Australian Tarantulas/Bird-Eating Spiders

Australia is home to a diverse assemblage of mygalomorph spiders, including numerous tarantula and bird-eating spider species spread across the continent. Selenotypus plumipes (Featherleg Bird-Eating Spider) is native to the semi-arid and arid interior regions of Queensland and extending into New South Wales and the Northern Territory, where it constructs deep silk-lined burrows in hard-packed soil or sandy substrates. Selenotholus foelschei is found across tropical northern Australia, including the Northern Territory and northern Queensland.

Phlogius species (synonymous with Selenocosmia) are distributed across Queensland, from coastal tropical rainforest margins to dry inland woodland, and include some of the largest and most visually impressive Australian tarantulas. These are the species most frequently referred to as 'Queensland whistling spiders' — named for the stridulation (rasping sound) they produce by rubbing the chelicerae together when disturbed.

All Australian tarantulas are venomous. Their venom is not considered medically significant to healthy adults in most cases, though bites are painful and some individuals may experience more pronounced local reactions. Urticating hairs — the defence mechanism of many South American tarantulas — are absent in Australian species; their primary defence is the threat display and, if provoked, a bite. Keeping Australian tarantulas and bird-eating spiders is a rewarding but responsible commitment suited to keepers who understand and respect the venomous nature of their animals.

Enclosure requirements should reflect the species' natural lifestyle. Burrowing species such as Selenotypus plumipes and most Selenocosmia species require a substrate depth sufficient to allow full burrow excavation — a minimum of 15–20 cm of appropriate substrate for adults. An appropriate substrate mix consists of two parts chemical-free topsoil or coco peat to one part coarse sand, packed firmly enough to allow burrow walls to hold their shape without collapsing.

For spiderlings (slings), small, secure containers (such as deli cups or purpose-made sling containers with ventilation holes) of appropriate size are used — a sling should be housed in a container no more than two to three times its leg span. Containers must be fully secure; slings are tiny and extremely fast, and even very small gaps allow escape. As the spider grows, it is transferred to progressively larger enclosures.

An appropriately sized cork bark hide or half-log should be provided on the surface for species that construct surface retreats. Temperature of 24–30°C is suitable for most Australian species; tropical species prefer the warmer end of this range. No UVB lighting is required. A shallow water dish must always be available for all but the smallest slings. Ventilation is important — cross-ventilation with side and top vents is preferable to top-only ventilation. All enclosures must be completely escape-proof and should include a secure locking mechanism, particularly given the venomous nature of the animals.

Licensing requirements vary by state — in most Australian states, commonly kept species do not require a specific keeper licence, but requirements vary and should be confirmed with your state wildlife authority before purchasing.

Australian tarantulas are sit-and-wait predators that feed on live prey. Crickets and wood cockroaches (woodies) are the most practical staple prey items. Mealworms and other invertebrates can be offered for variety. Prey size should always be no larger than the spider's abdomen — oversized prey can stress, injure or kill a spider, particularly around moulting.

Spiderlings (slings) should be offered appropriately sized prey — pinhead crickets, small mealworms or parts of larger prey items — every three to five days. Juveniles can be fed every five to seven days. Adults require feeding only every one to two weeks; many keepers feed large adults even less frequently. Overfeeding leads to obesity and can interfere with moulting. A notably swollen, distended abdomen is a sign of overfeeding. After a refused meal, remove the uneaten prey immediately — live prey left in the enclosure during a moult or pre-moult period can seriously injure or kill the spider.

All prey should be gut-loaded for 24 hours before offering. Use long feeding tongs — never reach into the enclosure with bare hands when the spider is exposed. Fresh dechlorinated water must be available in a shallow dish at all times; spiderlings can be misted lightly rather than provided a water dish to avoid drowning risk.

Australian tarantulas will generally retreat into their burrow or hide when disturbed. When cornered or provoked, they adopt a characteristic threat display — rearing up on the hind legs, raising the front legs and exposing the fangs. This display should always be respected as a clear signal to cease interaction. Phlogius and Selenotypus species may also stridulate (produce an audible rasping or hissing sound) as a threat response. Bites from Australian tarantulas are painful and can cause significant localised symptoms; medical attention should be sought if systemic symptoms develop.

Australian tarantulas and bird-eating spiders are observation animals and should not be handled routinely. Unlike many exotic tarantula species with relatively docile reputations, Australian species are fast, defensive and venomous — the risk-to-reward ratio of routine handling is not favourable. Handling should be limited to essential transfers (for enclosure cleaning, health assessment or veterinary care) and carried out with the utmost care and deliberation.

When handling is unavoidable, use a soft paintbrush or blunt forceps to guide the spider into a secure transfer container rather than attempting direct contact. If direct handling must occur, remain extremely calm and deliberate, keep the spider close to a surface at all times, and never attempt to restrain a defensive animal. Spiderlings (slings) should never be handled — they are fragile, extremely fast, and a fall or mishandling at this size can be fatal.

Always have a clear plan before opening any enclosure containing an Australian tarantula — these spiders can move with startling speed. Keep children and uninvolved people away during any maintenance.

The most meaningful enrichment for burrowing tarantulas is a deep, packable substrate that allows the spider to excavate, modify and maintain its burrow system according to its own preferences. A spider that can engineer its own burrow architecture — adjusting the depth, branching and silk lining over time — is expressing its most fundamental natural behaviour.

For surface-dwelling or opportunistic burrowers, a cork bark hide with silk anchoring points and a varied substrate surface provides environmental complexity. Introducing live prey in the evening — when Australian tarantulas are naturally most active — allows observation of natural hunting behaviour. Some spiders will actively hunt; others ambush from the burrow entrance.

For keepers with multiple animals, maintaining animals in naturalistic displays — with live low-care plants, cork bark features and natural substrates — provides visual interest for the keeper and environmental complexity for the spider. Observing spiderlings (slings) through their developmental moults and watching them grow into impressive adults is one of the most rewarding long-term aspects of keeping this group.

Failed moults are the most serious and common cause of death in captive tarantulas. They most often result from dehydration (insufficient moisture in the substrate for burrowing species), enclosure conditions being too dry, injury from prey left in the enclosure during pre-moult, or the spider being disturbed during the moulting process. Prevention requires removing all prey during fasting periods, maintaining appropriate substrate moisture and never disturbing a moulting animal.

Dehydration is a persistent risk — signs include a shrunken, wrinkled abdomen (distinct from the pre-moult swelling pattern). Ensure the water dish is always full and that the lower substrate retains some moisture for burrowing species. Prey injuries — from crickets, cockroaches or mealworms left unattended in the enclosure — are a common and preventable cause of serious harm; remove all uneaten prey within 12–24 hours without exception.

Substrate mite infestations can develop in humid enclosures with accumulated food waste — maintain hygiene and consider replacing substrate if mites are detected in significant numbers. Any spider showing prolonged abnormal posture (legs curled under the body while not moulting), failure to eat across multiple feeding cycles after a full moult recovery, or unexplained weight loss should be assessed by a veterinarian experienced with invertebrates.