Lasiodora Striatipes

Scientific Name: Lasiodora Striatipes
Common Name: Bahia Grey Birdeater
Lifestyle: Terrestrial
Endemic Location: Brazil
Adult Diagonal Leg Span (DLS): 10″
Growth Rate: Medium/Fast
Life Expectancy: Females 15 years / Males 3-5 years
Recommended Experience Level: Beginner

Lasiodora Striatipes or Bahia Grey Bird Eating Tarantula is one of the close rival in size to Lasiodora Parahybana, quite massive body and eat like a horse. The stunning grey colour give its own identity where as it is plain grey with a bit black on its leg and bit red colour on their abdomen. As a sling, travel fast and start to decrease in speed as it grows. People usually kept them because of their massive size which is recorded up to 10 inches.

They occur in the forest regions of Brazil and are a relatively common tarantula. They are commonly bred in captivity. A big spider, with huge fangs and urticating hairs (they flick them from their abdomen with their legs) they should be handled with only when necessary and with care – even though considered a docile species. They are usually set out in the open, so make a great showcase species to keep. They are also easy to fatally damage if dropped, a small fall of only a few inches will burst a heavy bodied spider such as these.

A relatively large enclosure should be given for an adult, around two feet long will suffice. Use a damp creating substrate such as coir, with a hide (don’t be surprised if it doesn’t use it) and a small water bowl. Maintain a temperature of around 24-26C, and a humidity of around 75%.

They are greedy feeders, but please ensure they are not over fed – no more often than once a week, perhaps every ten days as an adult. They will take almost any food they can overcome – locusts, cockroaches, crickets etc. Some keepers give them a sporadic treat of a pink mouse.