This is a specific care sheet for Chilean Roses (Grammostola rosea), for more in this genus see Category:Grammostola.

The Chilean Rose Tarantula (Grammostola rosea) is the most commonly kept, bred and imported species in the hobby today. The Chilean Rose is typically docile, require little maintenance, and are inexpensive, all contributing to making them popular pets. They are found throughout the desert and scrubland regions of Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat 2.1 Enclosure 2.2 Substrate 2.3 Temperature 2.4 Humidity 3 Feeding 4 Handling 5 Breeding

Description

This species is a bit unusual among tarantulas in that it occurs naturally in at least three different colour forms (sometimes also referred to as “colormorphs” or “colourmorphs”). These all possess a more or less uniform dark gray undercoat. One colour form is a more or less uniform, drab, dark gray (sometimes called ‘muddy’ or ‘grubby’) with at most only a sprinkling of lighter beige or pinkish hairs. Another possesses a uniformly dense, pretty, light pink outer coat. The last is a beautifully intense copper form. The adult males of this last form are spectacular.

For a while, enthusiasts thought each colour form was a different species, even calling the copper coloured form G. cala, the Chilean flame tarantula. However, over the last several years all of the several colour forms have been reported to arise from the same egg sac, strong evidence that these are all merely variants of the same species.

The Chilean Rose Tarantula is a medium sized species. They reach adult size in about 3 to 4 years with about a 12.5 cm (5 inch) leg span. This heavily-built beauty is dark brown to black but is covered with a coat of reddish-orange to pink hairs over its entire body. This subtle rose casting on the hair is where the name comes from.

Mature males have longer legs and are somewhat more fuzzy in appearance. The female remains stocky and bulky throughout its life. There are reports that mature males are more brightly coloured than females but they can be quite variable in colour.

Habitat

Enclosure

Chilean Roses would rather adopt a rock as a home than burrow for themselves as they live in dry conditions and burrowing can be difficult. It is recommended that you provide a vivarium of atleast 5 gallons in volume and a carefully prepared collection of rocks that the tarantula can adopt as a home. Ensure that the arrangement is secure to prevent them collapsing on top of your pet.

Substrate

You should cover the bottom of the enclosure with 2-3 inches of peat moss, potting soil or vermiculite.

Temperature

This species is ideal as it is very comfortable living within normal room temperature ranges of between 22-30°C (71.5-86°F). However, to ensure the temperatures are being provided you should monitor them by using accurate thermometers in a few locations within the enclosure.

Humidity

They can be kept in a low-humidity terrarium (60-75%), and this can be achieved by providing a shallow water dish and misting ocassionally as necessary. To successfully maintain the desired humidity conditions for your tarantula you are going to need a hygrometer. A hygrometer is a device used to measure relative humidity within the enclosure.

Feeding

In captivity the diet of this tarantula is typically insects such as crickets, grass-hoppers, beetles, moths, meal worms, cockroaches and pinky mice, although mice should only be fed to large adults. As a rule of thumb, food should be no larger than the spiders abdomen. A staple diet of crickets is fine however it is best to gut load them. Typically these pets should be fed two weekly feedings with one to three food items. Uneaten prey should be removed after one day to prevent problems. Food must usually be fed live, as dead prey may be rejected or go unnoticed.

Handling

Be gentle, allow the tarantula to walk onto your hand with a push on its abdomen. Grammostola rosea rarely bites, but when it does the bite causes swelling and intense pain for several hours, even up to a day. If your rose begins to rear back and raises its front legs in a threatening posture it may feel threatened by you.

Breeding

This species is fairly easy to breed and produces up to 350 offspring, but most pet stores carry wild caught specimens. G. rosea spiderlings may take quite a while to mature.