Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird Eating Spider: Why This Giant Tipped the Scales of the Hobby

If you’ve ever stood in a reptile shop or scrolled through a tarantula forum, you've seen the name Lasiodora parahybana. Most people just call it the Brazilian salmon pink bird eating spider, or LP for short. It's a mouthful. It’s also a handful—literally. Imagine a spider the size of a dinner plate, covered in bristly hairs, with a temperament that ranges from "statue-like" to "I will kick every hair off my abdomen at you."

This isn't just another bug. It’s a biological powerhouse from the Atlantic forest of Brazil.

Honestly, the name "bird eater" is a bit of a marketing gimmick from the Victorian era. While an adult LP could technically take down a small bird if it stumbled into the wrong burrow, they mostly eat insects, lizards, and the occasional frog. They are opportunistic. They aren't out there hunting macaws. But when a spider hits a 10-inch leg span, people tend to get dramatic with the naming conventions.

The Reality of Owning a Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird Eating Spider

Let’s talk scale. You haven't seen growth until you've owned one of these. They grow fast. Like, "blink and you'll miss a molt" fast. A tiny spiderling the size of your pinky nail can hit four or five inches in just a year if you keep it warm and well-fed.

They are heavy-bodied. Unlike the lanky arboreal spiders that zip up walls, the Brazilian salmon pink bird eating spider is a terrestrial tank. They are built for the ground. If they fall from a height of even a foot, their abdomen can rupture. It's fatal. That’s why keepers obsess over substrate depth. You don't want more than a few inches of "air" between the spider and the dirt.

People always ask about the color. Is it actually salmon pink? Sorta. It's more of a subtle highlight. Under the right light, the long hairs on their legs and abdomen have this distinct rosy, salmon hue that contrasts against a dark charcoal or brownish body. It's gorgeous in a "don't touch me" kind of way.

Handling and Temperament: A Reality Check

Don't handle them. Seriously.

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While some keepers do it for the 'gram, it’s a bad idea for two reasons. First, the spider doesn't get anything out of it. It’s stressful. Second, their primary defense isn't their fangs—it's their urticating hairs. The Brazilian salmon pink bird eating spider has Type I and Type II hairs. They kick them off with their back legs when they feel threatened.

These hairs have microscopic barbs. If they get on your skin, it feels like handling fiberglass insulation. If they get in your eyes or respiratory tract, you’re looking at a trip to the urgent care. Most experienced keepers, like those you'll find on boards like Arachnoboards or Tom Moran's technical deep dives, treat these spiders as "display only" animals. They are look-but-don't-touch pets.

Their venom isn't medically significant to humans—unless you’re allergic—but those fangs are huge. We are talking nearly an inch long on a mature female. Even without venom, a mechanical bite from a spider that size is going to hurt. A lot.

Habitat and Care: Building a Brazilian Forest in a Plastic Box

You need space. A standard 10-gallon tank is the bare minimum for an adult, but a 20-gallon long is better. They like to wander at night.

• Substrate: Think damp, not swampy. Coconut fiber or topsoil mixed with peat moss works best.
• Hide: A large piece of cork bark is essential. They need a place to feel secure.
• Water: A wide, shallow water dish. No sponges. Sponges just grow bacteria.
• Temperature: Room temperature is usually fine. If you’re comfortable in a t-shirt, they are usually fine.

One thing people mess up is humidity. Brazil is humid, sure, but in a glass tank, stagnant wet air kills spiders. You need cross-ventilation. Drill holes in the sides of the enclosure, not just the top. You want a breeze, or as much of a breeze as a spider can get in a basement in Ohio.

The Brazilian salmon pink bird eating spider is a burrower, especially when young. As they get larger, they tend to sit out in the open more. This is why they are so popular in the hobby. You actually get to see your pet. Many tarantulas are "pet holes"—you feed a hole in the dirt for five years and never see the occupant. Not the LP. It wants to be seen.

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The Appetite of a Titan

Feeding an LP is a spectacle. They have a massive feeding response. When a cricket hits the dirt, the spider doesn't just wander over; it teleports.

1. Spiderlings: Pinhead crickets or flightless fruit flies.
2. Juveniles: Medium crickets, roaches, or mealworms.
3. Adults: Large Dubia roaches, hornworms, or the occasional (very occasional) frozen-thawed hopper mouse.

Note: Frequent vertebrate feeding (mice) can cause molting issues due to the high calcium and fat content. Keep it to once or twice a year, or just stick to large insects. Dubia roaches are the gold standard here. They don't bite the spider back, and they are packed with protein.

The Molting Cycle: A Stressful Transformation

Every few months (or years for old females), your Brazilian salmon pink bird eating spider will stop eating. Its abdomen will turn dark and shiny. It might get a bit "baldy" on the back. This is premolt.

Then comes the day you find it on its back.

To a new keeper, a spider on its back looks dead. It’s not. It’s pushing its way out of its old skin. This is the most vulnerable time in a tarantula's life. Do not touch it. Do not move the enclosure. Do not "help" it. Just walk away. A few hours later, you’ll have a slightly larger, very soft, and very hungry spider.

Wait at least 10 to 14 days before feeding an adult after a molt. Their fangs are soft and white at first. If they try to bite a cricket before those fangs harden (turn black), they can break them. A spider with broken fangs can't eat. It's a death sentence.

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Why the LP is the "Gateway" Giant

Compared to the Theraphosa blondi (the Goliath Birdeater), the LP is much easier to keep. Goliath Birdeaters are finicky. They need high humidity and specific temperatures, or they just die. They are "expert level" spiders.

The Brazilian salmon pink bird eating spider is the working man's giant. It’s hardy. It’s cheap—you can often pick up a spiderling for $20. It grows just as fast and gets almost as big. If you want a massive spider but don't want to spend $150 on a delicate Goliath, the LP is the answer.

It's a staple of the hobby for a reason. It's reliable. It’s impressive. It’s a bit of a jerk, but it’s a beautiful jerk.

Common Misconceptions and Troubleshooting

• "My spider is hiding!" That’s normal. Especially after a molt or if it’s about to molt.
• "Is it lonely?" No. Tarantulas are cannibalistic. Never put two in the same tank unless you want one very fat spider.
• "Can it jump?" Not really. They can lunge, but they aren't jumping spiders. Their weight makes jumping a dangerous prospect.
• "How long will it live?" Females can live 15 to 20 years. Males? Maybe 3 to 5 years. Once a male matures and gets his "hooks," he’s on a mission to find a mate and then he’s done.

Actionable Steps for New Keepers

If you're ready to bring home a Brazilian salmon pink bird eating spider, don't just buy a kit at a big-box pet store. Most of those kits are designed for reptiles and are death traps for spiders.

1. Source responsibly: Buy from a reputable breeder like Fear Not Tarantulas or Jamies Tarantulas. You want a captive-bred specimen, not something ripped out of the wild.
2. Prepare the enclosure first: Don't buy the spider and then figure out where to put it. Get your substrate, hide, and water dish set up. Check the temperature.
3. Buy a pair of long tongs: 10-inch or 12-inch feeding tongs are your best friend. They keep your fingers away from the fangs and the urticating hairs.
4. Join a community: Check out the Lasiodora groups on social media. People have seen it all and can help you if your spider starts acting weird.
5. Respect the hair: Wear gloves if you are cleaning the enclosure or moving the substrate. The "itch" can last for days.

The LP is a commitment. It's a long-lived, fast-growing predator that demands respect. But seeing a 10-inch spider stalking across its enclosure at midnight is a sight you won't soon forget. It’s a literal piece of the Amazon in your living room.