Encyclopaedia
Terrestrial invert.TerrestrialEasy
©AI Generated·Proprietary
Mexican Fireleg Tarantula
Brachypelma boehmei
Striking color contrast: a pitch-black abdomen and legs entirely covered in bright orange hair. Beautiful but noticeably more reactive than its relative B. hamorii.
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Theraphosidae
Subfamily:Theraphosinae
Genus:Brachypelma
Species:Brachypelma boehmei
Share
Check out Mexican Fireleg Tarantula on Atlarium
Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
45 - 60 %
Ambient temperature
24 - 27 °C
Day temperature
22 - 26 °C
Night temperature
18 - 20 °C
Substrate depth
>= 15 cm
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the dry, rocky Pacific coast of southwestern Mexico, particularly in the states of Guerrero and Michoacán. It inhabits scrublands and deciduous dry forests, sheltering under rocks, fallen logs, or in burrows.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A medium-to-large terrestrial tarantula with a leg span of up to 15–16 cm. It features a pale cream or pinkish carapace, a black abdomen covered in reddish hairs, and bright orange-red coloration covering almost the entire length of its legs.
Behavior and Habits: Terrestrial and nocturnal. They are active during the night and often remain visible at the entrance of their burrows during the day. When disturbed, they are prone to flicking urticating hairs, which can leave a bald spot on their abdomen.
Morphology: Sexual dimorphism is typical of theraphosids: females are much larger, bulkier, and live significantly longer (up to 20–25 years), while adult males are smaller, more slender, have longer legs, and possess tibial spurs.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Require a terrestrial horizontal terrarium of at least 40x30x30 cm. Provide a deep substrate (at least 10 cm) of dry coconut fiber or peat moss to allow digging. Include a half-log cork bark shelter or a dry root for cover.
Lighting and Heating: Do not require special lighting. Maintain ambient room temperatures of 24–27°C. They can tolerate a drop to 20°C at night. Avoid placing heating mats under the terrarium, as they dig to escape heat.
Humidity and Hydration: Prefer dry conditions with relative humidity of 50–60%. Excessively wet substrate can lead to fatal fungal infections in their book lungs. Provide a shallow water dish filled with clean water at all times.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed appropriate-sized live crickets, locusts, or roaches once every 7–10 days. During the pre-molt phase, they will stop eating and seal their burrow with silk; do not disturb them during this time.
Compatibility: Solitary. Must be housed individually. They should be treated as display animals; handling is not recommended due to their nervous temperament and highly irritating urticating hairs. Use long tongs for maintenance.
Health and Common Diseases: Very hardy, with females living up to 25 years. The main risks are falls (which can rupture their abdomen) and excessive humidity. Watch for a shriveled abdomen (dehydration) and provide water immediately if observed.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to the dry, rocky Pacific coast of southwestern Mexico, particularly in the states of Guerrero and Michoacán. It inhabits scrublands and deciduous dry forests, sheltering under rocks, fallen logs, or in burrows.
Origin
Cosmopolitan or introducedCentral America and CaribbeanNorth America
Terrestrial invertebrate profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 17 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Venom level
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 17 cm. The The Tarantula Collective — Brachypelma boehmei source reports a maximum adult measurement of 17 cm for this species, recorded as diagonal leg span (DLS). The taxonomic record consulted is Brachypelma boehmei. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
