Mike's Basic Tarantula
A Basic Site for the Tarantula enthusiast
Aphonopelma bicoloratum
Common name: Mexican Blood Legs
Indigenous: Mexico
Habitat: Desert, scrubland
Temp/humidity: 70°-85° (21.1°-29.4°C)/55%-70% humidity I keep this species temperature at 80° (26.6°C) and the humidity at 65%.
Enclosure: Use a spiderling vial that will allow at least three inches (7.62cm) of substrate for burrowing and four inches (10.16cm) as sub-adult, adult.
Substrate: I use three inches (7.62cm) of substrate in vial and four inches in terrarium. (I use a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, coconut fiber and dirt for firmness, as the substrate).
Retreat/Hide: Place a bark for a starter burrow hide
Food Consumption: I first fed her fruit flies, than when she reached 1/2" (1.27cm) I introduced baby crickets. Now I give my Mexican Blood legs (1) - one inch (2.54cm) B. dubia roaches or five (5) adult crickets weekly. This species is not an aggressive eater.
Water Requirements: I keep a water dish in the tank. I have never seen mine drink. I keep the substrate in the terrarium dry.
Growth Rate: The growth rate of this species is slow. I purchased this tarantula as a spiderling of 1/8" (0.3175cm) in size. After the first year she had only grown to one inch (2.54cm). With constant feeding and with temperatures in the low to mid 80's, it reached a size of three inches (7.62cm) within five years.
Adult Size: I read that they get five (5) inches. Mine is only four inches (10.16cm).
Temperament: This is a docile species. It has never kicked hair at me nor given a threat pose. There are times when I open the enclosure that she will go into her hide, but I don't consider her as skittish. Almost all of my tarantulas were skittish as spiderlings and juveniles, but once they attained adult size they became more confident and less skittish.
Comments: This is a gorgeous looking species. I have own my girls for eight years and they are only four inches (10.16cm) in leg length. It has well been worth the wait. This is one of the most vivid colored tarantulas I own; and I presently own 106 different species of tarantulas. This is a must own species for the serious collector. They are easy to care for. The Aphonopelma species are raved at living above twenty (20) years, so I expect to have my girls for some time.  :-)