Many lovers of arachnids are familiar with the spider acanthoscuria geniculata, or the white-kneed Brazilian tarantula. Perhaps he is one of the most popular representatives of arachnids kept in captivity. Which is not surprising - he is quite handsome, has large dimensions and is not too picky about the conditions of detention. So it can be easily handled by both an experienced arachnologist and a beginner.
Description of appearance
Needless to say, the appearance of the acanthoscuria geniculate is very memorable. Still, this spider can boast of a rather large size. The trunk can reach 8-10 centimeters in diameter. And the span of the paws in some cases reaches 20 centimeters or 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, a shade reminiscent of dark chocolate. But the coat color is more interesting. For the most part, it is red - from light saturatedto dark, almost brown. Pure white stripes are clearly visible on the paws, 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 - at about two and a half years. And after laying eggs, they are not going to die at all. With good care, they are quite capable of living up to fifteen years.
Area
In the wild, the tarantula spider (acanthoscuria geniculata) can be found in Brazil. Here he lives in the dense jungle, preferring shady, damp places - near swamps, rivers, streams, lakes.
Hunt mainly at dusk. And they prefer to spend the daylight hours in some kind of shelter. A large crack in a tree, a hollow or just a gap between stones will do. If a suitable shelter cannot be found, the spider may well dig a small hole in which it will hide in the morning.
Defense mechanisms
Despite the fact that Acanthoscuria geniculata is not considered a dangerous spider, some care must be taken when keeping it. If only because all spiders are poisonous to some extent.
A he althy person survives a bite relatively easily. Although acute pain when bitten, fever and even convulsions may well accompany the ingestion of poison into the body. But for children, pets (cats, guinea pigs, small dogs) and people who are allergic to animal toxins, the bite may well be fatal. Aboutthis 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 security. Contact with skin may cause burns. Even worse, if the hairs get into the lungs or eyes. Most often, the symptoms (fever, itching, choking, weakness) disappear within a few hours. But if it gets into the eyes, permanent visual impairment is possible.
Home maintenance
If you are interested in keeping Acanthoscuria Geniculata at home, then first of all you should think about a suitable terrarium.
In general, a large capacity is not necessary - a spider can 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 placed on the bottom. A good choice would be coconut fiber, peat or regular sphagnum moss. Quite soft and loose, they allow the spider to easily dig a small hole to spend part of the time there, resting and recuperating.
It would also be useful to lay a snag on the bottom, a couple of small round stones to create living conditions close to natural.
But it is even more important to maintain optimal humidity and temperature. Best of all, the tarantula feels at a temperature of + 22 … + 28 ° С. When increased, the spider becomes very active, but it may well get sick and die. downgradetemperature leads to a decrease in activity - your pet will eat poorly, move 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 a thermometer in the terrarium. Ideally, connect them through a relay so that thermoregulation is automatic.
Humidity should be around 70-80 percent. In the tropics, this is the norm. At low humidity, the spider feels bad, may refuse to eat, weakens.
The issue is solved simply - just 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 sprayer. Since the terrarium is a closed ecosystem, once you increase the humidity, you can not worry about it for many days and even weeks.
Choosing the right food
There are no problems with feeding. The best diet for juveniles will be mealworms - you need to feed them about once every two to three days.
It's even easier with adults. Feeding is done only once a week. Crickets, marbled cockroaches, and other foraging insects sold in most pet stores are best. It is very important to give food to the living - the spiders themselves will catch them and eat them. This way they will keep themselves in good shape.
Conclusion
Our article about the amazing spiders Acanthoscuria geniculata comes to an end. Now you know more abouttheir lives in the wild. They also learned how to provide them with comfortable living conditions when kept in a terrarium.
