Brachypelma auratum (1cm)

Brachypelma auratum, also known as the Mexican Flame Knee, is a close relative of the popular red-legged bird, but is distinguished by a more "flame-like" and orderly pattern on its legs. Its distinguishing mark is the intense orange-red spots on its knees, which resemble flames. The rest of the body is velvety black, which gives the spider an extremely elegant appearance. The offered juveniles will acquire these unique colors with each moulting. This is a very long-lived species - females can live up to more than 20 years. Behavior and venom This species is valued for its very calm temperament. It moves slowly and predictably, which makes terrarium cleaning work easy even for inexperienced keepers. In stressful situations, it usually chooses to flee or comb the scalding hairs from its abdomen. It possesses a weak venom that poses no threat to human health, making it one of the safest birders for home breeding. Breeding conditions In the wild, it inhabits the dry forests and scrublands of Mexico. In a terrarium, it requires steppe conditions: a substrate with low humidity (such as a mixture of coconut fiber and sand) and a temperature in the range of 25-28°C. As an aboveground spider, it needs horizontal space and a solid hiding place, such as a cork tube. It is a bug-tolerant and hardy species, making it an excellent candidate for starting a terrarium adventure.