The red kneed tarantula is larger than most spiders. However, it is small enough to sit in your hand. The red kneed tarantula is hairy. It has red, black, and yellow bands around its legs.

The red kneed tarantula is calm. Some people keep it as a pet. This tarantula does not usually bite people. If it does bite, it feels like a bee sting. When scared, this spider will fling hair from its body. These hairs are like needles. The hairs hurt but they will not make you sick.

This spider lives most of its life alone. The tarantula does not spin a web. Instead, it digs a deep hole called a burrow. The burrow is often near a cactus. A female tarantula lines her burrow with spider silk. This is where she lays her spider eggs.

The female tarantula lays up to 40 eggs. A silk sack made by the female spider protects the eggs. The female carries the egg sac between her fangs.

The eggs hatch in one to three months. Once hatched, the baby spider stays in the burrow for about two weeks. Then the baby leaves the burrow. It takes several years for a spiderling to become full grown.

As this spider grows, it molts. Molt means it sheds its old skin that is too little. If the tarantula loses a leg, it can grow a new one!