SPECIAL NOTE: USPS forbids shipping venomous spiders or scorpions in the mail.

Because of this, we ship these animals FedEx priority overnight for a flat fee of $39.99.

Defining Characteristics:

• Confident, large species from South America—their willingness to stay out in the open as adults makes them a great display species
• Striking contrast between black, white & red makes for an absolutely gorgeous tarantula
• Great feeding response = never be a dull feeding day
• Can be defensive and quick to flick hairs and/or go into threat posture—recommended for at least intermediate keepers

Name: Nhandu chromatus is commonly known as the Brazilian Red and White. The genus name Nhandu refers to a place, while chromatus has Greek roots meaning "colored".

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: Nhandu chromatus is a terrestrial species. The surface area of the enclosure should be no smaller than two times the diagonal leg span of the spider one way, and three times the diagonal leg span the other direction. Never give your terrestrial tarantula more than twice its diagonal leg span for head space above the substrate, as falls from any farther could cause major injury.

The enclosure should be tall enough to provide at least 2 inches of substrate for slings, and 4+ inches for adults. ABG mix, coco cradle, or Dig-It are good substrate options, but our Pet Bug Team prefers ABG all the way!

Temperature (°F): This species is best kept between 74-78°, with wiggle room of a couple degrees in either direction. Temperatures above 90° or consistently below 67° should be avoided.

A reliable thermometer is strongly recommended.

Humidity: 65-75% — Slings should always be kept on lightly moistened substrate, adults should be kept with a corner of their enclosure undergoing a wet/dry cycle that can be achieved by intermittently overflowing the water dish and allowing the surrounding area to dry out before doing so again.

A reliable hygrometer is strongly recommended to monitor humidity within the enclosure.

Size: Nhandu chromatus sold by Josh's frogs are at least 1 inch. Adults reach sizes of 6-7 inches. We measure our spiders using diagonal legspan.

Age: Nhandu chromatus sold by Josh's Frogs are at least 3 months old. Males will live 3-4 years and females 12-15 years.

Feeding: These spiders are currently eating two to three 1/4 inch crickets, once a week. There are a variety of appropriate prey items that you can offer, such as roaches, waxworms, black soldier fly larvae, hornworms, and silkworms. Consider feeding your prey items with our gutload formula to give your pet well-rounded nutrition.

We recommend that the prey items not be much longer than the tarantula's “head” is wide. Larvae are an exception—our larvae are harmless. Since they are very high in fat, they're not the best staple diet, however they make a great weight gain supplement.

Remove uneaten prey items after 24 hours, these may stress your animal out or endanger the spider during molting. Never attempt to feed a freshly molted tarantula less than a week after their molt to prevent injury to the spider. Depending on its age, the hardening process could take anywhere from 48 hours all the way up to a week.

Sexing: Due to age, Nhandu chromatus spiderlings sold by Josh's Frogs are sold as unsexed.

Specimens of 2.5-3 inch diagonal leg span will be able to start being accurately sexed. The most accurate method is always molt sexing, the molt of a female tarantula of appropriate size will have spermatheca and a uterus externus in between the top two sets of book lungs that will appear as a "flap" that will catch and open if a pin is gently run down this section of the old exoskeleton. Males will have a much more plain slit that will not budge with attempts to manipulate it.

Coloration/Patterning: Slings are light brown, growing to be black with a sandy colored carapace, a white "skeleton" pattern down the legs and red hairs covering the abdomen.

Natural Range: Brazil and Paraguay

Links of Interest:

• Arachnoboards: a community of spider enthusiasts that will be able to or have already answered almost any question you can think of with regards to tarantulas.