Brachypelma emilia

The Brachypelma emilia, also known as the orange-legged tarantula, fascinates with its breathtaking black-orange colouring, which makes it one of the most beautiful tarantula species in the world. With a body length of about 5-6 cm, this spider presents itself in its full glory. Its front body as well as its abdomen are coloured in a unique combination of black and orange, which gives it a distinctive appearance. The intense colours and contrasts make the Brachypelma emilia a real eye-catcher in any terrarium.

 

Although the Brachypelma emilia is generally calm and peaceful, it is one of the bombardier spiders that can use its defence mechanisms, such as ejecting stinging hairs, in case of danger. It is therefore important to handle this species with care and avoid possible irritation. The Emilia tarantula originates from Mexico and mainly inhabits steppe-like landscapes as well as agricultural areas. Their burrows are often several metres below the surface, which helps them survive forest fires.

 

Due to their defence mechanism, it is advisable to have experience in dealing with a bombardier spider, as it can use its stinging hairs in case of minor irritation. These stinging hairs can cause itching and breathing difficulties.

 

For a Brachypelma emilia, it is important to create a terrarium that is as close as possible to its natural habitat. The substrate plays a decisive role in this. It should have a sufficient filling height of at least 15 cm to offer the spider sufficient burrowing possibilities. It is particularly important that the substrate has a clay content in order to meet the needs of the animals. For the optimal composition, we use a mixture of forest humus and desert sand in a ratio of 1:1. The clay content in the substrate offers the spider the opportunity to form its burrows and tunnels, which corresponds to its natural behaviour. By using this special substrate mixture, we create the ideal living conditions for the orange-legged bird spider and enable it to dig and hide in the terrarium in a manner appropriate to its species.

 

In addition to the suitable substrate, various hiding places and plants are also recommended in the terrarium. These create a natural environment and offer the Brachypelma emilia optimal conditions. Different hiding places such as caves or roots allow the spider to retreat and feel safe. The presence of plants in the terrarium contributes to the humidity and creates additional protection and shade. In terms of terrarium size, a 30 x 30 x 30 cm cube terrarium is usually sufficient for an adult Brachypelma emilia. It offers enough space for the spider to move around and act out its natural behaviour. With a suitable terrarium size and a near-natural design, you create optimal living conditions for your tarantula.

 

The temperature in the terrarium should be between 22 °C and 27 °C during the day, while it can be lowered slightly at night. A lighting period of 8-10 hours per day ensures a constant temperature. The humidity in the terrarium should be between 60% and 70% to ensure the well-being of the Brachypelma emilia.

 

The Brachypelma emilia prefers a varied diet consisting of crickets, crickets and cockroaches. These food animals provide a balanced supply of nutrients and cover the need for proteins and other important nutrients. A feeding interval of about every fortnight is usually sufficient to provide for the spider. However, it is important to make sure that uneaten food is quickly removed from the terrarium. Regularly checking the food intake and removing uneaten animals are not only important for a clean and hygienic environment in the terrarium, but also serve to protect the tarantula during the moulting process. If uneaten food animals are left in the terrarium, there is a risk that they will chew on the spider during moulting and cause injuries.

 

In general, Brachypelma emilia is a calm tarantula species that can be handled similarly to Brachypelma hamorii. When handling in the terrarium, it is important to remain calm so as not to irritate the spider and avoid attacks.