Mexican Red Rump Tarantula (scientific name: Aphonopelma caniceps) is native to Mexico. It is a moderately popular yet not commonly seen pet bird-eating spider species, as they do not have significant color or body size characteristics. Their small juveniles are very small, possibly only 5 millimeters. In terms of growth rate, they are relatively fast compared to other species of pet bird-eating spiders, but still considered very slow.
Aphonopelma caniceps was named by French arachnologist Simon (1891) based on a male specimen. It is one of the earliest described bird-eating spider species in central Mexico and was initially placed in the Eurypelma genus. In 1993, it was transferred to the Aphonopelma genus (hereinafter referred to as Aph genus) by German scholar Schmidt and has been used since then.
In order to fully understand this species, I have consulted all relevant taxonomic literature. The most valuable among them are three papers: Simon, 1891 (Latin; original description), F.O.P. Cambridge, 1897 (English), and Smith, 1995 (English), as all these scholars have examined male holotype specimens.
It is recommended to keep Mexican Red Rump Tarantulas as pets for those who enjoy keeping and catching bird-eating spiders. They have low aggression and are not easily startled or prone to kicking off hair. Therefore, they can be a good choice for beginners who want to keep bird-eating spiders as pets. They are not commonly seen on the market and are occasionally available for sale. The price is relatively higher compared to some popular species, which proves the saying "rare things are valuable".
1. Emaciation
When you find that the spider's body becomes dull, the skin starts to become dry and yellow, it is likely that emaciation has occurred. This condition is generally caused by the spider not eating well and suffering from malnutrition due to long-term hunger. 2. Enteritis
In contrast to emaciation, this condition occurs when the spider eats too much. Continuously feeding the spider or feeding it with food at a low temperature can cause bloating and abdominal pain, which can eventually lead to enteritis.
3. Partial Paralysis
Spiders do not have high requirements for their environment, but when the temperature is too high, especially in the summer when it is hot and humid, if the spider's cage is too far from the ventilation opening, it can cause the spider to experience a heatstroke-like condition and result in partial paralysis of its legs.
4. Constipation
Constipation is mostly caused by not drinking water. In addition to eating, spiders also need to drink water. If the owner only feeds the spider but doesn't provide water, the water in the food cannot provide the necessary moisture for the spider's body.
5. Black Necrosis
Not eating or moving, decreased vitality, and the appearance of black ulcerative lesions on the abdomen are signs of black necrosis in spiders. The cause of this condition is the use of stale water and food. If the spider eats food contaminated with bacteria, it can contract black necrosis, which can ultimately lead to death.
6. Mold Disease
Especially in the southern regions, the hot and humid weather in summer makes spiders susceptible to bacterial invasion. The spider's joints become increasingly stiff, and its body becomes increasingly damp, creating an environment in which bacteria thrive and leading to the appearance of mold spots on the spider.
7. Parasites
Parasites are perhaps the most disgusting condition for spiders. If it is a small insect, it is not too bad, but those aggressive parasites that wriggle on the spider's body can be extremely repulsive. Aside from disrupting the spider's rest, they may also carry other viruses, causing multiple infections and posing a threat to the spider's life.
Mexican Red Rump Tarantula has a body length of 13-14 cm and a leg span. The suitable temperature is 28-30℃, with a humidity of 65%. It is recommended to use relatively dry peat or coconut bricks as substrate. They will dig caves for hiding, and if the substrate is thick enough, it can be quite difficult to find them. Their small juveniles require very small food, but they also accept decapitated mealworms. After about a year and a half of raising, they grow to about 6 cm and you can see that their bodies have turned black, while the dorsal plate is somewhat golden.
If you keep spiders at home, you can catch a spider for raising. Poisonous spiders are generally not caught in homes, so you can rest assured. Of course, there are also many venomous spiders available for purchase on the market. Spiders have a relatively diverse diet and like to eat various types of insects, such as various crystal worms. So how often should you feed spiders? Spiders have a strong resistance to hunger and can survive for a month without eating anything. The feeding frequency of spiders is related to their size, the larger the spider, the less frequent the feeding.
The size of the insects fed to the spider is best to be one-third of the spider's body length. If they are too large, the spider may overeat and die.
The space for keeping spiders does not need to be too large because spiders themselves are not very large. Spiders do not like bright places, so it is best to choose a dark place to keep them.
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