Lyrognathus giannisposatoi
Thick Foot Earthtiger - complete care guide
Thick Foot Earthtiger
Temperature
24-27 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
60-75 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
10-13 cm
Average - varies per individual
Moult interval
Sling 4-7w - Juv 2-3.3mo
Adult 10-15mo
Adult cycle = mature females; males never moult again after maturity
About
The Sumatran Stout Leg - the most robust member of its genus, named for Gianni Sposato and described in 2013 from lowland Lampung, Sumatra. Its party piece is in the name: "Lyro-" means sound, and it STRIDULATES - hissing and whistling through bristles on legs and pedipalps when threatened. Add rear legs two-to-three times thicker than the rest, deep silk-lined burrows and a ready threat posture, and you have one of the most characterful Asian fossorials. CB stock has slowly spread since 2019; catching some is worth it for keepers of defensive species.
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Indonesia (Sumatra: Lampung)
- Habitat
- Lowland tropical rainforest burrows
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Maturity
- ♀ 36mo ♂ 24mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 14yr ♂ 4yr
- Continent
- Asia
- UK availability
- Rare in the hobby
Care Guide
Lyrognathus giannisposatoi
Thick Foot Earthtiger - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 25 cm footprint with 12-15 cm of substrate.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 8 cm of substrate and a starter hole.
To map exact floor space and substrate safety limits for your setup, use our free interactive tarantula enclosure planner.
What temperature and humidity does a Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula need?
Heating
The Sumatran Stout Legs is comfortable at 24-27 °C - a narrow band; avoid dips under 19 °C and spikes over 29 °C. Warm the room, never the tank floor.
Humidity
60-75 %: keep the lower substrate moist (never sodden) with a drier surface; strong cross-flow.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with moderate-high humidity - airflow without drying the burrow out.
What substrate is best for a Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
12-15 cm
Notes
Deep and packed, holding burrows and web collars. Moisture gradient - damp below, drier above.
How do you set up a Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own deep silk-lined burrow with a web collar - provide 12 cm+ of substrate and a starter excavation.
Water
Shallow dish at surface level - keep full and clean.
Lighting
Ambient room light only. Avoid bright spots.
How often should you feed a Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula fasting is almost never an emergency in itself. Watch for slowing down and spending more time in the hide, sealing the burrow entrance with silk (a sealed door usually means "do not disturb - moulting in progress"), laying a thick moult mat of web on the floor. Old World species do not flick urticating hairs, so there is no bald patch to watch - rely on fasting, lethargy and hide time instead.
On its back is MOULTING, not dying
A Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula lying upside down or on its side with legs curled inwards is almost certainly mid-moult. Do not touch it, do not right it, do not mist it - just remove any live prey (crickets can kill a defenceless moulter) and leave the room.
How long between moults?
For this species, expect a moult roughly every 25-50 days for spiderlings, every 60-100 days for juveniles, and every 140-220 days for sub-adults, with adult females moulting around every 10 months (up to 14.7 months at the extreme). Males never moult again after their ultimate (mature) moult.
After the moult: fang hardening time
The new exoskeleton stays soft, with fangs that cannot grip, for roughly 7 days in this species. Offer no food and no handling for about 7 days - feeding too early is how fresh moulters get injured. The shed exuvium is also the best sexing tool there is - see our tarantula sexing guide for what to look for.
Genuinely worried about behaviour that is not moulting? Our "Is my T okay?" triage tool walks the danger signs one by one.
What ongoing care does a Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults deep in the burrow behind a web plug. Do not excavate. Keep humidity steady and prey out; wait until it reopens and the fangs are black before feeding. Adult intervals apply to mature FEMALES - a mature male never moults again.
🧹 Cleaning
Weekly: refresh the water dish and clear boluses from the burrow mouth with tongs. Deep clean rarely - a full rehouse with a catch cup.
✋ Handling
Never - quick to threat-pose, stridulate and bite if cornered. Catch cup and lid discipline.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Thick Foot Earthtiger Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep substrate for silk-lined burrows
- Warm, humid, well-ventilated
- Listening for stridulation before maintenance
- Long tongs and a rehouse plan
- Respect: defensive Old World
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling - defensive with strong venom and a hiss
- Shallow substrate
- Overheating above ~29 °C
- Expecting to see it in the open
Keep exploring: related care guides
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