Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater (Lasiodora parahybana)

Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater

Lasiodora parahybana

The long common name of this species suits its size, as salmon pinks are one of the world's largest non-marine arthropods (possibly the third largest tarantula species). Adults may range from 8 to 10 inches in legspan, maybe even bigger. They are voracious feeders, fast growers, and very bold.
Their name comes from the long pink hairs that sprout forth from their abdomens, legs, and chelicerae. Their Latin name comes from their collection locale in Eastern Brazil.
These are bulky spiders, with a fairly large carapace in relation to leg length. Also, leg I is only slightly longer than leg IV, the femora are uniformly thick, and the chelicerae are huge, giving them a stout, tank-like appearance.
They breed quite readily in captivity and have many young, which makes spiderlings very affordable. That fact, coupled with their coloration and superior adaptability compared to Theraphosa spp.,makes them a great choice for those who desire a huge spider.

Range: Eastern Brazil, near Campina Grande in Paraiba

Habitat: Tropical forest floor

Size: Large. Very large. Some acquire legspans of 10".
Attitude: Bold. They will often sit out in the open. Some individuals are handy with the urticating hairs, while others are quick to defend themselves via biting. Though they are not as prone to fang-weilding as some other tarantulas, most will make it clear that they do not want to be handled. I've had 8, and all of them flicked hair very readily.

Dwelling: They generally have no qualms about being seen and lounge about in plain view; however, they will occasionally use a provided shelter.

Ideal Setup: A shallow 10 gallon container with a thin layer of substrate, a water dish, and a shelter. Try to keep a decent amount of humidity with a light moistening of the substrate every week or so. Keep the temp around 75-80 degrees F if possible.

Food: Crickets, small lizards, pinkie and fuzzy mice, your mother-in-law, the kitchen sink. . . . Seriously, these spiders will eat just about anything smaller than they are, and lots of it. In the wild, they are regular consumers of small vertebrates, and my 5 1/2" youngster eats pinkie mice like they're potato chips (my larger one eats EVERYTHING, to include fuzzy mice, crickets, lizards, and even fish released into her water bowl). Simply ensure that what you offer them hasn't been exposed to pesticides and isn't very adept at defending itself. Be prepared to never be able to satisfy the little monster.


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