Megaphobema robustum (Colombian Red Leg) 1.5" | 2.5" PAIRS

Colombian Giant Redleg Tarantula

Megaphobema robustum Ausserer

The Colombian Giant Redleg Tarantula, Megaphobema robustum Ausserer is literally the Halloween section of a crafts store come to life. Growing to a whopping 8-inch diagonal leg span, this impressive unit of a New World tarantula is characterized by brick red legs and setae contrasted with a carapace, abdomen and femurs as black as night. 

This burrowing member of the tarantula subfamily Theraphosinae occurs under dense understory tropical plant cover in lowland rainforests of Colombia- a place where everything wants to eat you if you are a spider. As a result, M. robustum has a strong appetite and grows quickly to keep pace with the ravenous biotic competition of the rainforest. These tarantulas are rather skittish early in life, until they reach approximately 5” leg span- when they gain more self confidence. As they gain size, M. robustum develops an unusual defensive behavior of twirling and kicking their stout hindlegs, which are lined with sharp spine-like setae at would-be predators. These tarantulas also will not hesitate to flick urticating setae when feeling threatened, so give them space if they are looking irked. 

M. robustum are secretive and fossorial (burrowing) tarantulas, so provide them with a large cross-ventilated terrestrial cage with deep substrate (~4” deep for large juveniles and adults). Maintain a slightly moist medium with periodic misting and include a cork slab or other large cage furniture itmes to provide shelter or caves for these spiders to anchor their robust burrow systems. Given their reclusiveness, size, and arsenal of defenses, M. robustum is best not handled and will not always be out and about. However, these spiders will be out in the open much more often at night or if their cage is situated in a dark, quiet place. If you are looking for a great Halloween-themed huge tarantula, look no further than the Colombian Giant Redleg! 

References

Ausserer, A., 1875. Zweiter Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Arachniden-Familie der Territelariae Thorell:(Mygalidae Autor.). Holzhausen.

http://www.mikebasictarantula.com/Mega-robustum-care-sheet.html

https://thespidershop.co.uk/product/megaphobema-robustum-1645530052/