature | 76°F to 82°F |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Color | Black, white, red |
| Temperament | Docile but skittish |
| Size | 7 inches – 8.5 inches |
| Lifespan | Males- 4 years, Females- 20 years |
| Diet | Insects, lizards, mice |
| UV Lighting | Not required |
| Category | New World |
| Body length | 9 cm |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Experience level | Beginners |
Typical Behavior & Temperament
The Brazilian Whiteknee belongs to a New World Tarantula. Like all other tarantulas, they have urticating hairs. They kick off some hairs when they feel danger around them. These tarantulas are confusing creatures and hide in their burrows instead to face a fight. They release some urticating hairs if they feel threatened, which can be dangerous if you get them in your mouth, nose, or eyes. They will become comfortable with you if you touch slowly and with care. this species belongs to new world tarantulas.
Breeding
The mating process of the Brazilian Whiteknee tarantula is smoother as compared to other Brazilian tarantula species. The female tarantula is more suspicious to the male. When planning the formatting of tarantulas, keep in mind that the male must come out from his old skin. After 4 to 6 months of moult, you should bring the male for breeding. Before breeding, makes sure you should feed the Female properly but are not obese. After the matting finish, use tweezers to disconnect the male and Female without delay. Females take pleasure in burrowing themselves after the mating process ends, so don’t prevent her from doing this. This method helps to prepare her for the cocooning process. Within 4 to 7 months after matting, she starts to create her cocoon, and it holds anywhere from 600 to 1,000 in quantity.
Housing
The White Knees are massive tarantula species, so they need a big room to allocate them for proper movement than some other tarantulas. They require a deep substrate for burrowing. As these Brazilian Whiteknee tarantulas are enormous so, the size of the tank can be minimum of a 60 x 45 x 30cm for males and up to 90 x 45 x 30cm for females. The flat plastic containers are also a good option for housing but make sure the enclosure has good ventilation.
A soil substrate is best for the enclosure as they are from forest areas. The base should contain cocoa soil or ProRep Spider Life which makes the substrate comfortable and moist. These tarantulas would like to make their burrows. You need to decor well and adequately with artificial plants, cork tubes or cork pieces, some vegetation branches. This decoration makes the enclosure beautiful and becomes a secure and comfortable place for your tarantula. Your tarantula will leave happily and peacefully in the enclosure.
Heating and lighting
There is no need for any special lighting, although a small LED creates night and day periods. This light also helps in the growth of plants if you want live planted surroundings. For regulation and heating, you should use heating pads or a more relaxed side and warmer side. The heating temperature of the enclosure should be 25 to 26 C, which can usually maintain with a heat mat. Any heat source needs attaching to the relevant thermostat to maintain the heat and ensure the temperature doesn’t increase. If you want to keep your tarantula in a plastic container, there should be proper airflow is between the heat mat and the bottom of the container. This airflow helps to avoid burn risk. The temperature of the more relaxed end can remain around, and at night, all temperatures can drop to 15C. This temperature is natural in a wild habitat.
Humidity
The level of humidity should be around 70%. An accurate digital hygrometer is used to measure the humidity. To obtain and maintain the humidity, use spray and moss in the substrate. The proper spraying will help to hold the structure.
During the molting process, increase the humidity for the flexibility of the tarantula to get out of the old molt. Molting may be a worrying process if you are a new keeper and haven’t seen it before. In this process, a tarantula flips on its back to creep out of the molt. Sometimes they look like dead bodies.
Cleaning and Lighting
These tarantulas do not need heat and light in the enclosure, so do not ever use heating lights. Sometimes the tank doesn’t need any exceptional cleanliness unless you observe smell coming from the enclosure. There is no need for special lighting in the tank.
Feeding of White Knee Tarantula
The Giant White Knee tarantula would like live food. You should provide crickets, mealworms, locusts and cockroaches and others. They need food one to two times a week, depending on the food. The adults can eat small mice, but this diet contains a rich amount of protein, so you should provide this meal only in moderation, with the tack diet being the live meal. No extra supplements are necessary for the meal. To keep the substrate clean, remove the uneaten food from the enclosure to prevent infection in your tarantula. On the whole, when moulting, your tarantula can be susceptible to the live food consuming them!
A shallow dish of water should be provided in the tank. These spiders use this dish for drinking water. When you go to refill it, wash out the bowl. Place this water dish in the corner of the enclosure. You should add some pebbles to the dish to keep any uneaten crickets from drowning and stinking. The wild-caught food contains parasites or pesticides so, don’t give it to your tarantula. This kind of food could be deadly to them. To avoid mould, mites, and mushrooms in the enclosure, you should remove the food waste.
Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula Cost
This tarantula became popular in the 1990s, and after that, it became the most favourite tarantula. Since then, the desire for them has continued. The prices for these tarantulas are relatively low. You will pay $50 to 100 dollars for tarantula spiderlings. When you want to buy a pet, you must search for a reputable breeder who gives you tips about tarantula’s safety.
Compatibility of Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula
The Whiteknee Tarantula is a charming creature. Sometimes they look most exciting and eye-catching. The strength when they feed and kind nature make them an excellent choice for tarantula lovers. But some people don’t like them as pets. They remain calm and happy, as long as you can understand their delicate yet striking beauty, and when working with them, you shouldn’t have too many problems when caring for these tarantulas.
Tips to make your tarantula Healthy
The Brazilian Whiteknee requires all the basic needs which keep it healthy. Always try to make their enclosure clean and free of mould, pests and other uneaten stuff. If you observe any outlandish smells coming from the substrate, change the substrate about once a month or more.
Keep the tank moist and maintain the humidity. Use a thermostat to maintain the temperature level and make sure the temperature remains normal. Give the tarantulas proper feed regularly, especially during molt. Please give them a place to move away and feel safe and comfortable. During molting, they may act like strangers so, don’t worry about their behaviour.
Conclusion
Don’t worry if you don’t have any know-how with tarantulas. You need gloves to handle them because they have pokey hairs, which they use to kick off some hairs when they feel danger around them. They are enormous if you want to study the basics of tarantula care and scrutinize how they feed, burrow, molt, and breed. The Brazilian Whiteknee tarantula is a unique species. They are one of the tarantulas that most people take pleasure in having in their assortment.
