Thrixopelma pruriens

Thrixopelma pruriens is a very visually appealing tarantula. The carapace/prosoma (front body) has a shiny olive green to golden color and contrasts beautifully with the red hairs on the abdomen.

The terrarium for an adult Thrixopelma pruriens should measure at least 40 × 30 × 30 cm. Young spiders are best kept in escape-proof boxes. From FH5 onwards, the young spiders can be placed in their final terrarium and the terrarium checked carefully for cable slits and general opportunities to escape. With this species you should pay more attention to the floor space and not so much to the height, as Thrixopelma pruriens do not climb. In fact, the opposite is the case. They like to dig burrows and should therefore be offered a substrate height of at least 10 cm. They like to dig their burrow under a cork bark or root, which can be offered as decoration. The substrate should be moist in one half of the terrarium and dry in the other. In other words, only moisten one side at a time to achieve a humidity of 60-70%. Plants also provide a good climate and help to avoid waterlogging.

This species should also have a water bowl. They not only drink water from the bowl, but also like to use it as a toilet. This is incomprehensible to many, but who does their business in their drinking bowl? And this is not only the case with Thrixopelma pruriens, but with many ground-dwelling tarantulas in general. For tarantulas, water also means disposal, as they start out from a flowing body of water. It is not uncommon for them to transport their skin into the water bowl after a moult.

Thrixopelma pruriens sits in its cave during the day and comes out in the evening to look for food or water. This behavior can be regarded as a normal way of life as soon as the animal has settled in. As soon as it is almost restless during the day, something is wrong with your husbandry and you should check all the parameters again.
This species is uncomplicated to keep and greedily goes for any food animal. This species therefore grows quickly and you will soon have an interesting and large tarantula in your terrarium.