Mexican Flame Knee (B auratum)

The Mexican Flame Knee tarantula, like many other species of Brachypelma is a New World tarantula and is favored due to their ease of care and docile temperament. This species was described by Schmidt in 1992 and before that was considered just a subspecies of the Brachypelma smithi. This New World Terrestrial species has been observed in nature cohabiting with the Eleutherodactylus occidentalis species of frog. There are a few other species of tarantulas that cohabitate with frogs in the wild, like the Poecilotheria ornata, but it is always fascinating behavior. Though this tarantula does not have medically significant venom, it does possess urticating hairs that can cause irritation and rash if they were to kick them on you.  As of 2018, the IUCN has this species listed as Near Threatened due to the destruction of their habitat.



TYPE
Terrestrial

SCIENTIFIC NAME
Brachypelma auratum

ORIGIN
Guerrero and Michogan regions of Mexico

HABITAT
Sling- Sling box or 8oz deli cup
Juvenile - 9x6x6 enclosure
Sub-Adult/Adult - 12x8x8 enclosure, 2 ½ or 5 gallon tank
Provide them with a cork bark hide, water dish, a little sphagnum moss (optional) and straight coco fiber. However a substrate like jungle mix or creature soil which is mainly peat moss, a little soil and a small amount of sand. Coco fiber works very well and is the least expensive.

DIET
Roaches, crickets and superworms is our recommended foods. However, mealworms, are also acceptable.

TEMPERATURE
70-85F, heating generally isn’t a concern with this species.

HUMIDITY
60%-70%, slings should stay on lightly moist substrate, adults should have a water dish and a corner of their enclosure that goes through a wet/dry cycle, moistening the substrate and then leaving it alone until it dries out.

ADULT SIZE
Adults can reach up to 6" diagonal leg span.

LIFESPAN
5-20 Years (Males 4-5 years, with females drastically outliving them at 20+ years)

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
We do not recommend keeping tarantulas as they will cannibalize each other. Its best to keep tarantulas in individual enclosures.