sexual maturity, causes considerable concern for the future of this tarantula. To regulate its commercial trade across borders, this species has been listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). In Mexico, permits are required to collect or remove any spider of the family of tarantulas, Theraphosidae, and the Mexican fireleg tarantula is now frequently bred in captivity, reducing the need to collect it from the wild. Nevertheless, large numbers of tarantulas caught in the wild continue to be smuggled out of Mexico. As pets This species is commonly kept as a pet and along with other members of its genus is regarded as suitable for beginners. In captivity, adult Brachypelma boehmei usually feed on crickets, superworms, mealworms, and dubia roaches. Spiderlings will usually feed on pre-killed mealworms, pinhead crickets, baby dubia roaches, wingless fruit flies, and any other small insects which are not defensive. When keeping tarantulas as a hobby, note that Brachypelma boehmei and many other tarantulas are endangered species and only captive-bred (farm-bred or home-bred) tarantulas rather than wild-caught ones should be kept. References External links – photographs taken in the wild Theraphosidae Spiders of Mexico Natural history of Guerrero Spiders described in 1993