Brazilian salmon pink bird eating tarantula enclosure questions.

[Jeremy Gareau]

So I plan on buying one of these species and before I did I'm finding a lot of different opinions, though I'm told there an arboreal species and quite the climbers, I'm also being told there perfectly fine living in a terrestrial environment. So I have a couple tanks and I know there leg span can get quite big, but I don't have any arboreal tanks at the moment I know I'll be fine for a bit if I buy a sling... But I also want to be prepared. So the exo terra's I own that are free at the moment are 18x18x12, I was going to look into buying a 16 if it'll do for the rest of it's life I might go one more size up with the width and length but the other 2 tanks I have only reach around 12" in width but the lengths and depths are completely different, one being 24", the other being 30"with both their heights being 18" there just regular fish tanks..What would it be more happy in? Any suggestions or thoughts?

 

[sasker]

You mean Lasiodora parahybana, right? Or do you mean an Avicularia species. Please use the scientific name because that what is commonly referred to as 'salmon pink birdeater' by pet shop owners is definitely not an aboreal species.

Assuming you mean L. parahybana (or LP for short): yes, they tend to climb the walls from time to time, but they are definitely no arboreal species!! They are heavy-bodied tarantulas and they should not be allowed to climb too much. They could easily injure themselves if they fall as they are not the best climbers and because of their heavy built bodies.

A terrestrial setup would be best for them. Is this your first tarantula? LPs could work as a first, but I think there are easier options available. I would suggest buying a spiderling (young spider) as they are super cheap, grow fast and give you more experience keeping tarantulas. You also don't need to buy its final enclosure first, as you can raise it in a much smaller enclosure when it is young.

Please do thorough research on Arachnoboards first before buying a tarantula! You have been wrongly told that LPs (again, I am still assuming that we are talking about this species and not something else) are arboreals. Unfortunately, there is so much false information about keeping tarantulas out there (pet shop owners are the worst, but also YouTube, Facebook or so-called caresheets are not the best sources of information). Trust me when I say that Arachnoboards (AB) is the only source of information you should listen to. Assume that everything else that conflicts with what experienced keepers on AB say is false. I have been where you have been now, and many of my tarantulas would have died an early death if it weren't for the helpful advice from members on AB.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Jeremy Gareau]

Yess! You have answered everything I been asking! I’m sorry I have quite the confusion with scientific names and no actually this won’t be my first T, I’d much rather ask the boards here I feel safe asking questions even if they could be stupid. I’m still just starting out yes but I’m beginning to get heavily invested into the hobby I got quite a few terras and I invested into them the past little bit. My hate and fear for all 8 legged creatures has grown into a love as well as a new hobby in this past year. I’m also planning on getting a GBB, a Mexican red knee (now this confuses me hamorii and smithi?) also possibly a Brazilian white knee. I apologize I don’t know the scientific names but I’m leaning. This one confused me due to all the info I’m being fed by everyone around. And I’d rather trust here then google. Thanks!

 

[cold blood]

Common names sometimes really make me laugh, they can be so ridicolously hilarious.

The LP, as ssid, is terrestrial...100% terrestrial...so exo terras wouldnt be appropriate.

If buying a sling, keep in mind that you dont want to over do or over think enclosures. Keep things simple.

Slings can be kept in simple condiment cups until they get to or just over 1".

IMG_0472

• cold blood
• Feb 7, 2017

Keep your small terrestrial slings like this.

At that point they can be upgraded to something like a 16oz deli cup. At this time theres now room for a hide and water dish. Keep them in this till close to 3"

Deli Cup Setup for Terrestrial Slings 1-3"

• cold blood
• Mar 13, 2017
• 6
• enclosure

Deli cup set up for terrestrial slings 1-3"

From there a kritter keeper works great...by 5" you can move it to its adult home...which can be just about anything thats not too tall.

Also keep in mind that sizes of this species are about the most exaggerrated of any species available. They are a 7-8" t, with extraordinary specimens reaching the 9" zone. They are really no bigger than dozens and dozens of large south american terrestrials (most of which are far more spectacular looking)...like A. geniculata for example.