Lasiodora Subcanens

Scientific Name: Lasiodora Subcanens
Common Name: Silver 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

Not commonly seen in the hobby, L. subcanens is a New World terrestrial of the same genus as the better-known L. parahybana, L. klugi and L. difficilis. As one might expect, L. subcanens is a large tarantula, matching other Lasiodora in length and bulk. Different in L. subcanens is its color. Hairs and background color are silver-grey, distinguishing at a glance L. subcanens from other hobby Lasiodora. The color pattern appears as spiderlings mature into juveniles.

They occur in the forest regions of Brazil. 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.