Mexican Rose Grey Tarantula

Looks how to spot one

urticating hairs and bristles

This tarantula has a very dark, almost black body with a light grey or pinkish carapace marked by a dark triangle at the front. The abdomen and legs are covered in bright reddish-orange hairs, giving it a striking appearance.15

Personality what they are like

The Mexican Rose Grey is one of the most docile tarantulas. It rarely threat poses or flicks urticating hairs, preferring to run away from danger. It is calm and friendly, often sitting out in the open, making it a great choice for beginners.23

Daily activity how busy a day looks

This tarantula is primarily nocturnal and sedentary. It does not require exercise but benefits from an enclosure with deep substrate for burrowing and a hide. It spends much time above ground, especially at night.52

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Minimal grooming is needed. Keep the enclosure clean by removing uneaten prey after 24 hours. Provide a shallow water dish with fresh water. Avoid handling as it stresses the spider; if necessary, do so gently and close to the ground to prevent falls.235

Home where they are happiest

Use a terrestrial enclosure that is wider than tall, with at least 5-6 inches of substrate for burrowing. Provide a hide and a water dish. Temperature should be 70-85°F (21-29°C) and humidity 65-85%. A 10-gallon tank (approx. 20x12x10 inches) works well for an adult.235

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Feed live insects such as crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, grasshoppers, moths, and earthworms. Adults eat 2 roaches or up to 5 large crickets per week. Slings start with flightless fruit flies and graduate to pinhead crickets. Always gut-load prey and remove uneaten food after 24 hours.235

Company who they like around

Strictly solitary and cannibalistic. House individually to prevent predation or injury. They do not need companionship and should never be kept together.35

The story where it all began

Before 2003, captive specimens were mistakenly labelled as Aphonopelma pallidum or Brachypelma pallidum, despite being very dark in colour (pallidum means 'pale' in Latin). In 1994, Andrew Smith discovered that the preserved male and female 'pallidum' specimens were actually two different species. The males were later assigned to Aphonopelma pallidum and the females to Brachypelma albiceps. The spiders in captivity did not match either. A specimen sent to tarantula keeper Heinz-Josef Peters under the name Aphonopelma pallidum was studied by Günter Schmidt, who described it as a new species, Brachypelma verdezi, in 2003. The specific name honours J.-M. Verdez, who first realised the misidentification. In November 2019, the species was moved to the genus Tliltocatl, a change accepted by the World Spider Catalog.16

Recognised by the official bits

World Spider Catalog

Accepts the transfer of Brachypelma verdezi to the genus Tliltocatl, as proposed in November 2019.1