Mike's Basic Tarantula
A Basic Site for the Tarantula enthusiast
Acanthoscurria natalensis
Common name: Natal Brown Birdeater
Indigenous: Brazil
Habitat: A tropical wet climate characterizes much of northern Brazil, with abundant rainfall and little or no dry season. Temperatures average 25°C (77°F), with more significant temperature variations between night and day than between seasons. Rainfall averages about 2,200 mm (about 90 in) a year. Over central Brazil rainfall is more seasonal, characteristic of a savanna climate. Eighty percent of the rain falls in summer (October through March), and there are more seasonal variations in temperature. Here rainfall averages about 1,600 mm (about 60 in) a year. In the interior Northeast, seasonal rainfall is even more extreme. The semiarid region receives less than 800 mm (30 in) of rain, which falls in a period of two or three months. In addition to its scarcity and seasonal nature, the rain occasionally fails completely, causing serious drought conditions.
In the Southeast the tropical climate is modified by elevation, with a winter average temperature below 18°C (64°F) and an average rainfall of about 1,400 mm (about 55 in) concentrated in summer. The South has subtropical conditions, with average temperatures below 20°C (68°F) and cool winters.
Temp/humidity: 70°-82° (21.1°-27.7°C) degrees/65-75% humidity
Enclosure: Use an terrarium that will allow at least four inches (10.16cm)of substrate
Substrate: I use four inches (10.16cm) of substrate. (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 fed my new born spiderlings fruit flies, than when they reached 1/2" (1.27cm) I introduced baby crickets. My adult Argentina Giant Black Rump, I give 2 inch (5.08cm) B. dubia roaches or 8 adult crickets weekly. This species is a good eater, and attacks its prey with a force. I also give her one pinkie-mouse or a house gecko once a year for variety.
Water Requirements: I keep a water dish in the tank, even though after six years, I have never seen mine drink, and it always fill the water dish with substrate. I also dampen one-half of the substrate in the terrarium by overflowing the water dish then I allow it to dry out.
Growth Rate: The growth rate for this species is medium to fast, with proper heating and feeding it will reach the three inch (7.62cm) mark within a year time.
Adult Size: This species may attain a leg length of five (5) to six (6) inches (12.7-15.24cm)
Temperament: This is not a defensive tarantula and would rather retreat to the hide than stand and fight.
Comments: This is another aggressive eating Acanthoscurria. She has never refused a meal unless near a molt. This species is not often seen in the hobby. It is dark brown-black with white setae from the patella to the tarsus. She stays out in the open most of the time.
All rights reserved, ©
All photos on this website are courtesy of Mike Basic Tarantula unless stated otherwise. It's prohibited to copy without permission of author.