Mike's Basic Tarantula

A Basic Site for the Tarantula enthusiast

Sericopelma angustum

Common name: Costa Rican Red

Indigenous: Central America, Mexico

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) degrees and the humidity at 65-70%. 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: 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 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. I give my adult Costa Rican Red (2) B. dubia roaches or seven (7) - adult crickets weekly. This species is an 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 purchased my girls as spiderlings of 1/4" (0.635cm) in size. After the first year she had grown to one and a half inch (3.81cm). With constant feeding and with temperatures in the low to mid 80's, they reached a size of three inches (7.62cm) within three years.

Adult Size: I read that they grow to six (15.24cm) inches. After seven years they are a solid five inches (12.7cm)

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

Comments: I acquired this tarantula because I wanted all of the species in the Brachypelma and Tliltocatl Genus. On first observation, the Costa Rican Red looks identical to the Mexican Redrump (Tliltocatl vagans), but the legs on the Costa Rican Red (Sericopelma angustum) have red hairs, and the Mexican Redrump (T. vagans) legs are yet black. An easy to care for T, and  a fine tarantula, if I must say so. You must get one. I can't visually see the difference between the Sericopelma angustum and the T. sabulosum.

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