Gresham Pet Supply Pet Care Guide
Mexican Painted Tarantula
Brachypelma emilia
Why We Love Them: The Mexican Painted Tarantula is one of the most stunning species in the hobby. They have striking orange/red legs and are famous for the distinct, perfect black triangle pattern painted on their pale carapace. Their incredibly docile temperament and long lifespan make them a staple for any beginner or collector.
Lifespan
Females 20-40 years / Males 5-6 years
Adult Size
4.5-5.5 inch leg span
Enclosure
5 to 10-Gallon Tank
Warm / Basking
72°–80°F
Cool Side
68°–72°F Night
Humidity / Water
60-70% (Low-Moderate)
Species Profile & Temperament
| Trait | Overview |
|---|---|
| Origin | Dry scrublands of Western Mexico |
| Diet Type | Insectivore (Crickets, Roaches, Mealworms) |
| Activity | Nocturnal (Often sits out in the open, making a great display spider) |
| Temperament | Extremely docile and calm, though slightly more skittish than the Mexican Red Knee. |
| 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 will flick itchy hairs from their abdomen if startled) |
| Difficulty | 1/5 — Beginner (A highly recommended, easy-to-keep 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 5 to 10 gallon low terrestrial enclosure is perfect for an adult.
- 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 often use a hide as a starter burrow and dig out the dirt underneath it.
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; sponges grow bacteria.
Temperature
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 72–80°F (22–27°C) |
- Heating: Room temperature is perfect. Never use a heat lamp or under-tank heater. If you ever need extra heat, use one on a thermostat.
Humidity
- Target Range: 50–65% (Low-Moderate).
- How to Maintain: Maintain a mostly dry environment. They come from arid scrublands and do not like wet feet. Provide a water dish and occasionally overflow it slightly to dampen one small corner of the tank, leaving the rest bone dry.
Diet & Nutrition
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. They grow slowly, and long fasts are normal.
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. Ask us in store if you are unsure when to feed again.
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) | Keep mostly dry |
| 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 Mexican Painted 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 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 Mexican Painted Tarantula warm and humid enough during an Oregon winter?
Target 72°–80°F room temperature with no heat lamp and 50-65% humidity. 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.
What size enclosure does a Mexican Painted Tarantula need?
An adult Mexican Painted 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 Mexican Painted Tarantula bioactive enclosure?
Most dry-setup tarantulas do best without a cleanup crew. Remove leftovers with tongs instead.
Where can I find Mexican Painted 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 Mexican Painted Tarantula setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
