Gresham Pet Supply Pet Care Guide
Guatemalan Red Rump Tarantula
Tliltocatl sabulosus (formerly Brachypelma sabulosum)
Why We Love Them: The Guatemalan Red Rump is a gorgeous, heavy-bodied tarantula. As their name suggests, they have a jet-black body accented by a large patch of fiery red hairs on their abdomen. Their incredibly docile temperament, slow speed, and hardiness make them an absolutely perfect choice for a first-time tarantula owner.
Lifespan
Females 20-30 years / Males 5-6 years
Adult Size
4.75-6 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)
Species Profile & Temperament
| Trait | Overview |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tropical forests and scrublands of Guatemala |
| Diet Type | Insectivore (Crickets, Roaches, Mealworms) |
| Activity | Nocturnal (Often sits out in the open, making a great display spider) |
| Temperament | Extremely docile, calm, and slow-moving. |
| Handleability | Tolerant, but fragile. Handle rarely, low over a soft surface. |
| Venom | Ask your doctor about any bite or health concern |
| Urticating Hairs | Yes (They can flick mildly irritating hairs from their abdomen if stressed) |
| Difficulty | 1/5 — Beginner (One of the most highly recommended beginner species) |
| Hardiness | 5/5 — Bulletproof (Very resilient to minor husbandry mistakes) |
Safety Information
Venom/Defense: They are generally considered one of the calmest species in the hobby. If startled, their first line of defense is usually to kick a small cloud of urticating hairs rather than bite.
Handling Precautions: They are calm, but all tarantulas are fragile. Because they are heavy-bodied terrestrials, a fall from a human hand to a hard floor can kill them. If you must handle them, always sit on the floor or hold them directly over a soft surface (like a bed).
Housing & Enclosure
Enclosure Type & Size
- Type: Terrestrial / Opportunistic Burrower.
- Minimum: A wide, low terrestrial enclosure. Ask us in store for the right size for your spider.
- The Height Warning (CRITICAL): You must prioritize floor space over vertical height. If the enclosure is too tall, you must fill it with deep substrate so the drop from the lid to the dirt stays short. A fall from the ceiling can kill it.
Substrate
- Recommended: Coconut fiber (Eco Earth), peat moss, or organic topsoil.
- Depth: Provide deep substrate. They will occasionally dig starter burrows, and the deep soil cushions them if they climb.
Décor & Enrichment
- Hides: Provide a curved cork bark hide or half-log to help them feel secure.
- Water Dish: Provide a shallow water dish. Keep it filled with fresh water at all times. Do not put sponges in the water; tarantulas cannot drink from sponges and they harbor bacteria.
Temperature
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Ambient | Comfortable room temperature |
- Heating: Room temperature is perfect. Never use a heat lamp. If you ever need extra heat, use one on a thermostat.
Humidity
- Target Range: Mostly dry, with one slightly damp area.
- How to Maintain: Maintain a moisture gradient. Overflow their water dish now and then to keep the soil immediately around the dish slightly damp. Allow the other half of the enclosure to remain completely dry. Ensure the enclosure has good cross-ventilation.
Diet & Nutrition
Like most of the Tliltocatl genus, they are excellent, eager eaters with a moderate growth rate.
Primary Diet
- Live crickets, dubia roaches, or mealworms. Ask us in store what size prey to feed.
Feeding Schedule
Feed live prey sized for your spider. Ask us in store how often and what size to feed at each age.
Pre-Molt Fasting
- If they seal the entrance to their hide with webbing and dirt, and refuse food, they are in pre-molt. Do not disturb them.
Molting
During the Molt
- DO NOT disturb the spider. It will flip on its back to molt. It is not dead. Do not flip it over.
- Remove any live crickets from the enclosure immediately. A live cricket can bite or chew a molting tarantula.
Post-Molt Care
- Wait until the new fangs have hardened before offering food. New fangs need 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 | Prioritize floor space over height |
| Substrate | Zoo Med Eco Earth (Coco Fiber) | Use a deep layer |
| Hides | Zoo Med Natural Cork Bark (Curved) | The perfect starting roof for their hide |
| Tools | Zoo Med 10-inch Feeding Tongs | Highly recommended for safe maintenance |
| Water Dish | Exo Terra Shallow Water Dish (Medium) | Provide fresh water, no sponges |
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 Guatemalan Red Rump Tarantula on mostly dry substrate with a full shallow water dish. We let the dish overflow a little into one corner and keep good 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 keep the room at a comfortable room temperature.
- 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 Guatemalan Red Rump Tarantula warm and humid enough during an Oregon winter?
Keep your spider at a comfortable room temperature with no heat lamp. Keep the substrate mostly dry, keep a shallow water dish filled, and let it overflow a little into one corner. Never mist the spider directly. Never put a heat mat underneath the enclosure. Ask us in store for the right setup for your spider.
What size enclosure does a Guatemalan Red Rump Tarantula need?
An adult Guatemalan Red Rump Tarantula needs a low, wide enclosure with secure ventilation. Ask us in store for the right size for your spider. 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 Guatemalan Red Rump 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 Guatemalan Red Rump 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 Guatemalan Red Rump Tarantula setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
