White Knee Tarantula Care Sheet

The Brazilian White Knee Tarantula is a beautiful looking spider. Pictures of them never really do them Justice. Growing to approximately 8” (females) these spiders are considered to be more appealing to the advanced hobbyist due to their slightly more stubborn nature, these spiders do like to stand their ground. Fortunately their venom is considered fairly week, and are not known to actually come forward to bite, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be cautious and give this spider the respect it is due.

They are found in the Brazilian Rain Forest and are a relatively common tarantula. They are commonly bred in captivity.

Housing

A relatively large enclosure should be given for an adult, a minimum size of 18” x 18” will be sufficient, Exo Terra do a low Terrarium which is perfect as you don’t particularly want these spiders climbing, obviously bigger would be better if you have the room.

 

For the Bottom of your enclosure we would recommend Pro Rep Spider Life mixed with some Exo Terra Rainforest Substrate and Moss this is ideal for the floor as it retains moisture and allows a Deep Substrate so your spider can burrow. A hide can be beneficial but not always used and a small water bowl. Decoration can make you spider feel at home so try to make it as natural as possible (Research forest floors of Brazil to give you ideas)

Feeding

This Spider has a good appetite and will wrestle with Crickets, Locusts and Dubai Cockroaches. Only feed every 7 to 10 days and take any stray food that the spider hasn’t eaten within a 24hr period as it is important not to over feed this species.

Handling

White Knee Tarantulas are a species, it has a defence system of flicking hairs from its abdomen with its legs which will make you itch. Handling your Tarantula should be done with caution and care. It is not natural for a spider to be picked up so it will not be thanking you when you do. Being calm and positive will put your spider at ease as it will not then see you as a threat. Showing hesitation and nervousness will set off alarms. These Spiders can be aggressive but they also have a docile side to them. Most owners never see these spiders shooting hairs at them which is its first line of defence and a warning you should not ignore. Please Remember ALL Tarantulas are venomous and we would recommend that any species should only be handled if necessary. There are lots of other rewarding reasons to own and look after a Tarantula without having to pick them up.

Lighting and Heating

The optimal temperature for this species is about ​75°F to 80°F. For most people, this is right around room temperature, so extra heating isn’t always needed. If your house drops below this range frequently, you will need to use either a small heat matt or a gentle heat lamp that doesn’t emit light as a supplemental heating source. As for humidity, aim for around 65% to 75%. Maintaining this range is quite simple with a consistently-filled water dish and regular misting of the substrate. It is always recommended that you place a thermometer and a hygrometer in your enclosure so that you can monitor environmental conditions and make small changes as needed.

Moulting

To grow, your spider grows a new skin below its current exoskeleton, when the spider has grown sufficiently it will need to break out of its old exoskeleton. This is called moulting. At this time your spider will show less interest in its food and will appear to be being very lazy. You will also probably see your spider laying on its back, it is VERY important that you do not touch your Tarantula when it is laying like this, you also need to remove all uneaten prey items from the enclosure as gently and quietly as you possibly can. The spider will eventually split open its old exoskeleton and wriggle its way out, the spider’s nice new exoskeleton will still be very soft and you will more than likely see it just sitting still as it hardens. Only remove the shed exoskeleton when your Tarantula is again actively walking around its enclosure or has returned to its hide. You should also not offer any food items to your Tarantula for at least a week as your spider’s skin and fangs will still be rather soft so it will not be able to eat. Unfortunately many Tarantulas are lost through the moulting process, either disturbed by food, their owner or something else, it is for this reason they shouldn’t be touched or disturbed during this time.

Rons Pet Supplies Promotes good husbandry with all its live stock. We always recommend that a feeding, cleaning and health check routine is put in place and a record of your White Knee Tarantulas behaviour is recorded.

All our livestock come with its own folder containing care sheets and your pets record sheet from the time it arrived with us.

Please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff for any help and advice you need we are always here to help.