Description:

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Grammostola rosea - Also known as the rose hair tarantula or the Chilean rose tarantula is native to the South American country of Chile but can also be found in areas of Bolivia to the north and Argentina in the south. Their name comes from the pinkish hue that their hair possesses. As with most tarantulas, the vibrancy of this color changes depending on their age and the time that has passed between molting.

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Chilean rose tarantulas are one of the most commonly kept tarantulas in the pet trade. Depending on where you live and their regional availability they are generally easy to acquire. Due to their low maintenance and relatively docile nature, they are regarded as a good "beginner tarantula" - ideal for someone looking to break into the hobby.

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Being arthropods, all tarantulas must go through the process of molting (shedding of their outgrown exoskeleton) in order to grow larger. During the days or weeks leading up to a molt they will typically refuse food and become sluggish in their behavior. This period is known as "pre-molting", and can last for an undetermined length of time.

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When a tarantula is finished pre-molting, they will typically turn over onto their back, where over the course of a few hours, will break free from their outgrown exoskeleton. They will then emerge larger in size and more vibrant in color.

 

Amazingly, tarantulas also posses the ability to regrow lost limbs from this process - although it may take a few successive molts to regrow to its proper size. 

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It is important to not disturb a tarantula during this process, as doing so could be fatal to your spider. Tarantulas are often accidentally killed due to being mistaken for dead or moved while molting.

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You should also refrain from feeding or handling a tarantula for a weeks time after it has successfully molted. This will allow time for its new exoskeleton to harden before being exposed to any unintentional dangers.

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Size:

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Rose hair tarantulas are a considered a medium sized tarantula, with a leg span of 5-6 inches (13-15 centimeters) when fully matured. Though there are many other species which will grow quite a bit larger - these tarantulas are still quite impressive to look at when fully sized.

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Temperament:

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The rose hair tarantula is considered to be typically docile in nature and more easily handled than many other varieties. However, as with any animal, individual personalities do vary. Handling tarantulas is never something I personally recommend to beginners for the following reasons:

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They possess venom which can be injected through their bite. Although not fatal, it will cause pain - the severity of which being dependent on the individual tolerance of the person who has been bitten. Tarantulas will often warn of their intention to bite by posing with their front legs lifted and fangs exposed. If a tarantula makes this gesture, it is their way of asking to be left alone.

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On top of their venomous bite, these tarantulas also posses what are called urticating hairs. Although looking fluffy and cute, the hairs on a tarantula are actually barbed - and designed to stick into the skin of an attacker. Once lodged into the skin, these hairs will cause intense itching and and more often than not, a painful rash.

 

A disturbed or frightened tarantula will often be seen to kick these hairs into the air by rubbing their back legs upon their abdomen. Once in the air, these light hairs can float on air currents which can then land on exposed skin, or even worse be inhaled. Having these caught in your throat or eyes can be medically significant enough to require emergency attention.

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Another valid reason to admire your pet tarantula from a distance, is for their own safety. Tarantulas  are prone to quick bursts of movement which can be startling to a person handling them. They are often, unfortunately dropped this way. Tarantulas are actually quite fragile animals - a fall from even a small distance is enough to kill them.

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Housing:

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Chilean rose hairs are terrestrial tarantulas - meaning that, although being able to climb almost all surfaces when motivated, they  feel most comfortable spending most of their time on the ground.

 

Because of this and the nature of spiders in general, they do not require much space. On the contrary, some tarantulas can find being in large, open spaces to be stressful. With both of these factors in mind, my recommendation for these animals is a terrarium sized at 10 gallons. 

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Their enclosure should have a secured or locking lid. They will regularly climb and test the boundaries of their enclosure during the nighttime, and have sometimes been known to push off a lid that is not securely fastened or weighted down.

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Tarantulas should be provided with multiple hiding spaces for a sense of security. They will often web up the entrance to their hides or burrows - particularly when preparing to molt.

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Apart from these few points, tarantulas are usually kept in very minimalistic setups. They tend to spend most of their time in one place, without moving for hours on end, and when being terrestrial types, they don't benefit much from decorative items in their enclosure. 

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Temperature and Humidity:

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Part of the allure of keeping a Rose hair tarantula is their ease of care when it comes to heating and humidity needs. They should always be kept warm, but provided that you yourself do not live in a cold climate they can easily survive at a comfortable room temperature. 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit is a good temperature to aim for when keeping this species.

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These particular spiders also don't enjoy high humidity. With the addition of a water dish in their enclosure, their need for it should be sufficiently met. An occasional light spray to their habitat is acceptable, but you should never seek to provide excess moisture to their environment. The substrate within their enclosure should not be allowed to become saturated with water at any point in time.

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Lighting:

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Tarantulas do not require any specialized lighting. They typically will go out of their way to avoid well lit areas, so just keeping them in a room that will be lit during the day is perfectly fine for their keeping. Having dim areas of shade within their enclosure will in fact ensure that you are able to view them more often.

 

Try to provide your tarantula with a proper 12 hour day and nighttime light cycle though, as these are actually nocturnal animals, and require this light cycle for their overall health.

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Substrate:

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For substrate you should be using something loose but packable enough to allow for the option of some burrowing. A few inches of coconut fiber or potting soil is an easy and cheap substrate, and perfectly ideal for a rose hair tarantula. Avoid using things such as repti-carpets or sand.

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Diet:

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The staple diet for most tarantulas is captive bred feeder insects.

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Some very young tarantulas (slings) will need to be fed fruit flies until they have grown into their juvenile stage. At which point crickets are the most typically utilized feeding option.

 

Crickets are likely easily accessible for purchase wherever you live, and are readily accepted by all tarantulas. Cockroaches are also another great option, particularly the larger varieties when feeding full grown tarantulas.

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Tarantulas will also eat mealworms or superworms, but with these, you'll need to make sure they can be easily found by your tarantula and not allowed to burrow into their substrate. As with other animals, providing superworms should be done sparingly - not used as a consistent diet.

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Provide your tarantula with a small shallow dish of fresh water at all times. Generally tarantulas get most of the hydration they require through feeding, but they will occasionally drink if they feel the need.

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Lifespan:

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As with all tarantulas, females are much longer lived than males. A female rose hair tarantula can live in excess of 20 years with proper care. While males will live an average of 5 years - just long enough to fully mature and and hopefully find a mate.

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Note:

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Please be aware that this is not meant to be a general guide for tarantula keeping.  There are many different species of tarantulas. Each with their own individual needs and care requirements.

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