The Bird Eating Spider ( Also known as the "Barking Spider" or "Whistling Spider") are the largest spiders in Australia. They belong to the family known as the Tarantulas, but are more ferocious than their American cousins. Having fangs up to 8mm long, they are not an animal to be cuddled and kissed, but make an exellent display in a terrarium suitable to their needs.

PLEASE! IF YOU DO DISIDE TO BUY A TARANTULA TRY TO AVOID BUYING THEM FROM PET SHOPS BECAUSE THEY ARE CAUGHT FROM THE WILD AND PUT STRAIGHT INTO SMALL CAGES IN PET SHOPS, AND THEY ARE EXTREAMLY AGGRESSIVE! TRY TO BUY FROM A CAPTIVE BREEDER! i would recomend naomie redhead, an experienced breeder, with cheap prices! and poasts around australia for     http://www.freewebs.com/saveourtarantulas/index.htm

                              tarantulagirl_79@yahoo.com

ORIGON: They are found in the northen regions of Australia, where conditions are hot and humid. They are oftern seen at the base of large trees, foraging for insects, caterpillas or small rodents. Colours can vary from dark brown in the thick forests to light grey on the open plains, and oftern confuses people as to which species is which. They can reach a lengh of 55mm, the male being slightly smaller 7 slimmer. these spiders are covered with velvety hairs & have small eyes located on a clump at the frount of their head. They have long hairs on their legs & tufts around their claws which help them move freely over smooth surfaces. 

DIET: Bird Eating Spiders do not have teeth & rely on their digestive jucies to break down their food. They love to eat crickets, grasshopers and silkworms. In captivity, they can be encouriged to eat "pinky" mice as well. Variety is the key to continued success, with seasonal changes being an essential. Care must be shown to not feed during moulting, as the spider in incapable of eating.

HEAT & HUMIDITY: Bird Eating spiders come from the hotter regoins of Australia. They are ectotherms (cold blooded), and so require heat constantly. This is the best done using a heat mat, or a hot rock. The temperature should be a gentle 25 C. Spiders will enjoy some humidity, however very wet conditions sre not benefical to them. Asponge with fresh water in it daily will maintain true humidity without causing too much condensation.

ENCLOSURE: A small to medium sized terrarium is exellent for housing Bird Eating Spiders. They love to burrow, and so provision of deep peatsoil or peat moss must be on the bottom ( never ordinary soil, or pebbles ect.) and substrate should always be kept moist ( NOT WET). Growing plants in the enclosure can assist with maintaning a stable humidity, and will provide hunting grounds for the spider. Red lights will encourige spiders out of hiding during the daytime, essential for a display enclosure.

CLEANING: As spiders are very clean animals, that are very efficent in using the food they consume, and eat little, cleaning is minimal. Wiping the glass with warm water and drying with a paper towel weekly, removal of prey carcasses, and major clean every six months is sufficient.

NB: DO NOT HANDLE BIRD EATING SPIDERS. IN THE EVENT OF A BITE, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL. DO NOT DISTURB A SPIDER DURING ITS MOULT......... YOU WILL KILL IT!

bird eating spiders are unusual animals, secretive, noturnal, and aggessive. They are completely different from a bird or a puppy or a bird as a pet, and their care is subsequenty a lot different.