Theraphosa blondi — Fact Sheet
Theraphosa blondi · Goliath birdeater
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 25-30 cm |
| Lifespan | 5-20 years |
| Subspecies / locality | True T. blondi is less common than trade labels suggest; verify source carefully. |
| Origin | Northern South America; humid rainforest floor, burrows, and saturated forest-edge retreats. |
| 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 deep substrate is strongly preferred
Starter housing: small humid cup with ventilation, upgraded before the spider becomes cramped
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, avoiding both chills and overheating
- 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 deep damp lower substrate, dry-ish surface choices, and strong ventilation
- Fresh water at all times
- Humid hide or moist lower substrate when needed
- Avoid stagnant wet air and chronic dryness
🪳 Diet
Feed regularly:
- large invertebrate prey; avoid routine vertebrate feeding and remove uneaten prey quickly
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