The Salmon Pink Birdeater Tarantula is a large species of tarantula that can obtain a leg span of almost 1 foot. These spiders are native to North-Eastern Brazil and are regarded as being the third largest species of tarantula in the world.
It is a species of ‘New World’ Tarantula. Other new world species include the Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula, the Mexican Red Knee Tarantula and the Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula.
Salmon Pink Birdeater Taxonomy
The Salmon Pink Birdeater Tarantula belongs to the Family Theraphosidae. This essentially means that the spider is a tarantula and over 1,000 different spiders have been identified as part of the family Theraphosidae.
Theraphosidae belongs to the infraorder Mygalomorphae. While many of the other species in this infraorder are often referred to as tarantulas or ‘false tarantulas’, the species in the family Theraphosidae are considered the ‘true’ tarantulas.
Tarantulas can be found throughout the American Continent (excluding Canada), Africa, parts of Mediterranean Europe, South-East Asia and Australia.
The Salmon Pink Birdeater Tarantula belongs to the genus Lasiodora. As of 2020, this genus contains 33 different species of tarantula native to South America. Most of these are large tarantulas that can grow to over 9 inches in length.
The scientific name for the Salmon Pink Birdeater is Lasiodora parahybana.
Salmon Pink Birdeater Description
The Salmon Pink Birdeater is the third largest species of tarantula in the world, reaching a leg span of up to 11 inches. Males typically grow larger than females in terms of overall length. However, females are typically bulkier and heavier and can weight more than 100 grams.
Their carapace, abdomen and legs have a uniform black coloration. However, mature spiders develop salmon or pink-colored hairs on their legs and abdomen, hence their name.
These brightly colored hairs tend to be more prominent in males although this can’t be seen as a quarantined way to sex these tarantulas.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Salmon Pink Birdeater is native to Eastern Brazil. Their primary habitat is the Atlantic forests of the region. These forests are hot and humid but the spider can escape the intense heat by hiding in burrows on the forest floor.
Salmon Pink Birdeater as Pets
Before you decide to purchase a Salmon Pink Birdeater, you need to carefully consider whether you are prepared to look after one of these spiders for a long time.
Females can live in captivity for up to 15 years while males will usually live for around 5 years. This is a big commitment to make so you should consider your purchase carefully before committing.
Lasiodora parahybana is also one of the largest species of tarantula in the world so previous experience with smaller species is highly recommended. These tarantulas have a very fast growth rate so they will reach their adult size in no time.
While their venom isn’t believed to be medically significant, they are a large species with large fangs so a bite would be painful to say the least.
Lasiodora parahybana Feeding
A spiderling Salmon Pink Birdeater Tarantula can be fed a pre-killed small cricket every week. Once they are large enough to take a live small cricket, you can start offering this once or twice a week.
Any uneaten food should be removed from the enclosure within 24 hours. It is normal for a tarantula to refuse food when they are in pre-molt and you should wait for their skin to harden after a molt before offering food again.
A good rule of thumb is to offer insects that are no larger than the length of the spider’s abdomen, although you can go a bit smaller if you wish.
As the Salmon Pink Birdeater grows, you can increase the duration between feeds. This is because their growth rate slows down so they don’t use as much energy.
A juvenile Lasiodora parahybana can be fed 3-4 medium crickets (depending on its size) once a week while an adult Salmon Pink Birdeater can be fed up to 10 large crickets every week or two.
There is no set amount to feed a tarantula and you really have to judge it based on the condition of the spider. If they are starting to look skinny, increase the meal sizes or reduce the duration between feeds.
If they are starting to look fat, reduce meal sizes or increase the duration between feeds. You can also supplement their diet with different insects such as roaches’ mealworms, super worms and locusts.
Lasiodora parahybana Housing
As the Salmon Pink Birdeater Tarantula is a terrestrial species, floor space is more important than height. In fact, it isn’t recommended to have excessive height in a terrestrial tarantula enclosure. This is because a fall from height can be fatal to these spiders.
As they are a large species, they will need an enclosure measuring around 24″ x 18″ x 12″. Alternatively, you could offer them an enclosure measuring 36″ x 12″ x 12″ if you want to give them more space.
As Lasiodora parahybana is a burrowing species, you will want to use around 5-6 inches of substrate. This will also ensure that there isn’t too much height in the enclosure. A fall from height can be fatal to a tarantula so do not use an excessively tall enclosure.
You can add a piece of cork bark to provide a hide on the surface if your spider chooses to use it. You should also offer a shallow water bowl, although tarantulas get most of their water from their food.
You will need to spray or drip water on the substrate occasionally to help keep moisture levels up. The moisture will be more concentrated deeper into the substrate while the top layer should become dry. This will allow your Salmon Pink Birdeater to choose a moisture level he wants to be at while burrowing.
A Spiderling or Juvenile Salmon Pink Birdeater can be setup the same way as an adult. The only major difference is the size of the enclosure. A good rule of thumb is to offer an enclosure that is around 3 times longer than the spiders leg span.
Salmon Pink Birdeater Temperature
You can keep your Salmon Pink Birdeater at room temperature. If the temperature is comfortable for you, it will be comfortable for them. This adds to their ease of care as you don’t need any special heating equipment.
However, if you live in a cold climate, you may want to add some supplemental heat during the winter months. You typically want to keep them between a temperature range of 75F-80F but it can drop a few degrees at night.
If you need to add heat to your enclosure, an under-tank heat mat is your best option. This should be connected to a good quality thermostat to ensure the cage doesn’t get too hot.
You don’t need to provide your tarantula with any special kind of lighting such as UVB. An adequate day/night cycle is all they need.
Salmon Pink Birdeater Handling
Many people like to handle their Salmon Pink Birdeater as these tarantulas are usually quite docile. However, it is heavily debated whether these spiders should be kept as display animals or regarded as a species you can handle.
In general, they are quite docile and will rarely bite. However, they have large fangs that can cause an open wound. Their bite has sometimes been compared to that of a cat and can be extremely painful.
Lasiodora parahybana has uricating hairs that they can kick off their abdomen. These hairs are extremely irritating if they get on your skin.
If you choose to handle your Salmon Pink Birdeater, make sure you do so carefully. This will protect both the spider and yourself. Watch out for signs of stress and don’t handle them if they are not calm.
