The Brazilian Fire Red Birdeater (Lasiodora difficilis) is a massive terrestrial beast with striking coloration and serious feeding responses. If you want a tarantula that makes feeding time a show, this is your girl.
Quick Facts
Common Name: Brazilian Fire Red Birdeater
Scientific Name: Lasiodora difficilis
Origin: Brazil (Amazon Basin and surrounding rainforest regions)
Size:
- Adults reach 8–9 inches (20–23 cm) or more
- Big, beefy legs and body
Lifespan:
- Females: 15–20 years
- Males: ~4–6 years
Temperament: Generally calm, but can be defensive when disturbed
Very food-aggressive — feeding time is exciting!
Coloration:
- Deep brown or black body
-
Fiery red hairs on the abdomen and legs
- Subtle but powerful — the “fire red” shows best under natural or bright light
Housing
Enclosure Type: Terrestrial — needs plenty of floor space
Substrate: 4–6 inches of coco fiber/topsoil mix for burrowing or surface lounging
Humidity: 65–75%
- Mist lightly a few times a week and keep a water dish full
Temperature: 72–80°F (22–27°C)
Decor:
- Large cork bark hide or half log
- Leaf litter or moss for natural cover
- Heavy water dish (they’ll knock light ones over)
Pro tip: These tanks love to bulldoze their enclosures — give them room to rearrange!
Feeding
Diet: Crickets, dubia roaches, superworms, hornworms
Feeding Frequency:
- Slings: 2–3x/week
- Juveniles: Weekly
- Adults: Every 10–14 days (they eat big, so you can feed less often)
Feeding response is insane — be ready for ambushes and slams
Why She’s a Heavy Hitter
One of the largest New World species in the hobby
Striking red hairs give her that signature fire look
Generally hardy and low-maintenance
Spectacular feeding behavior — they don’t play around at dinner time
Great display spider, usually out and about
Things to Watch
Will flick urticating hairs — and they’re pretty irritating
Not handleable — very large and heavy-bodied
Can kick hairs just from opening the enclosure
Needs a lot of space and some ventilation to keep that humidity balanced
