Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula Care

[PlatypusTaco]

I’m looking at getting a bird eating tarantula from Backwater Reptiles. On the site, they’re just listed as “Therophosa sp.” I was hoping to get some information on care from the people here, because I know care sheets are often misleading for tarantulas. From what I’ve gathered so far by reading through the boards:
A plastic tub would be best to keep it in, right?
It needs high humidity. Do I just mist it? How much? How often?
It needs deep substrate to burrow. What do you recommend for substrate?
I know they’re aggressive. Exactly how aggressive are they? Is he going to charge me while feeding him or changing his water?
I’ve read not to put holes in the lid of the bin, just the sides. Is this true?
What decorations would you suggest for the terrarium?
I’ve read not to heat the tank, because it can dehydrate and burn the spider. Our house stays about 72 degrees F. Is that warm enough? If not, I can get a heater for my room.
How often should I feed him, and how much?


Thank you so much in advance.

 

[Liquifin]

Backwater Reptiles are not a reputable seller and they trick people into buying their "stock". Most of their stock is actually from third-party sellers and they don't actually have anything in their own stock from what I hear. Also they're notoriously known for their fake reviews, misidentified species, selling people the wrong species, and poor health animals. Don't buy from them. As for Theraphosa care there is some threads I believe on Theraphosa care already, so I would search this forums for them. I hope this information helps a little and no one should ever buy from Backwater reptiles.

 

[PlatypusTaco]

Oh, thank you for letting me know! Do you know of a different reputable seller?

 

[Frogdaddy]

Oh, thank you for letting me know! Do you know of a different reputable seller?

Check the classifieds and review section here. You'll find lots of reputable sellers.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I’m looking at getting a bird eating tarantula from Backwater Reptiles.

Don't bother, they're world-renowned for being utterly awful. You'll either end up with the wrong species, a dead/dying tarantula, or both.

I was hoping to get some information on care from the people here

Thread below.

Theraphosa care and info

We have had so many threads lately on Theraphosa, and I find myself repeating the same thing time and time again. This thread will cover most of the common questions, hopefully it should be useful to some of the newer keepers, and may even save a few spiders from neglect. I'll start by going...

arachnoboards.com

It needs high humidity. Do I just mist it? How much? How often?

Overflow the water dish and/or pour/syringe water down the sides of the enclosure and repeat as it dries out.

Don't mist, it's horribly inefficient and does little more than annoy the tarantula (because you're basically firing pressurised air/water into a confined space housing what is essentially a walking sensory organ with fangs) and kick up previously discarded hairs (and Theraphosa have some of the worst hairs in the hobby).

It needs deep substrate to burrow. What do you recommend for substrate?

I use a mix of topsoil, sedge peat, and fine vermiculite.

I know they’re aggressive. Exactly how aggressive are they? Is he going to charge me while feeding him or changing his water?

Not sorry for being a pedant at all on this but no tarantula is aggressive, they're defensive, as far as they're concerned you're a gigantic predator.

They have an insane feeding response so will likely assume that everything is food and act accordingly (I.e. run towards it and try to nom it to death), my stirmi female will usually run and hide when disturbed but if you continue to pester her she will kick hairs/throw up threat postures/slap.

I’ve read not to put holes in the lid of the bin, just the sides. Is this true?

You can put holes in the lid just don't overdo it or the enclosure will dry out quicker.

What decorations would you suggest for the terrarium?

Hide, water dish, fake plants (although it might rip those up for the lolz).

I’ve read not to heat the tank, because it can dehydrate and burn the spider. Our house stays about 72 degrees F. Is that warm enough?

Yes.

 

[Schiem]

Not sorry for being a pedant at all on this but no tarantula is aggressive, they're defensive, as far as they're concerned you're a gigantic predator.

As long as we're being pedantic, all tarantulas are aggressive - just not towards humans.

 

[EnigmaNyx]

Ditto to what pretty much everyone said above, I’ll throw in a pic of my Stirmi’s enclosure if you would like an idea, maybe get some inspiration.

 

[PlatypusTaco]

Thank you so much everyone! I’ve been reading through some of the other threads on here as well, and they’ve been really helpful so far. I appreciate you all taking the time to help me out!!!

 

[The Grym Reaper]

As long as we're being pedantic, all tarantulas are aggressive - just not towards humans.

No, they're not. Pretty much anything that isn't food (which covers a massive variety of things) can elicit defensive behaviour.

 

[Schiem]

No, they're not. Pretty much anything that isn't food (which covers a massive variety of things) can elicit defensive behaviour.

I'm betting the last roach I dropped in would beg to differ. But I was mostly making a joke.