| Special Notices |
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This is a true giant. T. stirmi regularly exceeds 10 in (25 cm) in DLS and rivals the other Theraphosa giants in overall dimensions, making enclosure space, substrate depth, moisture management, and safe maintenance especially important.
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| Care Details |
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🌡️ Temperature: A practical captive range is about 72–80°F (22–27°C). Maintain stable temperatures, avoid excessive heat, and remember that a deep retreat allows this terrestrial giant to escape warmer surface conditions.
💧 Humidity: T. stirmi is moisture-dependent and should not be kept completely dry. Maintain consistently moist lower substrate while allowing good airflow and some surface drying, provide constant clean water, and avoid stagnant or waterlogged conditions.
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| 🏠 Housing |
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Babies / Slings: Provide a secure ventilated enclosure with deep, moisture-retentive substrate and a starter burrow or cork retreat. Keep the substrate appropriately moist, offer small prey, and minimize unnecessary fall distance.
Juveniles: Increase floor space aggressively as the spider grows, retaining deep compactable substrate, a substantial hide, water dish, and good ventilation. Juveniles can gain size rapidly and are enthusiastic excavators and feeders.
Adults: Provide a large terrestrial enclosure emphasizing floor area, roughly 6–8 in (15–20 cm) of deep compactable substrate, a substantial retreat, clean water, good ventilation, and very limited fall distance.
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| 🍽️ General Diet |
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Offer appropriately sized crickets and suitable roaches such as Dubia, Red Runner, or Lobster roaches. Slings can take small live prey or portions of pre-killed prey, while growing juveniles and massive adults can handle substantially larger invertebrate feeders.
Adjust portions and feeding frequency according to life stage, abdomen condition, and feeding response rather than pushing maximum growth through overfeeding. Remove uneaten prey and boluses, and withhold live feeders when a molt appears imminent.
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| In-depth Facts |
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Scientific Name |
Theraphosa stirmi Rudloff & Weinmann, 2010
View Theraphosa stirmi in the World Spider Catalog
Explore current taxonomy, distribution, and scientific references.
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| 📛 Common Names |
Burgundy Goliath Birdeater; Burgundy Goliath Bird Eater; Goliath Birdeater. |
| 🌡️ Temperature |
About 72–80°F (22–27°C), with stable temperatures and protection from overheating. |
| 💧 Humidity |
Consistently moist lower substrate, good ventilation, some surface drying, and continuous access to clean water. |
| 📍 Locale |
Guyana and Brazil. |
| 🏷️ Category |
New World terrestrial and burrowing; an exceptionally large, heavy-bodied ground-dwelling species. |
| 📏 Adult Size |
Females: Approximately 10–11 in (25–28 cm) DLS, with exceptionally massive body proportions.
Males: Approximately 9–10 in (23–25 cm) DLS, generally leggier and lighter-bodied than mature females.
DLS means diagonal leg span. These
are general species notes, not the size of the specimen offered.
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| 🪶 Urticating Hairs |
Yes—if disturbed, they can flick urticating hairs as a natural defense. Individual responses vary. Theraphosa urticating hairs can be especially irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, so avoid direct exposure. |
| ⏳ Growth Rate |
Fast; slings and juveniles can put on substantial size between molts under appropriate captive conditions. |
| 🧭 Lifespan |
Females: Approximately 12–20+ years in captivity.
Males: Approximately 3–6 years total lifespan in captivity.
Captive keeper estimates of total
lifespan, not years remaining after purchase.
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| 🍽️ Feeding |
Appropriately sized crickets and suitable roaches; typically a powerful and reliable feeding response, with portions adjusted to life stage, body condition, growth, and molt cycle. |
| 🎯 Recommended Level |
Best matched with keepers prepared for an exceptionally large, fast-growing terrestrial with substantial moisture requirements, extremely irritating urticating hairs, powerful feeding responses, and the enclosure space required by a true giant. |
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| Safety Disclaimer |
| Tarantulas
can bite. Enjoy observing your tarantula and use secure transfer methods during
maintenance. Handling is at your own risk. Always prioritize your safety and the
tarantula’s well-being. Theraphosa stirmi can defensively release especially irritating urticating hairs, so avoid direct exposure and use deliberate, hands-off maintenance. |
