Gresham Pet Supply Pet Care Guide
Mexican Red Rump Tarantula
Tliltocatl vagans (formerly Brachypelma vagans)
Why We Love Them: The Mexican Red Rump is an iconic hobby classic. They are heavy-bodied, jet-black spiders with a beautiful patch of vibrant, velvety red hairs on their abdomen. Unlike some "pet rock" tarantulas, the Red Rump is known for being active, visible, and having an incredibly enthusiastic feeding response. If you want a beginner spider that actually moves around and attacks its food, this is the one!
Lifespan
Females 20+ years / Males 4-5 years
Adult Size
5-6 inch leg span
Enclosure
5 to 10-Gallon Tank
Warm / Basking
72°–80°F
Cool Side
68°–72°F Night
Humidity / Water
50-70% (Moderate)
Species Profile & Temperament
| Trait | Overview |
|---|---|
| Origin | Scrublands and forests of Mexico and Central America |
| Diet Type | Insectivore (Crickets, Roaches, Mealworms) |
| Activity | Nocturnal (Very bold display spiders that often sit out in the open) |
| Temperament | "Spirited." They are active, bold, and have a voracious feeding response. |
| Handleability | Not recommended. While they are a beginner species, they can be skittish and are quick to flick hairs if annoyed. |
| Venom | Ask your doctor about any bite. Wash a bite that breaks the skin with soap and water. |
| Urticating Hairs | Yes (They will flick itchy hairs from their abdomen if startled) |
| Difficulty | 2/5 — Easy (A fantastic beginner spider with a bit more "personality") |
| Hardiness | 5/5 — Bulletproof (Incredibly resilient and forgiving) |
Safety Information
Defense: Their primary defense mechanism is flicking urticating hairs. These hairs can cause severe itching and irritation if they get into your skin or eyes. If you see the spider rubbing its back legs against its abdomen, step back.
Handling Precautions: Because they are a heavy-bodied terrestrial species, a fall from a human hand can kill them. Given their slightly skittish nature, we recommend enjoying them as a display animal rather than handling them.
Housing & Enclosure
Enclosure Type & Size
- Type: Terrestrial / Opportunistic Burrower.
- Minimum: A wide, low enclosure with more floor space than height. Ask us in store about 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 spider cannot climb high and fall. A fall from the ceiling is fatal.
Substrate
- Recommended: Coconut fiber (Eco Earth), peat moss, or organic topsoil.
- Depth: Provide deep substrate. They love to dig and will create impressive burrows if given the opportunity.
Décor & Enrichment
- Hides: Provide a curved cork bark hide or half-log.
- Water Dish: Provide a shallow water dish. Keep it filled with fresh water at all times. Do not put sponges in the water.
Temperature
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Ambient | Normal room temperature |
- Heating: Room temperature is perfect. If you are comfortable in a t-shirt, your tarantula is comfortable. Never use a heat lamp.
Humidity
- Target Range: Mostly dry, with a slightly damp spot by the water dish.
- How to Maintain: Maintain a moisture gradient. Let their water dish overflow a little to keep the soil immediately around the dish slightly damp. Allow the rest of the enclosure to remain dry. Never let the enclosure become a wet, stagnant swamp.
Diet & Nutrition
The Mexican Red Rump is famous for being a fantastic, aggressive eater.
Primary Diet
- Live crickets, dubia roaches, or mealworms. Ask us in store what feeder size fits your spider.
Feeding Schedule
Ask us in store how often to feed your spider and what size feeder fits it.
Pre-Molt Fasting
- When they are preparing to molt, even this ravenous eater will refuse food. They will often seal the entrance to their burrow with webbing and dirt. 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 chew a soft, molting tarantula.
Post-Molt Care
- Wait until the new fangs have turned dark and hard before offering food. Ask us in store if you are unsure.
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) | Deep enough to dig and burrow |
| 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 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 Mexican 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 Mexican Red Rump Tarantula need?
An adult Mexican 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 Mexican 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 Mexican 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 Mexican Red Rump Tarantula setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
