Mike's Basic Tarantula

A Basic Site for the Tarantula enthusiast

Tliltocatl albopilosum

Common name: Curly Hair

Indigenous: Central America

Habitat: savanna, scrubland

Temp/humidity: 70°-85° (21.1°-29.4°C) degrees/65%-80%  humidity; I keep this species temperature at 80° (26.6°C) and the humidity at 70%. I wet one half side of the terrarium where the water dish is then allow it to dry out completely.

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: 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 This is a opportunistic burrower. When they reach  three inches (7.62cm), they stay out in the open more than in their hide, which make them a good display tarantula

Food Consumption: I first fed her fruit flies, than when she reached 1/2" (1.27cm) I introduced baby crickets. Now I give my Curly Hair (2) B. dubia roaches or seven (7) - adult crickets weekly. This specie is a excellent eater.

Water Requirements: I keep a water dish in the tank. I have never seen mine drink.

Growth Rate: The growth rate of this species is medium. I received two of my girls as freebies spiderlings of 1/8" (0.3175cm in size. After the first year they had grown to one and a half inch (3.82cm). With constant feeding and temperatures in the low to mid 80's, they can reach a size of three inches  (7.62cm) within three years.

Adult Size: I read that they grow to six (15.24cm) inches. After nine years mine are a robust six and one-half inches (16.51cm)

Temperament: This is a docile species. It has never kicked hair at me nor given a threat pose.

Comments: I own three (3) Curly Hair. They are inexpensive. This is a very hardy tarantula and easy to care for. The hairs on the legs and abdomen are curled. It is also a active T; always rearranging the enclosure. This is definitely a good beginner tarantula. You will enjoy this spider for many years. The girls pictured here are nine and six years old mother and daughter. I recently was given a freebie 1/4" (0.635cm) sling. They are always a welcome addition.

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