Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

Species: Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
Scientific Name: Brachypelma smithi
Origin: Eastern Mexico
Lifespan: Males generally live up to 10 years, and females may live well beyond 15 years.
Size: 5.5-6.5” diameter
Enclosure Type: The setup of the terrarium of the Red Knee Tarantula requires a well-maintained ratio between the size of the Tarantula and the height of the cage. The substrate should be filled up to a height that is nearly 1.5 times the leg span of the spider to avoid any damage due to fall.
Enclosure Size: The minimum terrarium size for a Mexican red knee tarantula varies depending on its size. Slings can be housed in basic acrylic spiderling enclosures, no smaller than four legspans by three legspans. These should be gradually upgraded until they are large enough to be comfortable in an adult-sized enclosure no smaller than 20” L x 10” W x 10”H, or a 10-gallon tank, although taller (and larger in general) is likely to be better.
Substrate: Although Mexican red knee tarantulas are not commonly known to burrow in captivity, they are known to burrow in the wild, so it’s still a good idea to offer them that choice. Slings should have around 2-3” of substrate, depending on size, and adults should have at least 4”.  Suitable substrates include eco earth, reptisoil, and plantation soil.
Décor: Include decor items such as small logs and branches, cork flats/tubes, live or artificial plants, and artificial ornaments.
Water: Of course, don’t forget a small water bowl for your tarantula to drink from. If it’s too small for a water bowl (under 2” diameter), then mist the enclosure occasionally to create water droplets for it to drink. Change the water dish daily and scrub it out with a reptile-safe disinfectant weekly.
Temperature: Mexican red knee tarantulas should be kept between 70-80°F. If your room temperature in on the cooler end of that range, it’s a good idea to stick a heat mat to one side of the enclosure and connect it to a thermostat set to 80-82°F. This creates a temperature gradient so your tarantula can pick how warm or cool it wants to be.  
Humidity: Mexican red knee tarantulas prefer moderate humidity levels between 40-60%, with occasional spikes up to 80%. For slings and juveniles, this can be done by slightly moistening the substrate. For adults, it’s best to simply provide both dry and moist areas in the enclosure. When moistening the substrate, make it slightly damp, not saturated.  
Lighting: Mexican red knee tarantulas are generally kept without UVB lighting, as they have proven to be capable of surviving without it and considering that UVB wavelengths are blocked by glass and acrylic, installing the lamp can be tricky.  
Type Of Diet: Mexican red knee tarantulas are primarily insectivores, although they are known to eat small vertebrate prey in the wild.
Types Of Food: Crickets, Dubia roaches, discoid roaches, red runner roaches, black soldier fly larvae, mealworms. Flightless fruit flies are a good option for particularly small slings.
Feeding Schedule: Slings should be fed every 4-7 days, juveniles should be fed every 7-10 days, and adults should receive a meal every 14 days or so.
Supplements: No supplements are needed for your tarantula