Mike's Basic Tarantula

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Theraphosa apophysis

Common name: Goliath Pinkfoot

Indigenous: Venezuela

Habitat: The climate of Venezuela is tropical on the Llanos and along the coast and temperate in the mountainous regions. The average temperature in Venezuela is 21.1 °C (70 °F). The warmest average max/ high temperature is 27 °C (81 °F) in March, April, May, August, September. The coolest average min/ low temperature is 14 °C (57 °F) in January & February. The month with the driest weather is March. The relative humidity for an average year is recorded as 80.7% and on a monthly basis it ranges from 76% in March to 84% in November. Most precipitation falls from May through November, with the northern mountain slopes receiving less rain than those on the south.

Temp/humidity: 76°84°F(24.4°-28.9°C) /70-80% humidity. This Theraphosa species is not as moisture dependent as T. blondi. For humidity in her setup, and before I put the substrate, I lay two inches of pebble gravel the size of a a sweet pea first . Then I pour water in the tank just below the pebbles line. Afterward, I pack four inches of substrate.  

Enclosure: Adults should be given a large terrarium. I use a twenty Gallon long aquarium. I have found that, if you simulate their natural environment by decorating the cage with foliage, they tend to stay out and wonder more. But make sure the plants you use have no pesticide on it.

Substrate: four inches of substrate. (I use a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, coconut fiber and dirt for firmness, as the substrate).

Retreat/Hide: Place a bark for a starter burrow/hide

Food Consumption: Because the spiderlings of this species are born large, I fed them half inch (1.37cm) baby crickets. My adult, I give 3 adults B. dubia roaches or fifteen (15) adult crickets weekly. This species is a excellent eater, and devour its prey. I also give her one pinkie-mouse or a house gecko every three months for variety.

Water Requirements: I keep a large water dish in the cage, even though, after six years, I have never seen mine drink. I also dampen one-half of the substrate in the terrarium by overflowing the water dish, then I allow it to dry out.

Growth Rate:The growth rate for this species is medium-fast. With proper heating and feeding a spiderling may attain a leg length of four inches in a year.

Adult Size: I have read that this species may attain a leg length of eleven inches (27.94cm). The legs of the matured T. apophysis are more slender than the T. blondi and T. stirmi.

Temperament: When young, this tarantula is skittish and the more aggressive of the species in the Teraphosa genus. As an adult they are more secluded. They are also more notorious for kick urticating hairs than the other species of Theraphosa. For this reason I don't handle my Theraphosa species; not to mention that they have over one inch fangs, which if bitten, may be traumatizing.

Comments: An aggressive eating T. They has never refused a meal unless near a molt. After raising several species of T. apophysis, I found them to be the most defensive in the Genus. They are easy to care for an hardy. Some are not able to tell the different between the T. apophysis and the T. blondi, but if you raise the both from spiderlings, you will see the different. I like this genus for the sheer size. As spiderlings, the tarsus and metatarsus are pink on all legs, but after it reaches about five inches (12.7cm) the pink disappears. On the T. stirmi only the front four legs are pink (tarsus, metatarsus).

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