Aphonopelma chalcodes

The Aphonopelma chalcodes, also known as Mexican blond tarantula, Arizona blond tarantula, or western desert tarantula, are native to the Southwestern United States. Their body is fully covered with hairs like other tarantula species. They have the dark brown to black-colored abdomen and gray to the dark brown-colored cephalothorax. In addition to this, the Aphonopelma chalcodes reach the maturity level at the age of ten to twelve years. Males appear to be lankier and thinner and have longer legs than the female ones. Here, we are going to discuss many exciting facts and information about these animal species. 

Aphonopelma chalcodes habitat

These animal species are present near New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California, and the Southwestern United States. They like to live in caves, which these spiders build up themselves and remain in them for decades. Furthermore, they use to spend most of their lifetime in the wild hot deserts. As these terrestrial and temperate spiders are adapted to live in harsh conditions, they do not need much water to survive. The Aphonopelma chalcodes are also present in saguaro-dominated plant communities. 

Aphonopelma chalcodes size

They have medium-sized bodies with lengths of about three to five inches and are mostly seen during the summer or rainy seasons in the Southwestern deserts. If we talk about Aphonopelma chalcodes male vs female, the females with a leg span of 3.8 inches have a diameter of 2.4 inches, while males range from 1.9 to 2.4 inches. Besides this, the females have larger bodies with smaller legs. They reach the size of almost six inches when fully grown. These spiders are very famous as pets among different people due to their docile nature.

Aphonopelma chalcodes temperament

These animal species, along with docile nature, have a good temperament. The Aphonopelma chalcodes behavior includes nocturnal and solitary spiders that use to hide in their burrows, dumped holes, or under rocks in the daytime. Some of them are incredibly calm, while some have a quite different temperament. These deserted spiders have urticating hairs like other tarantulas and use them for their defense. That’s why they are considered skittish, defensive, and docile tarantulas that may be hard or easy to handle.

Aphonopelma chalcodes feeding

Like all other animals, these animal species also require a proper diet to survive. For example, their diet includes crickets, large insects, and other pesticides-free insects. As these tarantulas are hunters, they must be provided with live prey and remain alive for long periods without feeding. You can feed the immature ones regularly, while adults Tarantulas eat food once or twice a week. They must not be given prey that is larger than their abdomen’s size. But all these additives or supplements are not suggested to be given in captivity. 

Aphonopelma chalcodes lifespan

These deserted tarantulas are present in scrubland areas dry hot deserts and live for a specific lifetime, after which they die. The Aphonopelma chalcodes male has a lifespan of about five to ten years, while females are not considered to live a long life of up to thirty years. The males mostly often die after these years or sometimes after becoming sexually mature. However, you can increase their lifespan by giving them proper care and diet.

Aphonopelma chalcodes breeding

As these animal species take almost ten to twelve years to reach maturity, they are quite tricky to be bred in captivity. Researches have shown that the males live only for a few months after becoming sexually mature. On the other hand, the Aphonopelma chalcodes female is supposed to live for another 10 to 12 years. It is said that the males must be sent away from the females after mating because they are supposed to be getting eaten by females. When the eggs are near to hatch, you should carefully cut the egg sac and remove spiderlings.

Aphonopelma chalcodes facts

There are present many fascinating facts about these spiders, some of which are as given below:

1. They are vibration-sensitive and can detect the presence of any threat or prey in the ground
2. These female animal species use to lay about two-hundred eggs in the caves which they dig themselves
3. They are commonly called blood tarantula because of the presence of copper-colored hair
4. Their predators include snakes, lizards, foxes, coyotes, and spider-eating birds
5. Like other tarantulas, they do not make webs, but their burrows’ entrance is covered with multiple of silk-like threads acting as preys’ entrapment

Aphonopelma chalcodes pets

These tarantulas are considered an excellent option to be kept as pets because of their docile nature. People love to keep them due to the copper-colored hairs present on their abdomens. These Aphonopelma chalcodes are known as domestic creatures that are easy to care. However, a five to ten gallon enclosure filled with substrates i.e., soil and peat moss, makes a good home for them to live. They are sold in several pet shops at different price ranges. People buy these spiders and take good care of them.

Aphonopelma chalcodes bite

The Mexican blond tarantulas are poisonous, but their bite is not such dangerous to humans. They sometimes become aggressive and start biting, which will only kill their prey, not humans. Furthermore, these spiders’ bite will cause irritation, itching, or redness to humans unless they make their handlers allergic. There is not any record of human deaths that are caused by these tarantulas. Their venom shows a close resemblance to the bee or mosquito sting.

Aphonopelma chalcodes care

There is a requirement of proper diet and care to keep these spiders as pets. So, the following are given some essential care tips for the Aphonopelma chalcodes tarantulas:

1. It would be helpful if you keep these animals species in a tank with five to ten gallon size
2. It would be great to keep them in that place where the temperature is up to 29 degrees Celsius and the humidity level is from sixty to seventy percent
3. It would also be great if you clean your tarantulas’ place every four to six months
4. You can give them locusts, crickets, super worms, and roaches of an adequate size
5. It would be better to provide these spiders with clear, clean and chlorine-free water ceramic pan and avoiding deeper dishes
6. If your Aphonopelma chalcode tarantula has a wrinkled abdomen, it will be the sign of hunger and dehydration, and you are suggested to give them food and water
7. It is better to consult a veterinarian if your tarantula is feeling stressed, dehydrated and malnourished

Conclusion

As we have discussed many exciting facts and information about these terrestrial, deserted, or temperate tarantulas, they are kept as pets by different people globally. For example, people love to buy them because of their copper-colored fascinating hair and calm temperament. Instead of this, they are quite easy or sometimes very hard to be handled. Researches have shown that their temperament does not remain same all the time. So, you must take good care of them by supplying them with a proper diet to survive. In addition to this, it would be helpful if you provide the Aphonopelma chalcodes with two crickets once a week. They can live for long periods without eating anything. It would also be great to keep these tarantulas in a tank of five to ten gallon size.