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Acanthoscurria chacoana

🔤 Taxonomy

Acanthoscurria chacoana is the currently accepted scientific name. World Spider Catalog treats Acanthoscurria altmanni as a synonym of this species.

English common names used in the hobby:

  • Bolivian red rump tarantula
  • Bolivian redrump tarantula
  • Chaco tarantula

📌 Description

Acanthoscurria chacoana is a large terrestrial New World tarantula from Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. It is often kept as a visible display spider, but it is still a powerful animal with urticating hairs and a strong feeding response.

Adults are usually about 15-20 cm legspan. Females become broad, heavy-bodied spiders; mature males are slimmer and more mobile after maturity.

This is a better choice for experienced terrestrial tarantula keepers than for a first spider. The main risks are stress, hair flicking, falls, overfeeding, and careless maintenance around a food-responsive adult.

☠️ Venom

The venom is not usually managed as medically significant, but a large tarantula bite can be painful and may cause swelling or individual reactions.

Avoid handling. This species can use urticating hairs when stressed, so protect eyes and skin during maintenance and do not work with your face over the enclosure.

🌍 Distribution

World Spider Catalog lists Acanthoscurria chacoana from Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. Published notes associate the species with Chaco, Cerrado, and Pantanal open formations with seasonal moisture and ground retreats.

In captivity this points to a low terrestrial enclosure, deep shape-holding substrate, a secure hide, fresh water, and ventilation that prevents a stale wet floor.

Range map

⚖️ Legal status

No current CITES listing was found for Acanthoscurria chacoana in the official CITES sources checked on 2026-06-03. No species-specific listing was found in Annexes A-D of the EU wildlife trade regulations. The species is not relevant to the Bern Convention because it is not native to Europe.

Local rules on ownership, import, sale, transport, exhibition, breeding, and proof of legal origin may still apply. Keep invoices, seller or breeder details, import or transfer paperwork where relevant, and records that connect the animal to a lawful source.

🤌 Husbandry

Keep Acanthoscurria chacoana alone. A practical adult enclosure is low and stable, around 45 x 35 x 30 cm or larger, with more floor space than height.

Spiderlings should start in smaller containers where prey, water, and molts can be monitored. Move them up gradually; heavy adults need fall prevention more than open climbing space.

Useful adult priorities:

  • deep substrate that holds a burrow
  • large secure hide
  • shallow water dish
  • low fall height
  • clear feeding and maintenance area

💡 Lighting

Normal room lighting is enough. UVB and hot basking lamps are unnecessary.

Avoid intense lamps that dry only the top layer. A steady room cycle is safer than forcing the spider into a hot exposed area.

🌡 Heating and temperature

Aim for about 22-27°C by day, with nights around 19-22°C. Avoid heat from below and avoid overheating a sealed enclosure.

If extra heat is needed, warm the room or one side gently under thermostat control. The spider must be able to choose a cooler, darker retreat.

💧 Humidity and water

Aim for about 60-75% with part of the substrate slightly moist and part allowed to dry. Keep a water dish available at all times.

This species does not need a swamp. Stale wet substrate, mold, and poor airflow are common causes of problems; stable moisture around the lower layer is more useful than constant wet surfaces.

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

Use a deep substrate layer, cork bark, half-log or buried hide, leaf litter, and stable decor. Keep heavy objects supported by the base rather than resting on loose substrate.

Because the spider is heavy, avoid tall hardscape and large vertical drops. The lid should close securely and leave no prey-sized escape gaps.

🪳 Feeding

Feed roaches, crickets, locusts where legal, and occasional soft larvae. Adults usually do well with suitable prey every 7-14 days.

Remove uneaten prey, especially before molts. Feed according to abdomen condition and growth, not just appetite.

🩺 Common problems

Common problems include overfeeding, abdominal injuries from falls, dry molts, stale wet substrate, mold, hair irritation, and defensive maintenance encounters.

If the spider refuses food and blocks the hide, check hydration and leave it undisturbed. Long fasting around molts is normal in large terrestrial tarantulas.

📌 Conclusion

Acanthoscurria chacoana is a rewarding large terrestrial display species for keepers who can provide deep substrate, moderate moisture, fall prevention, and low-stress maintenance. It should be watched, not handled.

📚 Sources and further reading