New Mexican Fire Knee Tarantula

[Oregon VFT]

Finally got the spider of my dreams! She (hopefully) is about 4 inches across, I think I'm going to name her Roxy Beautiful, super bright orange joints and ridiculously calm, just the way a good spider should be! Pictures soon to come!

 

[mass]

Now is probably a good time to get used to using scientific names. Considering common names are constantly being mixed up and/or confused. For example, there's no such thing as a Mexican fire knee.
There's a:
Mexican Flame Knee (Brachypelma auratum), a personal favorite: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/massmorels/postmolt4_1-1.jpg
Mexican Fire Leg (Brachypelma boehmei), which IMO seems the most aggressive of the brachys:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/massmorels/postmolt5-1.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/massmorels/postmolt4_bottom.jpg

If yours is docile, then it's probably a female B. smithi (Mexican Red Knee): http://www.google.com/search?q=brac...AHCz425DA&sqi=2&ved=0CFMQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=671

Easiest way to tell if it's male or female is to look at the two shortest front legs (pedapalps). If they're club shaped, it's male. If they're slender like this, then it's female.
http://thingsbiological.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/bsmithiadult2011.jpg
Unless it's immature, then only way to know is by checking it's molt for spermatheca. Which makes it female if they're present, like this: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/massmorels/female.jpg

At any rate, congrats. And I'd love to see a pic.

 

[Oregon VFT]

Info dump! Yeah it is a B. smithi. Thanks for the awesome advice as always mass

 

[mass]

No worries. Just let me know if you have any questions about her proper living conditions.

And before I forget, do you know what molting is? And that tarantulas HAVE to molt to live and grow? So it's perfectly normal if you find your tarantula laying upside down on it's back one day. Don't give it a funeral and throw it out!!

 

[Oregon VFT]

Hahaha yeah, I have done a fair amount of research on line just to make sure I don't kill it in the first day. Any suggestions on a substrate and about what humidity level should I keep it at? I come up with conflicting reviews.

 

[mass]

Use a coco-fiber bedding. You can find Eco-Earth or Bed-a-Beast at any pet shop.
It's a desert dweller from the scrublands of Mexico, so humidity doesn't need to be super high. Somewhere in the 50%-60% range will work.
Make sure she has a dish of standing water at all times.
Some sort of burrow or hide for her to use as a retreat.
Feed her a few crickets every couple of weeks.
Mist every couple of weeks.
And boom, you're good to go for many years to come.

Probably too late for this.. but.. BE WARNED!! Tarantula collecting is uber addictive.

 

[Oregon VFT]

Well thats what a friend told be about Cps... I already have the coco and the water dish with a sponge down, i guess I'll have to get a hide and feed less. Thanks a whole bunch!

 

[mass]

Get rid of the sponge and never bring it back.. EVER!!
All it's good for is breeding bacteria that will kill your T.
Standing water.. no sponges.
From time to time you'll get to see your girl getting a REAL drink! http://www.tarantulatour.com/images/content/drinking.jpg
Also, this is grooming. She's not eating herself.. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l270/massmorels/cleaning.jpg

 

[Oregon VFT]

Okay! Wow am I glad I talked to you!

 

[mass]