Mike's Basic Tarantula

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Tliltocatl sp. "Yucatan"

Common name: Central American Black

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) 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: I 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 an 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 Central American Black (2) B. dubia roaches or ten (10) - adult crickets weekly. This species 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 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: After eight (8) years it is a solid six inches (15.24cm)

Temperament: This is a docile species. It has never kicked hair at me nor given a threat pose. This tarantula has a tendency of staying in one place for long periods of time in one place. This is definitely a pet rock.

Comments: This is a rare species. I am not sure whether it has been classified. I am not a taxonomist, but I can see that this is not a Tliltocatl vagans. There are a few other species in the genus that I have not seen for sale in the hobby, I would like to own, so the Central American Black is a precious jewel. A must have for the serious collectors. I owned two females at one time, but one recently died in a molt.  I would love to breed this girl.

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