Mexican red knee tarantula, Brachypelma hamorii

Do Mexican red knee tarantulas make good pets?

Mexican red knee tarantulas are a large species that is very popular in the pet trade, due both to their docile natures and easy to meet husbandry requirements, which also makes them a great choice for beginners. As they are a generally non-aggressive species, handling of Mexican red knees is possible, although should be kept to a minimum to avoid potential injuries to the tarantula in the event of it becoming flighty or flicking hairs in defence.

At Swell Reptiles, all of our Mexican red knee tarantulas were captive bred in the UK, meaning you can rest assured that your new pet came from a reliable source, with minimal negative impacts on their native ecosystems.

Which enclosure should I get for my Mexican red knee tarantula?

We recommend an enclosure size of around 45 x 45 x 30cm (18 x 18 x 12”) for an adult Mexican red knee, which will give them enough space to move around and create underground burrows. This can either be in the form of a decorative glass enclosure, such as the Exo Terra Glass Terrarium 45x45x30cm, or a similarly sized acrylic or plastic box type enclosure, such as the Tarantula Room Square Terrarium 41cm x 41cm.

Do Mexican red knee tarantulas need to be heated?

Mexican red knee tarantulas do best with a warm end temperature of around 28°C (82°F). In many instances, this can be achieved without much extra help, but you may need to attach a heat mat up the back or side of the enclosure, hooked up to an on/off thermostat to maintain this temperature if you have a cooler home.

What humidity does a Mexican red knee tarantula need?

To maintain proper hydration, a Mexican red knee tarantula should be kept within a humidity range of 60-65%. To achieve this, a loose, sandy substrate such as Arcadia EarthMix Arid should be used, which will also provide good burrowing opportunities. You will also need to periodically add humidity to the enclosure by misting with a handheld spray bottle, it is useful to install an accurate hygrometer to keep track of humidity levels and mist when required.

How do I decorate a Mexican red knee tarantula terrarium?

Mexican red knee tarantulas are not too fussy when it comes to decor, providing you give them some form of hide, either using a hiding cave or pieces of natural decor and a shallow water dish they will be content. You may wish to make the enclosure a little prettier using other pieces of decor, and foliage from live or artificial plants.

What do Mexican red knee tarantulas eat?

Like all tarantulas, Mexican red knees are insectivorous and should be fed a varying diet of different livefoods, including crickets, locusts, cockroaches and mealworms. It is important not to leave any uneaten livefood in the enclosure with your tarantula, as many can bite and pose a threat to moulting or freshly moulted tarantulas.

How do I buy a Mexican red knee tarantula?

If you like the look of our UK captive bred Mexican red knee tarantulas and would like to take one home, please feel free to come into our store and see us.

We will ask to see some photos of your set-up and ask a few quick questions to ensure you are ready for the commitment of one of these beautiful pets. We reserve the right to refuse adoption to anyone we feel is unprepared to adopt.