Mike's Basic Tarantula

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Aphonopelma burica

Common name: Costa Rican Bluefront

Indigenous: Costa Rica

Habitat: The climate of Costa Rica ranges from tropical on the coastal plains to temperate in the interior highlands. Average annual temperatures range from 31.7°C (89°F) on the coast to 16.7°C (62°F) inland. A rainy season lasts from April or May to December.

Temp/humidity: 70°-85° (21.1°-29.4°C)/65%-80% humidity  I keep this species temperature at 80° (26.6cm) and the humidity at 70%.

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 (10.16cm) 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 Costa Rican Bluefront (2) - one-half inch (1.27cm) B. dubia roaches or two (2) adult crickets weekly. I very seldom see this tarantula eat.

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 medium. I purchased this tarantula as a spiderling of 1/8" (0.3175cm) in size. After the first year she had only grown to 1.5 inches (3.81cm). With constant feeding and with temperatures in the low to mid 80's, it will probably reach a size of 4 inches (10.16cm) within five years at this growth rate.

Adult Size: I read that they get five inches (12.7cm). Mine is only two and one inches (6.35cm).

Temperament: This is a docile species. It has never kicked hair at me nor given a threat pose. At two inches it stays in its burrow. I rarely see this tarantula. One of them has been in its burrow for over a year without eating. It is still alive because I can see it when I look under the bottom of the enclosure. Most of the time, the entrance to the burrow is closed, which is very unusual for a tarantula that small.

Comments: This species has blue chelicerae as the Bluefang (Ephepobus cyanognathus). This species is seldom seen in the hobby and less seen as spiderlings. I am a avid collector of the genus Aphonopelma; therefore when I had a chance to purchase spiderling, I seized the opportunity to add a rarity to my collection. This is a very delightful species to own. They have not attained their true color as of yet, stay tuned. They are easy to care for. I expect this to be a long lived species, for most Aphonopelma species are.

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