RecoveryInvertebrates
Goliath Birdeater care guide
Theraphosa stirmi
Floor space first. Adults want roughly three leg spans of length and no more than about 1.5 leg spans of fall height — a heavy-bodied terrestrial that falls can rupture its abdomen.
Terrestrial — floor space first
Goliath Birdeater enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult goliath birdeater should live in at least 18" L × 14" W × 11" H; we build toward 27" L × 18" W × 14" H (2.3 × 1.5 × 1.2 ft, roughly 3.4 sq ft of floor and about a 29-gallon glass equivalent).
Fill the extra height with substrate rather than air — height is fall risk, not enrichment.
- Spiderling / sling
- 3" L × 3" W × 4" H recommended · min 2" L × 2" W × 3" H
- Juvenile
- 8" L × 6" W × 6" H recommended · min 6" L × 4" W × 5" H
- Adult
- 27" L × 18" W × 14" H recommended · min 18" L × 14" W × 11" H
Temperature and heating
Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — no basking site, no heat lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–80 °F ambient room temperature
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75 °F ambient room temperature
- Night
- Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Run lights on a Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 75–85% ambient. Keep the substrate evenly moist (damp, not waterlogged), overflow the water dish and mist a wall rather than the animal.
Substrate and depth
Coco fibre, topsoil and sphagnum blend. Depth: 5–9 in — deep enough to dig a starter burrow.
- Ventilation: Cross-ventilation through side vents. Stagnant air plus damp substrate is what actually kills tarantulas — mold and mycosis, not low humidity.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Cork bark hide laid on its side at the substrate line
- Shallow water dish (adults) or an overflowed corner (slings)
- Sphagnum moss on the damp corner
- Fake plants to break up sight lines
Build list
- Front-opening acrylic terrestrial enclosure — Front access means you never reach down over the animal, which is what triggers a threat pose.
- Coco fibre / topsoil substrate, 20 qt — Holds a burrow, holds moisture where you want it and doesn't mold like bark chips.
- Digital thermometer / hygrometer — Inverts are kept at room temperature — you need to know what the room actually does, not guess.
- Long feeding tongs and a catch cup — Every interaction — feeding, water top-ups, rehousing — should happen without your hand near the animal.
Goliath Birdeater FAQ
How big should an adult Goliath Birdeater enclosure be?
At least 18" L × 14" W × 11" H, and we recommend building to 27" L × 18" W × 14" H — about 2.3 × 1.5 × 1.2 ft, or a 29-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Goliath Birdeater need?
Basking or warm surface None — no basking site, no heat lamp, warm side 72–80 °F ambient room temperature, cool side 70–75 °F ambient room temperature, night Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine. Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
Does a Goliath Birdeater need UVB?
None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Photoperiod: Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun.
What humidity does a Goliath Birdeater need?
75–85% ambient. Keep the substrate evenly moist (damp, not waterlogged), overflow the water dish and mist a wall rather than the animal.
What substrate is best for a Goliath Birdeater?
Coco fibre, topsoil and sphagnum blend, at a depth of 5–9 in — deep enough to dig a starter burrow.
How big does a Goliath Birdeater enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Spiderling / sling: 3" L × 3" W × 4" H recommended, minimum 2" L × 2" W × 3" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Is there anything to be careful about when keeping a Goliath Birdeater?
The most irritating urticating setae in the hobby — wear a mask and eye protection during rehousing and substrate changes.
How much ventilation does a Goliath Birdeater enclosure need?
Cross-ventilation through side vents. Stagnant air plus damp substrate is what actually kills tarantulas — mold and mycosis, not low humidity.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own goliath birdeater record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.