Keeper guide

Brazilian Red Tarantula Sling Care — Nhandu cerradensis

Young Nhandu cerradensis need the same basic husbandry principles as adults, but in a smaller, more carefully managed enclosure. Brazilian Red Tarantula slings dry out faster, eat smaller prey and can escape through gaps an adult could never use.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
New World
Origin
Brazil
Lifestyle
Terrestrial
UK hobby rarity
Rare
Maximum size
About 15–18 cm (6–7 in)
Growth rate
Moderate
Male lifespan
Roughly 3–5 years
Female lifespan
Often 12–18 years
Temperament
Alert and potentially defensive; urticating hairs are present
Venom
Venomous, but bites are not generally regarded as medically significant
Temperature
20–26°C
Moisture / humidity
Water dish and a moderate moisture gradient without waterlogging
CITES
Check current CITES rules before cross-border trade

Choosing a sling enclosure

Use an enclosure that is secure and easy to inspect for Nhandu cerradensis sling. It should be large enough for a retreat and water access but small enough that prey and the spider are easy to locate.

Match the shape to the Nhandu cerradensis terrestrial lifestyle. Arboreal slings need usable height and anchor points, fossorial slings need digging depth, and terrestrial slings need floor space with a low fall height.

Substrate and moisture

For young Nhandu cerradensis, use water dish and a moderate moisture gradient without waterlogging. Small containers change moisture faster than adult enclosures, so check the substrate rather than watering on autopilot.

Do not keep a Nhandu cerradensis sling permanently waterlogged. Good airflow and a sensible moisture gradient are safer than trying to make the whole container equally damp.

Water

Provide fresh water to Nhandu cerradensis as early as the enclosure allows. A very small, shallow water dish can be used for many slings; where that is impractical, keep suitable moisture available until a dish can be added safely.

Check water frequently because tiny dishes and small containers dry quickly. Do not rely on prey alone to hydrate Nhandu cerradensis sling.

Feeding slings

Feed Nhandu cerradensis slings small, manageable prey. A pre-killed or disabled feeder can be useful for very small spiders that are not ready to tackle active prey.

Remove leftovers from Nhandu cerradensis before they spoil, especially in a small moist enclosure. Appetite may drop sharply before a moult.

Moulting

Young Nhandu cerradensis usually moult more often than adults. When a sling stops eating and becomes more secretive, premoult is a common explanation.

Remove live prey, keep water available and leave the Nhandu cerradensis alone through the moult. Wait until the new exoskeleton and fangs have hardened before feeding again.

Rehousing a growing sling

Rehouse Nhandu cerradensis sling when the enclosure becomes genuinely cramped or difficult to maintain. Prepare the new setup completely before opening the old one.

Because small Brazilian Red Tarantulas can disappear through tiny gaps, check ventilation holes, lid edges and door clearances carefully before moving Nhandu cerradensis.

Simple records

Record moult dates for Nhandu cerradensis if you want to follow growth. A quick note of feeding and moulting is enough; there is no need to turn sling care into a complicated daily log.

Those dates make it easier to see what is normal for the individual Nhandu cerradensis, especially when feeding slows or the interval between moults begins to lengthen.