Many lovers of arachnids are familiar with the spider of akantoskuriya of the geniculate, or the white-headed Brazilian tarantula. Perhaps he is one of the most popular representatives of arachnids held in captivity. Which is not surprising - it is quite beautiful, has large dimensions and at the same time is not too picky about the conditions of detention. So both an experienced farmer and a beginner can easily cope with it.
Appearance description
Needless to say, the appearance of the acantoscuria of the geniculate is very memorable. Still, this spider boasts a rather large size. The body can be up to 8-10 centimeters in diameter. And the span of the paws in some cases reaches 20 centimeters and even more!
The whole body is quite densely covered with hairs. The color scheme is rich - it is thanks to it that the variety is so popular. The body itself is black or dark brown, reminiscent of bitter chocolate. But the coat color is more interesting. For the most part, he is red - from light saturated to dark, almost brown. Pure white stripes are clearly visible on the legs, giving the spider attractiveness and sophistication.
Males usually live only until mating, after which they die. And they become sexually mature at the age of one and a half to two years. Females start mating a little later - about two and a half years. And after laying eggs they’re not going to die at all. With good care, they are quite capable of living up to fifteen years.
Area
In the wild, a tarantula spider (akantoskuriya geniculate) can be found in Brazil. Here he lives in a dense jungle, preferring shady, moist places - near swamps, rivers, streams, lakes.
They hunt mainly at dusk. And they prefer to spend daylight hours in some kind of shelter. A large crack in a tree, a hollow or just a gap between the stones will do. If it is not possible to find a suitable shelter, the spider may well dig up a small mink in which it will hide in the morning.
Protective gear
Despite the fact that the acantoscuria of the geniculate is considered not a dangerous spider, some caution must be exercised when its content. If only because all the spiders are more or less poisonous.
A healthy person experiences a bite relatively easily. Although acute pain during a bite, fever, and even cramps may well accompany the ingress of poison into the body. But for children, pets (cats, guinea pigs, small dogs) and people suffering from allergies to animal toxins, the bite may well become fatal. This should be remembered.
An additional danger is the hairs covering the body of the spider. In captivity, they often pull them out due to stress. And in the wild, hairs are often used, weaving them into a web to increase safety. Skin contact may cause burns. Even worse, if the hairs get into the lungs or eyes. Most often, symptoms (fever, itching, suffocation, weakness) disappear in a few hours. But with contact with the eyes, permanent visual impairment is possible.
Home Content
If you are interested in the content of acanthuscuria geniculate at home, then first of all it is worth thinking about a suitable terrarium.
In general, a large capacity is not required - a spider may well live in a two-liter jar. But still, he will feel more comfortable in a small terrarium. The optimal volume is 20-30 liters.
A suitable substrate is laid at the bottom. A good choice will be coconut fiber, peat or ordinary sphagnum moss. Rather soft and friable, they allow the spider to easily dig up a small mink to spend part of the time there, resting and restoring strength.
It will also be useful to lay a snag, a pair of small round stones at the bottom, to create living conditions that are close to natural.
But it’s even more important to maintain optimum humidity and temperature. The tarantula feels best of all at a temperature of +22 ... + 28 ° . With an increase, the spider becomes very active, but it may well become ill and die. Lowering the temperature leads to a decrease in activity - your pet will eat poorly, move a little. And if you do not warm up the terrarium in a few days, it may die. Therefore, you need to install a weak heater and thermometer in the terrarium. Ideally, connect them through a relay so that the thermoregulation is automatic.
Humidity should be around 70-80 percent. In the tropics, this is the norm. At low humidity, the spider feels bad, can refuse to eat, weakens.
The question is solved simply - it is enough to put a flat cup with warm water near the heater. Evaporating, the water will provide the desired humidity. You can also solve the problem differently - sometimes spray the substrate with water from a simple spray. Since the terrarium is a closed ecosystem, increasing humidity once, you can not worry about it for many days and even weeks.
Choosing the right food
There are no problems with feeding. Flour worms will be the best diet for young people - they need to be fed about once every two to three days.
With adults it’s still easier. Feeding is done only once a week. Crickets, marble cockroaches, and other feed insects sold at most pet stores are best suited. It is very important to give food alive - the spiders themselves will catch them and eat them. Thus, they will keep themselves in good shape.
Conclusion
Our article on the amazing spiders of the acanthuscuria geniculate is coming to an end. Now you know more about their life in the wild. And also learned about how to provide them with comfortable living conditions while being kept in a terrarium.