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Theraphosidae

Mexican Giant Red Knee

Brachypelma smithi (post-2017 split from hamorii)
BeginnerNocturnal · sleeping nowCITES IIHuman-verified sheet
14:00
Day

Drag the sun. Mexican Giant Red Knee is nocturnal, so what it is doing changes with the light.

Temperature

24–28°Ambient

One ambient band, 24–28°C. This sheet states no warm side, no cool side and no night figure, so none are shown.

Humidity

60–70%Target RH
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The numbers

Enclosure
30 × 30 × 20 cm
Diet
Crickets, dubia roaches, locusts · Adults 1×/1–2 wk; slings 2×/wk
Temperature
24–28 °C
Humidity
60–70%

Identity

Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Near Threatened; CITES II
Difficulty
Beginner
Commonality
Common in SEA/Thai trade
Adult size
13–15 cm legspan
Lifespan
F 25–30 yr / M 5–7 yr
Growth rate
Slow
Activity & niche
Nocturnal · Terrestrial
Temperament
Docile, may kick hairs
Venom / defense
Urticating hairs (mild venom)
Price (THB)
1,500–5,000 ฿ (indicatif)

Enclosure and conditions

Temperature
24–28 °C
Humidity
60–70%
Min. enclosure
30×30×20 cm floor space
Substrate
Coco fibre/peat, 8–12 cm
Hides / decor / water
Cork-bark hide, water dish

Diet

Staple food
Crickets, dubia roaches, locusts
Feeding frequency
Adults 1×/1–2 wk; slings 2×/wk
Supplements
None (whole prey)

Behaviour and handling

Handling
Tolerant with care
Communal
No (cannibalistic)
Defense / stress signs
Hair-kicking, threat posture, fleeing

Reproduction

Reproduction
M mature 4–6 yr; ventral/spermathecae sexing; 1 sac ~200–500 eggs

Common health problems

Common health issues
SignsDehydration, fall injury, DKS, bald patches
Red flags / quarantine
SignsCurled legs, lethargy, oral/anal fluid, mites; quarantine 30–60 d. Confirm captive-bred (CITES II)

Good to know

  • The 'true' B. smithi after the 2017 hamorii split

Others in this group

Sources