Tliltocatl (Brachypelma) kahlenbergi (Veracruz Red-rump Tarantula) 2"

Tliltocatl (Brachypelma) kahlenbergi (Veracruz Red-rump Tarantula)

The Veracruz Red-rump, or Tliltocatl kahlenbergi (ex. Brachypelma), is a terrestrial tarantula from the Veracruz region of Mexico. Adults of this species have velvety black legs and a black body with a deep red abdomen, creating a beautiful high contrast coloration similar to its cousin, the Mexican red rump. Spiderlings do not start out colorful and the adult colors come in around 2 to 2.5 inches, while the species only grows to about 5 inches in diagonal leg span. Like others in the genus, along with Brachypelma, this species has a very long lifespan, with females reaching about 20 years while males live 3 to 5 years. This species is also very calm and forgiving, and one we recommend for beginner keepers or anyone who wants an easier keeping experience. Grab this docile new world tarantula for sale today, offered here as a juvenile with that red already showing.

Why do hobbyists keep Tliltocatl kahlenbergi?

• Color Already In: Velvety black legs and a black body with red visible on the abdomen now, filling in deeper with each molt from here.
• Docile Temperament: Calm and slow to react at a size where you actually notice it, since there is enough animal here to watch properly.
• Past The Delicate Stage: Four times hatch size, eating larger prey and considerably harder to lose than a fresh sling, which is most of what a keeper is buying at this size.
• Beginner Species: This species is very forgiving in its care for newer keepers who are still learning how to keep spiderlings and tarantulas.
• Uncommon in the Hobby: Seldom offered at this size, so a grown juvenile of this species is a genuinely different addition to a collection.

How should the Veracruz Red-rump be kept?

• Adult Size: These hatch out around half an inch (0.5 inch) and reach a max size of around 5 inches at full leg span, with the adult coloration coming in around 2 to 2.5 inches. That is a lot of growing to watch and two enclosure upsizes to plan for along the way.
• Enclosure: This size calls for a 12 by 12 by 8 inch enclosure with about 4 inches of substrate, a hide, and a shallow water dish. On terrestrials we run roughly 3 times the leg span for footprint and 2 times for height, sized for two thirds of adult leg span rather than current leg span, so this is built for a 4 inch spider and will not need touching again for a long stretch.
• Rehousing: One rehouse left after this. The adult enclosure is 18 by 18 by 12 inches with about 6 inches of substrate, and it earns that move around the 4 inch mark. Slow growth means 4 to 6 years to full size and roughly 18 to 24 months out of each enclosure, so the 12 by 12 by 8 it comes in has a long life ahead of it. Males mature faster than females and frequently never need the adult setup at all.
• Temperature: Keep between 65 and 75 degrees F.
• Humidity: An arid species, so skip the wet setup. Keep the substrate on the dry side and only make sure it never bakes out entirely. Dampening one corner every couple of weeks, or letting the water dish overflow into it, gives them a choice without soaking the enclosure. Organic coconut fiber holds that gradient well and resists mold. Good ventilation is critical. Cross ventilation works best, but ample top ventilation can also be effective as long as the enclosure is not over-misted.
• Water: A shallow textured water dish works well, something they can grip when climbing out.
• Diet: Prey length should run about a quarter of the leg span, which is roughly the width of the carapace (head). At two inches that means a 0.5 inch cricket or an equivalent roach. Crickets, roaches and mealworms all work, and this size takes larger prey happily. Feed at least once a week.
• Temperament: Docile and slow to react, hardy and tolerant of a range of conditions, which is exactly why this genus is recommended as often as it is.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for the Veracruz Red-rump?

• Solitary Species: House individually. Attempts at cohabitation can end in cannibalism, so one animal per enclosure with this genus.
• Mexican Endemic: One of the red rump tarantulas out of Mexico, from the Veracruz region, which is where the common name comes from and how it is told apart from the other red rumps in the genus.
• One Rehouse Left: Two of the three lifetime enclosures are behind this animal already, so there is one upsize left instead of two and roughly 18 to 24 months before it is needed.
• Lifespan: Like others in the genus, and like Brachypelma, this species has a very long lifespan. Females reach about 20 years while males live 3 to 5, so a female bought at any size is a decades long animal rather than a season.
• Slow Grower: Four to six years from hatching to full size, and this one has a good stretch of that behind it, which is a large part of why a juvenile is priced above a sling.
• Captive Bred: All Tarantulas are 100% captive bred.

Listing Notes

• This listing is for a Tliltocatl kahlenbergi Veracruz Red-rump juvenile measuring around two inches (2 inches) in diagonal leg span, which is the size given in the title, unsexed with roughly a 50/50 chance of male or female. At four times hatch size this one is well past the delicate early stretch, eats larger prey, and already shows visible red on the abdomen instead of making you wait several molts for it. If you want the animal on display rather than the project of raising one, this is the size to take.