Origin And Natural Habitat
The Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula derives its name from its country of origin and the distinctive white patches on its legs. While this species can be found throughout the Amazonian rainforests of Brazil, it is more commonly located in the sparsely populated northern region of the country.
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum | Chelicerata |
| Class | Arachnida |
| Order | Araneae |
| Infraorder | Mygalomorphae |
| Family | Theraphosidae |
| Genus | Idiothele |
| Species | Acanthoscurria Geniculata |
Species Overview
| Common Name | Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula |
| Other Names | Giant White Knee Whitebanded Tarantula |
| Origin | Brazil |
| Category | New World |
| Lifestyle | Terrestrial |
| Temperament | Nervous |
| Minimum Tank Size | 10” x 10” x 20” |
| Temperature | 71°-77° F (22°-25° C) |
| Humidity | 70%-80% |
| Diet | Carnivorous |
| Leg Span | Up to 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) |
| Urticating Hairs | Yes |
| Venomous | Yes |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Lifespan | Females: 20 years Males: 4 years |
| Experience Required | Intermediate |
Appearance And Size
This species grows to about a maximum length of 8.5 inches (21.5 cm). They have a silky black body, white bands across each leg, and crimson abdominal hair. The spiderlings are brown and don’t display their adult colors until after a year or two.
Housing
Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas grow rather quickly, so have it in mind that you’ll need to upgrade their enclosure sooner rather than later. It’s best to get a sizable enclosure to make them feel comfortable once they reach adulthood since they can be quite large. Adult Brazilian Whiteknee tarantulas should be housed in an enclosure that is at least 10” x 10” x 20”. Anything less will make them feel uncomfortable. And you don’t really want that now, do you?
Brazilian whiteknee tarantulas are also terrestrial, so they don’t need to be housed in a tall enclosure. An enclosure with a mid-scale height is best for them since they might hurt themselves if they fall from a high point.
On the other hand, Brazilian Whiteknee spiderlings can be comfortably housed in smaller enclosures, such as plastic cups or tubes, as they do not require much space. However, always ensure Brazilian whiteknee adults and spiderlings’ enclosures are adequately ventilated.
Enclosure’s Decorations
Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas are intricate burrowers, so placing too many decorations in their enclosure might be bad, especially if the enclosure is on the smaller side. This is because too much stuff in the enclosure might make it harder to see the tarantula inside. Nevertheless, feel free to place as much as you can in order to give the enclosure that natural jungle look. Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas don’t need any type of lighting in their enclosure, so don’t worry about those.
Providing them with a convenient way to hide is also very important. That’s why it’s important to place a decent cork bark or any hollow decoration in the enclosure. Just ensure whatever hollow decoration you pick is lightweight. There’s a high chance that the tarantula may burrow underneath it and risk being crushed if it is too heavy.
Substrate
Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas are fond of hiding and burrowing, which is why it is essential to have enough substrate in their enclosure. You must be mindful of the materials you use when choosing a substrate for your tarantula’s enclosure. Avoid using substrates that contain dust or chemicals, as these can be harmful to your tarantula’s health. Additionally, it’s important to steer clear of any substrates that may have come into contact with pesticides, as these can also pose a risk to your tarantula. You can create a suitable substrate for a Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas using peat moss, potting soil, vermiculite, and coco fiber.
Water And Humidity
The humidity levels of a Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula enclosure should be around 70%-80%. You can always measure this with a digital hygrometer. So ensure you get one as soon as possible. Getting the enclosure’s humidity level to always be around this range is relatively easy as long as you spray the enclosure and substrate often.
It’s important to also place a water dish in your Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula’s enclosure so it can drink some water anytime it likes and not get dehydrated. The water from the water dish also helps keep the enclosure humid whenever it evaporates. Also, the water dish you place in your Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas enclosure doesn’t have to be large. In fact, it’s best to use a mid-sized or small water bowl. Just ensure you always wash the water bowl often and fill it with fresh water every few days.
Using water bowls in Brazilian Whiteknee spiderlings’ enclosures is not advisable or even reasonable since the spiderlings are too small to drink from them. Instead, you can provide some water for your spiderling by misting its enclosure. You can also use small containers like bottlecaps as a replacement for water bowls for your spiderling.
Heating And Temperature
Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas prefer cooler temperatures compared to most other tarantulas. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t have to get an artificial heat source for your Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula during the winter or if the room you’re housing it in isn’t within the acceptable temperature range.
The easiest way to heat their enclosure is by using a heat mat. Nevertheless, feel free to use an alternative heat source if that’s what you have available. Just ensure you place the heat source in the enclosure so that one part of the enclosure is cooler than the other. Doing it this way allows your tarantula to choose which side of the enclosure it wants to stay on, depending on its temperature need at that particular time. You can use a heating mat to do this by placing it on one end of the enclosure. It’s best to also connect whatever heat source you choose to a thermostat to guarantee that the temperature doesn’t rise above the recommended range. Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas prefer temperature ranges between 71°-77° F (22°-25° C). So ensure the temperature in their enclosure is always within this range at all times.
Spiderlings are usually housed in smaller enclosures that cannot be effectively heated using large heat sources, such as heat mats. To provide the appropriate temperature, it is recommended to place the spiderling’s enclosure inside a larger enclosure that is connected to a heat source. This way, the spiderling’s enclosure can be heated adequately without risking overheating or burning the small enclosure.
Diet And Nutrition
You need to feed your Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula only store-bought feeders if you want it to grow strong and healthy. Feeding Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas isn’t too hard since they are usually always hungry and hardly turn down a meal. So getting them to eat constantly isn’t exactly a hassle. Just remember to never feed your tarantula the insects you find in the wild or your home. These insects may be carriers of parasites and infections that can harm your tarantula if ingested.
You’re free to feed an adult Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula some store-bought mealworms, roaches, and crickets. You can also feed them little mice and lizards if you can procure them from a reputable store. A mature Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula should be fed once every six to fourteen days, while spiderlings should be fed every five to ten days. You need to make sure you feed the spiderlings feeders that are not too large for them so as not to overwhelm them. Pinhead crickets, pinhead roaches, and flightless fruit flies are all suitable feeders for spiderlings.
Remember to keep your fingers far away from your Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula when it is feeding. You should also use a pair of clamps to drop the meals in its enclosure instead of using your hands. These tarantulas love their food and are quite fast. So always take some extra precautions so you don’t unintentionally get nipped.
It’s important to also remove any uneaten feeders from your tarantula’s enclosure within 24 hours of feeding to prevent the growth of mold, mites, and mildew. You may also consider killing the feeders before dropping them in the enclosure, as certain insects can pose a threat to your tarantula, particularly during molting.
Social
Ensure you house these tarantulas alone as they don’t do well with living with others. Only keep two of these tarantulas in one enclosure when you’re trying to breed them.
Behavior And Temperament
The Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula is a nervous tarantula that is more inclined to hide rather than engage a predator when it senses a threat. They are not the most dangerous creatures out there, but that doesn’t mean they can’t harm you or any predator that’s looking for an easy meal to pick up. These tarantulas have urticating hairs and occasionally kick them up when pushed to their limit.
Handling
While Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas are not particularly prone to biting, even though they are venomous, it is still not advisable to handle them recklessly or frequently. This is partly due to their urticating hairs, which can cause irritation if they come in contact with the human body. Additionally, these tarantulas can grow to be quite large and are often nervous when held. This makes handling them a less appealing prospect compared to more docile tarantulas.
It is recommended to wear protective clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt and gloves if you do choose to handle a Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula. Just be cautious and avoid dropping or accidentally allowing it to escape since they can be pretty fast too.
This species may not be the best choice for you if you’re looking for a tarantula to handle frequently. However, they are excellent pets for those who enjoy observing them from behind the safety of their enclosure.
Health And Lifespan
Ensure your Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula’s enclosure is always clean and mold-free if you want to ensure its survival. In addition, feeding it only store-bought feeders and regulating the temperature of its enclosure are also essential factors that must be consistently provided for the well-being of your tarantula.
Female Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas’ lifespan is 20 years, while males’ lifespan is 4 years.
Price
Despite being one of the most coveted tarantula species globally, Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantulas remain relatively inexpensive. Acquiring a single Brazilian Whiteknee Tarantula usually costs between $50 and $100.
