Tliltocatl Albopilosus Curly Hair (Honduran & Nicaraguan)
Type: Terrestrial/Semi-fossorial
Category: New World
Body Length: 3” (8cm)
Diagonal Leg Span (DLS): 6.5”(17cm)
Urticating Hairs: Yes (Type I & III)
Growth Rate: Slow
Life Expectancy: Females 25 years / Males 5 years
Recommended Experience Level: Beginner
This species makes for an excellent display; as adults because they spend a lot of time out of their hide and on display. Since they are so fluffy that seems to make it look less threatening to people who are not tarantula friendly. That coupled with the fact they are docile, slow moving, and rarely kick hairs or give threat postures. This is a tarantula that I personally use/recommend to new owners or arachnophobes. In my experience my Honduran is more friendly than Nicaraguan. This not a solid fact only my experience. Nicaraguan are curlier and more fluffy than the Honduran.
As a terrestrial, you will want more of a horizontal enclosure. We provide 3-6 inches of substrate. We lightly mist our enclosures weekly during feeding. You should provide a hide of some sort. We use a cork bark hide. Ours dug the dirt and made herself a little tunnel.
Feeding time, I feed my smallest spiderlings pre killed nymph roaches or pre killed small crickets. You should avoid feeding them any prey larger than the tarantula. If I don't have anything small enough available to feed, i will pre kill the smallest cricket I have and drop it in its enclosure for it to scavenge. I always make sure I remove any uneaten prey 24 hours later!! Never leave uneaten pieces of prey in the enclosure to help prevent mold and mites. I feed my juveniles 3 or 4 Small/Medium crickets once every week. You can do twice a week if abdomen looks small. This species can go weeks without eating. If prey is not eaten remove for next week. I normally wait 5-7 days after a molt before feeding a juvenile again. The larger the tarantula, the longer I wait before feeding again to give them plenty of time to recover. Adults, I feed mine about 5 or 6 large crickets every 1-2 weeks. Still remove uneaten prey and remains to avoid mold or mites. We also mix up their prey with meal worms, roaches, and other feeders from time to time to give them a little variety in their diet.