This large monster of a tarantula is a showcase tarantula in any collection. Adults are impressive with their huge size. Small rats might be just a snack. They might even for after small children. LOL . :)

SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTIONS: AUTHOR & DATE: Mello-Leitão, 1921
RANGE: Brazil
HABITAT: Lowland rainforest and forest edge
TYPE: Terrestrial
COLOR/PATTERN/APPEARANCE: Gray carapace, gray to strawberry blond abdominal hairs, gray to blond leg hairs (very hairy!), thick-bodied and legs
MAXIMUM SIZE: 9" to 10"
TEMPERATURE: 75F-85F day with no lower than 60F at night
HUMIDITY: 80%
TANK SETUP: Adults can be housed in 20 gal. tanks with 4"-6" deep "Cocosoft" substrate or peat moss, shallow and wide water dish. Cork bark or resin plastic shelter.
FEEDING REQUIREMENTS: Spiderlings twice a week fruit flies, termites, mini mealworms and pin-head cricket (1-2). Juveniles 2"-3.5" twice a week 1/2"-3/4" crickets or juv/sub-adult roaches (1-2). Sub-adults/adults once a week medium to large cricket (2-3), roaches (1-2) or pinkie mouse or rat pup.
WATER REQUIREMENTS: Mist tank 1-2 times a week with fine water mist to keep humidity around 80%. Change water dish whenever fouled or at least 1-2 times a week.
DISPOSITION: Aggressive. Do not free handle. Will kick urticating hairs, go into threat display and bite if distrurbed.
VENOM EFFECTS: Unknown. Assumed to be medically insignificant though like most tarantulas.
GROWTH RATE: Fast. Males mature in 1.5 yrs. Females in 2.5-3 yrs.
LONGEVITY: 12-18 yrs. for females and males 2.5- 3.5 yrs.
BREEDING REMARKS: Todd Gearheart bred this species and made spiderlings available to the U.S. hobby for the first time in 2002.
NUMBER OF EGGS: 1,000 to 2,000. Spiderlings are small, 1/10" to 1/8"