What Do Chilean Rose Tarantulas Look Like?
This species is relatively small, with an average adult size of 4-5 inches in leg span.
A fully-grown Grammostola rosea has an overall light to medium brown coloration, covered in various shades of pink, red, and orange spots.
The abdomen contains light brown hairs, with darker brown stripes on the legs and carapace.
They also have a distinct pattern on their back, consisting of a triangle shape pointing towards the head and edged with slightly lighter coloration.
Benefits Of Using Chilean Rose Tarantulas
Rose Hair Tarantulas are popular additions to vivariums due to their stunning appearance and relative ease of care.
Because they’re relatively small, they don’t need a large enclosure, making them ideal for those who have limited space.
In addition, they’re considered among one of the more docile species of tarantulas, making them a good choice for beginners.
If kept in the right environment with a suitable diet, they can live for many years and provide interesting and engaging pet companionship.
Chilean Rose Tarantula Facts
Grammostola rosea are recognizable for their bright, deep pink coloration, and are insectivores with a gentle temperament.
They have a lifespan of several years and can be bred in captivity with some preparation.
Chilean Rose Tarantulas are venomous but their venom isn’t known to be fatal to humans.
Habitat
Grammostola rosea is a species of tarantula native to the Andes mountain range in Chile.
This species is known to inhabit several areas, including the east of the Atacama desert, northern Argentina, southern Perm, and Bolivia.
In the wild, these tarantulas can be found in a range of different habitats such as grasslands, woodlands, and deserts.
These habitats offer an abundance of cover and prey, necessary for their survival.
Like many tarantulas, the Chilean Rose Tarantula is a burrower.
In the wild, they are known to dig burrows with several chambers that they stay in for protection and reproduction.
This species of tarantula remains active during the morning and evening hours when the temperatures are cooler and the chance of dehydration is minimized.
They spend their days hiding in their burrows or under rocks, only emerging at night to hunt for prey.
Replicate their natural habitat perfectly with our bioactive species-specific soil mixes, designed to provide the ideal moisture and organic content for your spiders.
Diet
In the wild, these tarantulas feed mainly on insects such as crickets, cockroaches, moths, and other small insects.
They will also consume smaller spiders and lizards if given the chance. As these tarantulas grow older, they may even eat small rodents.
They can be opportunistic feeders, which means that they will consume whatever food they find.
Out in nature, Chilean Rose Tarantulas often eat prey that has already been killed or injured by other animals.
They will also scavenge carrion and feed on decaying animals if they come across them.
This means that Grammostola rosea has very powerful digestive tracts and can tolerate eating food that has gone off.
These tarantulas will also gorge on their prey if they find a large source of food, which can make them overly full and sick.
Therefore, it’s important to monitor their diet in captivity and ensure they are getting the right nutrition.
Temperament
Grammostola rosea is generally quite docile and gentle around humans and is in fact among the most handleable of tarantula species.
They rarely bite, and can even be held in the hand if properly tackled.
It is best to supervise handling sessions and put the tarantula back in its enclosure if it shows signs of stress.
Despite their calm nature around humans, Chilean Rose Tarantulas can show aggression toward other animals.
They are territorial and can become defensive when their enclosures are disturbed, so it is good practice to ensure that there are no other pets in the area.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Rose Hair Tarantula is approximately 10 to 15 years.
However, they could live up to 15 to 20 years, depending on living conditions and care.
Generally speaking, females are longer-lived than males.
Grammostola rosea goes through the typical life cycle of any spider species, with some variations.
This process, beginning as an egg and reaching maturity, involves the five stages of an egg, spiderling/larva, juvenile, subadult, and adult.
The spider goes through several molts, during which it grows bigger. After the final molt, the tarantula is considered an adult.
Breeding
Chilean Rose Tarantulas generally mate between October and April, with the males and females living completely separate lives outside of mating season.
For mating to take place, the female must accept the male, and as soon as mating is complete, the male should be removed immediately.
Once the female has mated she will enter pre-molting, where she will locate an appropriate location to make a silk egg sac.
She will then shed her exoskeleton and lay around fifty to one hundred eggs within that web.
Several short weeks later, the spiderlings will hatch, and the female will protect them for several weeks.
The spiderlings will quickly disperse once they become independent, and they reach full maturity around two years.
Where To Find Chilean Rose Tarantulas
Grammostola rosea is native to Chile, Argentina, Peru, and western Brazil.
They can occasionally be found in the wild by seasoned tarantula enthusiasts, however, they are usually bred in captivity as part of the exotic pet trade.
When looking for this species for sale, be sure to look out for reputable breeders and sellers.
Because this species is so popular, there is always the risk of buying a wild-caught spider, which may not be healthy or may not be suitable for a captive environment.
It is advisable to look for sellers who specialize in this species and can provide information on where the spider was sourced from.
Make sure that the seller can answer questions about the tarantula’s history, diet, and any aspects of its care.
As with all tarantula purchases, it is recommended to ask for pictures of the spider before purchase to ensure that it is healthy and free of any visible issues.
