Keeper guide

New Mexican Tarantula Temperature Guide — Tliltocatl kahlenbergi

A practical temperature range for Tliltocatl kahlenbergi, commonly known as the New Mexican Tarantula, is 20–25°C. Stable room conditions matter more than chasing tiny changes on the thermometer.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
New World
Origin
Mexico
Lifestyle
Terrestrial
UK hobby rarity
Uncommon
Maximum size
About 13–15 cm (5–6 in)
Growth rate
Moderate
Male lifespan
Roughly 4–6 years
Female lifespan
Often 15–20 years
Temperament
Often steady but can kick hairs when disturbed
Venom
Venomous, but bites are not generally regarded as medically significant
Temperature
20–25°C
Moisture / humidity
Water dish with a modest moisture gradient
CITES
CITES Appendix II; UK Annex B

Working temperature range

Keep Tliltocatl kahlenbergi around 20–25°C. Use that as a practical captive range and avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures well outside it.

New Mexican Tarantulas do not need the enclosure to hit one exact number all day. Normal small room fluctuations are easier to manage than repeated heating and cooling adjustments.

Measure the shelf, not just the room

Check the temperature where the Tliltocatl kahlenbergi enclosure actually sits. Shelves near windows, radiators, computers or external walls can differ from the centre of the room.

A thermometer placed near the enclosure gives more useful information for a New Mexican Tarantula than a reading taken across the room.

Avoid direct heat on the enclosure

Do not attach a heat mat directly to a Tliltocatl kahlenbergi enclosure. Small containers can develop concentrated hot areas that are much warmer than the surrounding room.

If the room is genuinely too cold for New Mexican Tarantulas, warm the room instead and check the temperature at enclosure level. That gives a more even and controllable result.

Summer heat

During hot weather, keep Tliltocatl kahlenbergi out of direct sunlight and watch rooms that heat up during the afternoon. A closed window area can become much warmer than expected.

Do not respond to a warm day by soaking the New Mexican Tarantula enclosure. Temperature and substrate moisture are separate husbandry issues.

Winter conditions

In winter, check the coldest part of the day where Tliltocatl kahlenbergi is kept. Rooms can cool overnight even when daytime readings look comfortable.

If room heating is used, remember that it may also dry New Mexican Tarantulas enclosures faster. Adjust watering to the actual drying rate rather than assuming winter always means wetter substrate.

Use behaviour as context

Temperature readings for Tliltocatl kahlenbergi should be considered alongside normal feeding, retreat use and moulting. One slightly different reading is less useful than a consistent pattern over time.

If a New Mexican Tarantula suddenly changes behaviour, check temperature along with water, moisture and recent disturbance instead of assuming temperature is the only cause.