Brachypelma smithi — Fact Sheet

Brachypelma smithi · Mexican red knee tarantula

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Indoor secure enclosure only; outdoor keeping is not appropriate
• Display species; routine handling not recommended
• Keep singly; tarantulas are not social unless a species-specific breeding plan says otherwise
• Low terrestrial enclosure with more floor space than height
• Adult minimum: about 30 x 20 x 20 cm or larger
• Substrate: compacted coco fiber, unfertilized soil, or soil/clay mix; 8-12 cm or deeper
• Avoid tall climbing setups, mesh floors/lids, wet stagnant substrate

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Secure cork bark hide
• Deep diggable substrate and a slightly moister corner if needed
• Shallow water dish
• Stable sparse decor; no hard fall hazards

💡 Lighting

• No special lighting required; normal room day-night cycle is enough
• Avoid bright basking lamps; they dry small enclosures and increase stress
• Photoperiod: roughly 10-12 h ambient room light; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

• Heat focus: 22-27 °C

• Day: 22-27 °C

• Cooler area: 18-22 °C

• Night: 18-22 °C

• Measure ambient temperature with a digital thermometer near the retreat

• Warm the room or one enclosure side if needed; avoid heat mats under the floor

• Avoid heat rocks, hot bulbs over small boxes, and overheating

💧 Humidity & water

• Fresh shallow water dish always available for juveniles and adults
• Mostly dry surface with access to fresh water
• One lower or corner area can be kept slightly moist
• Good ventilation is more important than chasing a number
• Moisten only part of the substrate when needed; never create stagnant wet air

🪳 Feeding

Feed regularly:

• Appropriately sized crickets
• Roaches
• Locusts where legal/available

In moderation:

• Mealworms or superworms as occasional variety
• Adults every 7-14 days depending on abdomen condition
• Slings every 3-5 days in small portions

Avoid:

• Wild-caught insects, vertebrate prey, oversized feeders
• Leaving prey in during premolt or molt
• Overfeeding to an extreme abdomen
• Remove uneaten prey within 24 h and immediately if a molt is expected

Supplements:

• No calcium or vitamin powders; feeder insects should be healthy and appropriately sized

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Wrinkled abdomen → dehydration or long fasting
• Weak movement → overheating, dehydration, or illness
• Persistent wall climbing → enclosure, moisture, or stress problem
• Failed molt → humidity, hydration, or disturbance issue
• Leaking fluid or fall injury → urgent specialist help
• A tarantula on its back is usually molting; do not touch it

Seek an exotic-animal vet or experienced arachnid keeper for severe injury, failed molt, or prolonged decline.