Curly Hair Tarantula

Basic Description

Brachypelma Albopilosum aka Curly Hair - native to Honduras and Nicaragua they live up to 30 years. They grow up to 6 inches. Their main diet are insects and sometimes small animals. This tarantula is black with yellow to golden high lights on its hair all the way to its abdomen. It also has a rusty gold carapace that looks beautiful when freshly molted. The most distinct feature of this tarantula is their curly hair and because of that they look more bulky. When its freshly molted it looks very robust because the high lights from its hair are very intense and this specie usually develop big abdomen making it look like a small tank. In addition there are great difference between the Honduran variant from the Nicaraguan variant. The Nicaraguan Curly Hair is more fuzzier than the Honduran.

Temperament

One of the best beginner pet tarantulas. Most individuals are very docile and hardy. They are usually out from their house or burrow which is perfect as a display pet.

Diet

In captivity they usually feed on crickets, roaches, mice, small reptiles and amphibians. They only eat once or twice a week. Depending on the size of the abdomen of the tarantula, they can survive for weeks without eating.

Housing

Tarantulas can be house in different size containers. 1 inch tarantula can be house in a deli cup. 3-5 inch can be house in a 5 gallon tank. 6 inch and above can be house in a 10 gallon tank. They can also be house in a shoe box to save space.

Tarantulas need moist substrate so that their book lungs will not dry out. Any of the following substrate can be use, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, cocofiber and orchid bark.

Water dish is required, not a lot of people know but tarantulas drink too. Make sure that the water dish is clean at all times to stop the development of bacteria in the tarantula cage.

Growth Rate

This specie grow fast, with daily feeding they can reach adulthood from 2-3 years in captivity.

Special Feature

This species can double clutch and some individuals develop a very curly legs that it looks like they have a dreadlock on their legs. They are very beautiful and one of my favorite tarantula.

here is a video of my mating pair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BdMjQ1Jtjs