The pink Chilean tarantula is considered one of the brightest representatives of the family of tarantulas. It is also often referred to as the pink Chilean tarantula. Large size, unusual coloring, kind nature and unpretentiousness make the pink Chilean tarantula in demand among those people who keep terrariums at home. In this article, we will take a closer look at the features of this spider, its habitat, photos and much more.
Where does the pink Chilean tarantula live?
In its natural habitat, this species is found in Argentina and Chile. In addition, the pink Chilean tarantula can also be found in Bolivia. These spiders choose to live in mostly wet places in those areas where there is loose soil. Some populations of the pink Chilean tarantula have also mastered the Atacama Desert, which is the driest desert on planet Earth.
These spiders differ in that they leadnocturnal lifestyle. In places where the pink Chilean tarantula lives (photo above), there are strong daily fluctuations in air temperature. With the advent of summer heat, spiders hide in the upper layers of the soil, making holes for themselves at a depth of about 1 meter. In winter, when the air temperature drops below 10 degrees, they hibernate. These creatures love warmth. That is why they are waiting for the first rays of the sun to appear in the bowels of the earth. It should be noted that these individuals do not approach each other, since cases of cannibalism in their environment due to insufficient food are very frequent.
Description of the pink Chilean tarantula
Spiders can range in color from bright red to dark brown. The body length is from 5 to 7 cm. On the back, the cephalothorax is framed by a chitinous carapace. In adult males, it acquires a pinkish tint. The hair on the body is short. On the paws there are two light stripes, which are more noticeable in representatives of a dark shade. Young spiders are distinguished by pale pink paws. After each molt, they begin to darken more and more. The back of the body is dark brown in color. Chelicerae and abdomen covered with stinging hairs.
Is the pink Chilean tarantula dangerous for humans? It should be noted that the bite of this spider is painful, but it is absolutely harmless to humans. Therefore, you can safely acquire this pet if you have all the conditions for this at home.
Food
Chilean spider mainly eatsinsects that live on the surface of the soil. The pink tarantula can wait for its prey for a long time, being at the entrance in front of its hole. As a rule, the pink Chilean tarantula preys on cockroaches, crickets, and on the most successful days, scorpions and even small mammals can act as food. The spider grabs its prey with powerful pedipalps. He pacifies his prey by injecting a small dose of poison into it directly at the bite site. The poisonous gland is excreted through a channel located in the chelicerae. Sometimes a predator does not use poison to subdue the prey, but simply destroys the prey with the power of its jaws.
Features of reproduction
As for the mating season, it occurs in tarantulas in the spring, when winter hibernation has already ended. The soil at this time warms up to 15 degrees, and the males begin to search for a pair. In this case, they rely entirely on the power of their own sense of smell. Female pink tarantulas are found by the pheromones that she exudes. 3-6 weeks after mating, the female can lay 100 to 200 eggs, which she wraps in a cocoon with her web. In the case of a favorable combination of circumstances, clutches can meet up to 500 eggs. Little spiders are born already on the 8-10th day.
In the cocoon there are several stages of development, during which molting is carried out twice. Closer to the 10th week, small spiders form. Hatched young individuals live near the mother for another couple of days, after whichdisperse on different sides.
The offspring, like their mother, is driven by the instinct of self-preservation. In the event of a shortage of food, a starving mother is able to eat her own offspring as food, while ignoring parental duty.
Little spiders eat small insects. Since babies are the most vulnerable during this period, they often become victims of some large predators. Most often they are attacked by centipedes, ants and wasps. Puberty in young individuals occurs very late - at the age of 6-8 years.
Features of keeping at home
If you love exotic animals, then you will definitely want to get a Chilean pink tarantula. Its content will be very simple. It is only necessary to remember that individuals must be kept separately from each other. The fact is that cannibalism can someday take over, and for some of them everything will end very sadly. To keep one adult at home, it will be enough to purchase a 40-liter aquarium. But, taking into account the hermit lifestyle of spiders, as well as night walks, a 20-liter terrarium will be enough for him. Despite the fact that pink tarantulas cannot climb slippery surfaces, they can weave a web of cobwebs and then climb out of the terrarium. That is why you will have to make sure that there is a metal mesh cover with ventilation on top. Such a cover must be tightly fitted to the size of the terrarium.
As mentioned earlier, young spiders eat crickets with pleasure. Also, as food, they can be given wax moth larvae, newborn mice and rats. It will be useful to add grasshoppers, grasshoppers, bugs and other insects to the diet. If you are gathering food in the field, be aware that insects can be poisoned by pesticides as well as other chemicals. This can cause the death of your tarantula.
Lifespan
The life expectancy of a female is about 12 years. However, there were cases when they lived up to 30 years. As a rule, males do not live more than 8 years. Most of them die after mating.
