The goliath birdeater tarantula can be a good pet for experienced ones. They are the largest spiders in the world in terms of weight and size. They can grow up to 11 inches across with their legs spread and weigh over 6 ounces. If you plan to get it as a pet, you should know the ideal diet and housing for this tarantula.
What Is the Ideal Diet for the World’s Largest Spider, Goliath?
Despite its name, birds are not the primary diet for goliath birdeater. According to experts, this tarantula is an opportunistic eater, and it will not hesitate to eat any small insects, mice, or birds that will come in its way. This spider’s food sources vary, and it will happily eat any insects you throw in its way.
Some feeder insects that could be part of the ideal diet are mealworms, live crickets, and dubia roaches. These feeder insects are readily available in the market, and you can also breed them to save on costs.
You may also feed these tarantula smaller vertebrates like lizards, mice, and other reptiles. You should avoid feeding your pet goliath spider prey items high in fat or calcium, according to experts. You can use them as an occasional substitute as part of your diet.
Keep a water dish for the tarantula. It should be kept in a corner away from the place which the tarantula has made its home. Since the pet tarantula also needs water to stay healthy, you need to keep the dish filled with clean water and free of any debris.
What Is the Ideal Housing for the World’s Largest Spider, Goliath?
Many keepers suggest using spiderlings or specially designed tarantula enclosures sold by breeders. The reason behind this is it will allow the keeper to get acquainted with the behavioral attributes of the goliath tarantula. As a spiderling (young spider), the goliath spider shows a voracious appetite, and with the right diet, it can grow up to a size of four inches in a year.
According to tarantula experts, a 20-gallon long aquarium is adequate for an adult goliath spider. However, you can always consider a bigger dwelling for your goliath spider pet if space and budget permit you.
The goliath tarantula loves moisture, so it is always a good idea to keep a water bowl for your pet so that you can maintain moisture levels of 80 to 85% in the dwelling. You can let the water from the bowl flow into the substrate so that it remains moist. However, make sure the substrate is damp and not wet or soaked in water.
The tarantulaenclosure should have some ventilation to prevent air from becoming stagnant. Tarantula needs temperatures between 75 and 84°F, but they can adapt to fluctuation of temperatures as well. You need to have the equipment to monitor the moisture and temperatures of the dwelling. If you want your tarantula pet to stay healthy and achieve maximum growth possible, consider installing thermostats and a hygrometer to monitor and maintain the tarantula enclosure’s humidity and temperature.
There are several options available when you select housing for your Tarantula pet. Most people like to buy low-lying glass enclosures for their Tarantula pet, allowing them to see their pet whenever they want to. If you are not a fan of glass enclosures, you can opt for plastic enclosures that allow you to modify the dwelling as per your spider needs.
After selecting the enclosure, you need to put the right amount of substrate to help your goliath birdeater make a burrow. To make a substrate, take 4 to 5 inches of organic soil, peat moss, and coco fiber to keep your tarantula pet happy. It will give their dwelling a texture to hide their spots, and the décor will also provide the security needed by the tarantula species.
It would help if you aimed to make the housing as natural as possible. To achieve that, you can place a half-buried wood or cork bark at the burrow entrance. It will give them a feeling of living in natural surroundings and help reduce their stress. Goliath spiders are messy eaters. Hence, it would help if you took time to clean the housing by removing the remaining food from the burrow.
To sum up, goliath birdeaters are weird but wonderful creatures. Though they do have mild venom in their bites, they are not harmful to humans. If you had dreamt of having a tarantula as a pet, you can go ahead and make proper arrangements and follow the tips given above to keep your pet happy and healthy.
