Origin And Natural Habitat
The Brazilian Black and White Tarantula originates in South America and is usually found in the rainforest and grasslands of Brazil and Paraguay.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum | Chelicerata |
| Class | Arachnida |
| Order | Araneae |
| Infraorder | Mygalomorphae |
| Family | Theraphosidae |
| Genus | Nhandu |
| Species | Nhandu Coloratovillosus |
Species Overview
| Common Name | Brazilian Black And White Tarantula |
| Other Names | Bombardier Tarantula |
| Origin | South America |
| Category | New World |
| Lifestyle | Terrestrial |
| Temperament | Nervous, Skittish And Defensive |
| Minimum Tank Size | 4 Times The Size Of The Spider (In Horizontal Space) |
| Temperature | 71°-82° F (22°-28° C) |
| Humidity | 70-80% |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Leg Span | Up to 6 inches (15 cm) |
| Urticating Hairs | Yes |
| Venomous | Yes |
| Growth Rate | Medium To Fast |
| Lifespan | Females: 13-15 years Males: 3-4 years |
| Experience Required | Intermediate |
Appearance And Size
Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas’ most distinctive feature, which is also how they got their name, is the black and white stripe pattern on all their legs. As spiderlings grow and mature, they typically undergo a color transformation, with their initial dark brown and white striped pattern developing into the recognizable black and white pattern of adults.
Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas are sexually dimorphic. The males have a smaller build, and their coloring is generally darker, unlike the females, who have larger bodies and brighter colors. However, both adult male and female Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas’ abdomens usually have a black velvet or dark-grey hue coat adorned with sparkling beige hairs.
An average adult Brazilian Black and White Tarantula’s leg span is usually around 6 inches (15 cm), which is somewhat small compared to some larger tarantulas. Nevertheless, they often look more extensive due to their fur-like hairs and stocky build.
Housing
Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas are terrestrial, so it’s essential you house them in an enclosure with enough floor space. Any basic terrestrial setup will do, but it’s recommended to always go for an 18″ × 18″ × 12″ enclosure to give the tarantula enough floor space.
Spiderlings should be kept in small enclosures like deli cups since they don’t require much space like adults. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to upgrade their enclosure to at least a 1-gallon tank once they reach the juvenile stage.
All Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas’ enclosures should also be well-ventilated.
Enclosure’s Decorations
It’s always a good idea to mimic tarantulas’ natural habitat in the wild inside their enclosure. That’s why placing a couple of ornaments and natural plants in their enclosure is always recommended.
Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas need a place to hide in their enclosure, so ensure you place at least one tarantula hide, coconut shell, or cork bark, so they have a place to hide when they get skittish.
Substrate
Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas are burrowers, so they need a substantial amount of substrate in their enclosure to be comfortable. 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm) of substrate is good enough for juveniles, while adults require at least 6 inches (15 cm) of substrate in their enclosure.
The substrate should also be soft-textured, so the Brazilian Black and White Tarantula can easily burrow. A substrate created from a mixture of coconut fiber and peat moss is a good option for a Brazilian Black and White Tarantula enclosure.
Water And Humidity
Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas prefer the humidity level in their enclosure to be around 70% – 80%. This humidity level can easily be attained by constantly misting the enclosure and placing a water bowl in there.
Misting the enclosure regularly also helps keep the substrate from becoming too dry. Dry substrates make it challenging to burrow, so it’s crucial to place only moisture-retentive substrates in a Brazilian Black And White Tarantula’s enclosure. Make sure you don’t mist the enclosure daily, though, since too much water in a Brazilian Black And White Tarantula’s enclosure is bad for their health. Always wait a few days between misting, so the enclosure doesn’t get too wet and swampy.
Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas need a drink occasionally, so ensure there’s always water in your tarantula’s water bowl. The water in the bowl also helps regulate the humidity level in the enclosure when it evaporates. On the other hand, spiderlings cant drink from water bowls since they are too small, so make sure you mist their enclosure so they can drink the water droplets.
Heating And Temperature
Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas prefer a temperature range between 71°-82° F (22°-28° C) in their enclosure. So ensure you get a supplemental heat source for your tarantula if the temperature frequently drops below this range. You can heat their enclosure with a heat mat or a space heater.
Diet And Nutrition
Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas are ravenous eaters, so they’ll hardly turn down a meal. Adults should be fed three to five feeder insects and worms once a week or a large prey, such as a pinky mouse, once in two weeks. As for spiderlings, it’s best to feed them small insects like fruit flies twice a week, while juveniles should be offered small or medium-sized feeders such as mealworms and dubia roaches once a week.
Make sure the feeders you feed your Brazilian Black And White Tarantula is smaller than your tarantula so it can easily subdue and kill its prey. It’s crucial to also increase or decrease Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas’ food if they get thin or fat.
And lastly, remember to always remove live and dead prey from your tarantula’s enclosure once it’s done eating.
Social
Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas are cannibalistic and unsuitable for communal housing. Only place two Brazilian Black And White Tarantulas in an enclosure if you want to breed them.
Behavior And Temperament
Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas are burrowers but often spend some time out of their burrows. So you’ll often see them more often than some other fossorial tarantulas. They are also usually nervous, skittish, and sometimes a bit defensive. Though not aggressive, they’ll sometimes flick their urticating hair and strike a defensive pose when threatened. Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas’ temperaments tremendously differ, so it’s rather usual to find some that are skittish while others are semi-aggressive. Nevertheless, most Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas are generally skittish and prefer to run and hide when threatened.
Handling
It’s a good idea to be cautious around Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas since they are venomous and tend to bite often when held. It’s best to only purchase these tarantulas if you’re comfortable observing them inside their enclosure. Their venomous bites and urticating hairs should not be taken lightly, and they should only be held when absolutely necessary.
Health And Lifespan
Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas will live long and healthy lives if they are regularly fed. Additionally, it’s crucial to maintain a clean enclosure and ensure they always have access to water to prevent mite infestations and dehydration, both of which are common causes of death for Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas.
Fortunately, maintaining their enclosure is relatively straightforward. You just need to change the substrate in their enclosure as soon as it emits an unpleasant odor, remove the remaining food after they are done eating, and completely clean the enclosure occasionally.
Female Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas can live up to 15 years, while males can live up to 4 years.
Price
Brazilian Black and White Tarantulas usually cost between $50 – $200.
The price for one depends on the age, sex, and size of the tarantula. They are not tremendously popular, so finding one on sale might sometimes be difficult.
