Lasiodora cristata
Brazilian Red and White Tarantula
Lasiodora cristata by pegasus-express (flickr)
Adult Size: 7-8 inch
Locality: Rainforests of eastern Brazil
Habits: Terrestrial, some burrowing
Temperament: Aggressive/nervous
Temperature: 75-80c
Humidity: 70-80%
Diet:Pinhead crickets for spiderlings, adults will happily take larger insects (crickets, cockroaches, locusts etc) and even small vertabrates
Housing: This large species should be housed in a 10-15 gallon enclosure with 4-5inches of substrate to allow for burrowing. Add a piece of cork bark or something similar for a hide, and a small water bowl.
Notes:
Lasiodora cristata is a large semi burrowing species which has been gaining in popularity since its relatively recent introduction in to the hobby. Formerly in the genus Vitalius, this species was transferred to Lasiodora in 2001. Captive bred young are relatively easy to get hold of (although they can be seasonal). Cristata is known to produce large numbers (in the high hundreds) of tiny spiderlings and has been bred successfully a few times. This large spider is an asset to any collection.
