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Brachypelma vagans
(Mexican Red-Rump Tarantula)
 This spider was first described
by Ausserer in 1875 and is a native of Mexico,
and is frequently found in Belize, El Salvador
and Guatemala, where is can be found in deep
burrows.
This is a very handsome spider of
the New World Brachypelma family of tarantulas,
with very distinctive jet black legs and abdomen.
The abdomen is liberally sprinkled with fine red
hairs (leading to one of its common names of
Red-Rump). The carapace is edged with cream and
has thin radiating lines of cream colouring.
These spiders are obligate
burrows and will dig deep burrows when kept in
the right conditions.
These spiders should not be
handled, as they are considered aggressive or at
least very skittish. They can move very, very
quickly!
The requirements in captivity
are:
As for keeping them as pets, many people keep
these in large 12x12x12 (inches) tanks.
This species requires medium/high
humidity levels (above 70%).
Substrate for the cage should be
of peat/vermiculite mix, and should be at least 3
(preferably 4 to 6) inches deep. These spiders
will dig deep burrows if the substrate is
suitable.
An open water dish is a must;
humidity must not fall below 60 percent!
Type: Terrestrial: Scrubland
species
Aggressiveness: Can be
aggressive. Can be fast.
Venom Effect: Not yet known,
expected to be low toxicity.
Geographic Range: Belize, El
Salvador and Guatemala
Requirements: Temperature: 76
Fahrenheit
Humidity: 75%
Substrate: 3 inches deep
Shelter: Flowerpot or Cork Bark
Water: Open water dish
Longevity: Females, up to 15
years, Males maturing between 1 and 2 years of
age.
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