Theraphosa blondi was given the name the Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula when explorers witnessed a specimen feeding on a hummingbird in South America. The local natives of the rain forests where these live occasionally eat these spiders as a delicacy. This new world terrestrial tarantula is considered as the largest tarantula in the world because of its remarkable 25-28cm leg span. It currently holds the place in the book of Guinness World Records for the largest spider. In the Survival film “Tarantula!” that Rick West was the advisor on, there was even a scene with a T. Blondi eating a Fer-de-Lance snake, that is considered to be lethal to the natives.

Housing, Heating and Climate

This is a difficult species Theraphosa blondi to keep. They regularly have moulting problems as juveniles which end up in death of the tarantula.

Ensure that you adhere to the specific needs of Theraphosa blondi. It is important to keep the humidity high or this tarantula will not live very long. Try a mix of peatmoss with water until it holds a shape, this should provide the correct humidity levels. Bear in mind that the warmer you keep your tarantula, the higher its metabolic rate will be, the higher the humidity will be and the faster the substrate will dry out. Additional humidity can be provided by moist substrates, large open waterbowls and a misting bottle. You can provide some decoration to make the terrarium look prettier. At night temperatures change so ensure a temperature drop of at least 10°F, to give the tarantula a sense of time. Like the other rainforest species they require high humidity levels (above 80%), but while keeping the humidity high, you must be careful to avoid the air in the tank becoming stagnant as this appears to be the cause of some deaths in captivity.

Spiderlings will generally be arboreal until they are of a size able to burrow in the substrate. They will climb, so a piece of cork bark would make a nice web anchor. They can be kept in small containers such as pill tubs and waxworm tubs slightly larger species can be kept in livefood tubs. Use moistened peatmoss or similar substrate to ensure the humidity levels are correct.

Adult Theraphosa blondi can be kept in converted aquariums with about 2 square feet of floor space, provide adequate ventilation and a very deep moistened substrate (at least 25cm deep) to keep the humidity level high and allow for burrowing.

Feeding

This specimen is powerful enough to feed on frogs, toads, lizards, mice, snakes and even birds, although the Bird Eating Tarantulas diet consists mainly of small insects such as crickets and beetle larvae.

Just like other tarantulas, the Bird Eating Tarantula will eat insects, reptiles and small rodents up to their own size. Suitable insects include crickets, moths, beetle larvae (meal worms and superworms), houseflies and cockroaches. Although they may take on rodents and reptiles in the wild it is not recommended you feed them in captivity, for complications may arise such as a fatal bite by the food item itself.

When feeding livefoods, although it may be fun, try not to over challenge your Bird Eater by giving it food items that are too large. Stick with something about half the size of the tarantula and remove uneaten food items so they do not cause harm or stress.

Spiders usually eat massive amounts post-moult until they are full, this is called power feeding. They will refuse food pre-molt or when ready to lay an eggsack. It usually takes about 1 week to 1 month for a Blue Fang to accept food after a moult, because of the skin and fang hardening process. You can’t really over feed a tarantula, but this doesn’t mean you should overdo it by giving it 50 crickets after a moult; the tarantula will probably end up killing them all and leaving dead ones uneaten. If this is the case then they should be removed to prevent bacteria and mould growth. The other factor is that a plump abdomen is more prone to rupture if this species falls from a height.

Theraphosa blondi are sometimes troublesome to feed as they will spend a long time down in burrows and it’s just not possible to know if a missing food item has been eaten or is rotting in the burrow. To encourage feeding try to drop the food items near to the tarantula and so that it lands on the web at the entrance to the burrow. Hopefully you will see the Bird Eating Tarantula jump out and grab it.