Theraphosa apophysis — Fact Sheet
Theraphosa apophysis · Pinkfoot Goliath birdeater
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 25-30 cm |
| Lifespan | 5-20 years |
| Subspecies / locality | Venezuelan/Northern South American Theraphosa; spiderlings have distinctive pinkish leg tips. |
| Origin | Venezuela and nearby northern South America; humid forest floor and burrow systems. |
| Activity | Nocturnal |
| Difficulty | Expert |
| Legal | CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local rules still apply |
🏠 Enclosure
45 x 30 x 30 cm minimum; 60 x 45 x 45 cm with 15-20 cm substrate is better
Starter housing: secure small cup with damp lower substrate and cross-ventilation
Secure enclosure with hides, water, ventilation, and visual cover
Avoid loose lids, excess fall height, unstable heavy decor, and unregulated heat
Use deep substrate and keep fall height low
Keep a catch cup ready before opening the enclosure
🪨 Enclosure furniture
Warm and cool retreats
Water dish sized safely for the animal
Deep substrate for tarantulas; branches/perches for active or semi-arboreal snakes
Rough safe surfaces for shedding or molting
Starter burrow or cork retreat that can be inspected indirectly
Moisture gradient rather than uniformly wet substrate
💡 Lighting
- 10-12 hour day-night cycle
- UVB optional for most snakes; not required for tarantulas
- No visible night light
- Avoid bright drying lamps over tarantulas
🌡️ Temperature
- Target: 24-27 °C with no direct hot lamp
- Use a real gradient and measure both warm and cool zones
- Control reptile heat with thermostats
- Avoid heat rocks, unguarded bulbs, and overheating
💧 Humidity & water
- 75-85% with a large water dish and ventilation that prevents stagnant wet air
- Fresh water at all times
- Humid hide or moist lower substrate when needed
- Avoid stagnant wet air and chronic dryness
🪳 Diet
Feed regularly:
- large roaches, crickets, locusts, and occasional worms; vertebrate prey is unnecessary
In moderation:
Seasonal adjustments by body condition and growth
Adjust feeding by abdomen shape, not begging response
Remove uneaten prey during premolt or within 24 hours
Avoid:
- Oversized prey, wild-caught feeders, and uneaten insects during premolt
Supplements:
- None for whole-prey snakes or tarantulas eating good feeder insects
🩺 Health — warning signs
- Retained shed, bad molt, or stuck eye caps
- Wheezing, bubbles, or open-mouth breathing
- Regurgitation or refusal to feed with weight loss
- Burns, mites, swelling, wounds, or fall injury
- Sudden lethargy, constant soaking, or repeated escape attempts Consult an experienced reptile/exotics veterinarian for severe or persistent signs.
- Shriveled abdomen or weak posture → dehydration or decline
- Failed molt, leaking injury, or curled legs → urgent specialist help
- Keep written molt and feeding dates
- Never disturb a tarantula lying on its back to molt