Gresham Pet Supply Pet Care Guide
Brazilian Redhead Tarantula
Bumba horrida
Why We Love Them: The Brazilian Redhead is one of the most stunning, high-contrast tarantulas in the hobby. They feature jet-black, velvety legs and abdomens that perfectly highlight their glowing, vibrant red/orange carapace (the "red head"). While they can be a bit shy, they are incredibly beautiful and have a very calm disposition.
Lifespan
Females 12-15 years / Males 3-4 years
Adult Size
4-5 inch leg span
Enclosure
5 to 10-Gallon Tank
Warm / Basking
72°–80°F
Cool Side
68°–72°F Night
Humidity / Water
65-75% (Moderate-High)
Species Profile & Temperament
| Trait | Overview |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tropical rainforests of Northern Brazil |
| Diet Type | Insectivore (Crickets, Roaches, Mealworms) |
| Activity | Nocturnal (Spends a lot of time hiding in its burrow during the day) |
| Temperament | Very docile, but skittish. They prefer to run and hide rather than fight. |
| Handleability | Possible, but not recommended. They are fast and easily startled, making them a drop risk. |
| Venom | Wash any bite that breaks the skin with soap and water. Ask your doctor about any health concerns. |
| Urticating Hairs | Yes (They can flick hairs from their abdomen if stressed) |
| Difficulty | 3/5 — Intermediate (Straightforward care, though they can be shy) |
| Hardiness | 3/5 — Moderate (Requires a balance of moisture without becoming a swamp) |
Safety Information
Venom/Defense: They are generally considered very docile. If startled, their first instinct is to run into their burrow as fast as possible. If they cannot escape, they may kick a small patch of urticating hairs.
Handling Precautions: We do not recommend handling this species. While they are not mean, they are very skittish. If you spook them while they are on your hand, they will bolt. A fall from a human hand to a hard floor can kill them.
Housing & Enclosure
Enclosure Type & Size
- Type: Terrestrial / Opportunistic Burrower.
- Minimum: Because they are a smaller species (only reaching 4–5.5 inches), a 5-gallon to 10-gallon glass aquarium or an Exo Terra Nano/Mini is perfect for an adult.
- The Height Warning: Like all terrestrial tarantulas, you must prioritize floor space over vertical height. Keep the gap from the dirt to the lid short to prevent falls.
Substrate
- Recommended: Coconut fiber (Eco Earth), peat moss, or organic topsoil.
- Depth: Provide deep substrate. They are opportunistic burrowers and will spend a significant amount of time digging out a home under their hide.
Décor & Enrichment
- Hides (CRITICAL): Provide a curved cork bark hide or half-log. Because they are a shy species, having a dark, secure place to hide is essential to keep them stress-free.
- Water Dish: Provide a small, shallow water dish. Keep it filled with fresh water at all times.
Temperature
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 72–80°F (22–27°C), no heat lamp |
- Heating: They thrive in slightly warmer temperatures. Room temperature is usually fine, but if your home runs cold, use a small heat pad on the SIDE of the tank on a thermostat, never underneath.
Humidity
- Target Range: 65–75% (Moderate-High).
- How to Maintain: They require moderate moisture, but they hate stagnant, swampy air. The easiest way to maintain humidity is to let their water dish overflow a little into the substrate. This keeps the lower layers of the soil slightly damp while allowing the top layer to dry out. Ensure the enclosure has good cross-ventilation.
Diet & Nutrition
Primary Diet
- Live crickets, dubia roaches, or mealworms. Ask us in store what size feeder to use.
Feeding Schedule
Young spiders eat more often than adults. Ask us in store for a feeding plan that fits your spider's size, and always remove uneaten live prey.
Pre-Molt Fasting
- If they seal the entrance to their burrow with webbing and dirt, and refuse food, they are in pre-molt. Do not disturb them or dig them up.
Molting
During the Molt
- DO NOT disturb the spider. It will molt safely inside its burrow.
- Remove any live crickets from the enclosure immediately. A live cricket can bite or chew a molting tarantula.
Post-Molt Care
- Wait before offering food so their new fangs have time to harden.
What We Use & Recommend
These are products we use and recommend for this species. Stock varies by store, so ask us what we have in store today.
| Category | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Aqueon 5-Gallon or 10-Gallon Tank | Perfect size for a small-medium terrestrial |
| Substrate | Zoo Med Eco Earth (Coco Fiber) | Deep enough to dig a burrow |
| Hides | Zoo Med Natural Cork Bark (Curved) | The perfect starting roof for their burrow |
| Tools | Zoo Med 10-inch Feeding Tongs | Highly recommended for safe maintenance |
| Water Dish | Exo Terra Shallow Water Dish (Small) | Overflow this a little to keep the bottom soil damp |
Last updated: 2026-08-04
How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply
- Oregon Winter Furnace Air vs. Molting Humidity: When Pacific Northwest furnaces kick on from October through April, indoor room humidity drops fast and dries out small enclosures from the top down. Rather than misting the spider or invert directly (which stresses terrestrial species and invites stagnant mold), we keep Brazilian Redhead Tarantula at
65-75%by using a deep moisture-retaining substrate bed (ReptiSoil + Coco Fiber + Sphagnum Moss), overflowing the water dish slightly into one corner, and maintaining cross-ventilation. - Safe Room Heating in the Willamette Valley: If your house gets cold on winter nights, never stick a heat pad on the bottom of a burrowing invertebrate tank—they dig down to escape heat and will cook themselves. Use a low-wattage side-mounted heat mat on a digital thermostat or warm the room ambiently to
72°–80°F. - Shopping at Newberg & Gresham: For enclosures, cork bark, substrates, springtails and feeders at Critter Cabana (Newberg) and Gresham Pet Supply, ask us what we have in store today.
Common Questions (FAQ)
How do I keep my Brazilian Redhead Tarantula warm and humid enough during an Oregon winter?
Target 72°–80°F room temperature with no heat lamp and 65-75% humidity. Keep the lower substrate slightly damp and the top dry by letting the water dish overflow a little. Never mist the spider directly. Never put a heat mat underneath the enclosure.
What size enclosure does a Brazilian Redhead Tarantula need?
An adult Brazilian Redhead Tarantula thrives in 5 to 10-Gallon Tank with secure ventilation. For terrestrial tarantulas and scorpions, floor space and deep substrate matter most (keep open fall height low so a fall cannot hurt your spider); for arboreal species, prioritize vertical cork bark tubes and cross-ventilation.
Can I put isopods in a Brazilian Redhead Tarantula bioactive enclosure?
Around molting tarantulas and scorpions, skip big, hungry isopods and stick to springtails, so a soft, newly molted animal is never nibbled.
Where can I find Brazilian Redhead Tarantula, cork bark, and feeder insects in Oregon?
Ask us what we have in store today at our two exotic animal stores: Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) and Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606).
Shop supplies for this animal
Everything for your Brazilian Redhead Tarantula setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
