How long do Mexican Red-knee Tarantulas live?
Female Mexican Red-knee Tarantulas routinely live 20-30 years in captivity, while males mature faster and usually die within 5-10 years of reaching adulthood. One spider is therefore often a multi-decade commitment for the owner.
What do Mexican Red-knee Tarantulas eat?
Feed adults a staple of gut-loaded crickets or dubia roaches about every 7-14 days, with the occasional mealworm for variety. Always provide a shallow water dish kept topped up; spiderlings eat pinhead crickets roughly twice weekly.
Enclosure setup
A single adult needs at least a 10-15 gallon terrestrial tank with 4-6 inches of coco fiber or peat substrate for burrowing and a snug cork-bark hide. Keep the temperature at 70-80°F with 60-70% humidity, achieved by light misting a few times per week and a well-ventilated lid.
Common mistakes with Mexican Red-knee Tarantulas
The deadliest routine errors are over-misting until the substrate stays wet (mold and mites), leaving no hide so the spider is always exposed, handling that leads to a fatal fall, and buying wild-caught specimens when only captive-bred animals should be sold.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Over-misting the substrate so it stays soggy, which breeds mold and mites.
- Handling the tarantula - a drop from even 12 inches can rupture its abdomen.
- Providing no hide or retreat, leaving the spider chronically stressed.
- Buying wild-caught instead of captive-bred (this species is CITES Appendix II regulated).