| Species | Invertebrate |
|---|---|
| Origin | Chile |
| Size Category | Small |
| Scientific Name | Grammostola rosea |
| Category | Tarantula |
| Original Purpose | Display/Companion |
| Husbandry Difficulty | Beginner |
| Social Needs | Very Low |
| Weight Range | 0.015–0.06 kg |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | 15–20 years |
| Juvenile Stage Ends | 36 months |
| Senior Age Threshold | 15 years |
| Exercise Needs | Very Low - extremely sedentary; may not move for days |
|---|---|
| Grooming | None - maintain dry substrate; clean water dish weekly |
| Annual Exam Focus | Abdomen condition, leg joints, fang health, signs of mites |
| Routine Care | Maintain 70-80°F; 60-70% humidity; feed 1-2 crickets weekly; fresh water; minimal disturbance |
| Condition | Onset Stage | Risk | Hereditary | Screening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dehydration | adult | high | No | N/A |
| Mite Infestation | adult | medium | No | N/A |
| Dyskinetic Syndrome (DKS) | adult | low | No | N/A |
| Molt Complications | juvenile | medium | No | N/A |
| Mycosis (fungal infection) | adult | low | No | N/A |
| Fall Injuries | adult | medium | No | N/A |
| Risk Level | Low |
|---|---|
| Ideal BCS | 3/9 |
| Visual Cues | Abdomen proportional; not overly distended; slight roundness after feeding normal |
| Daily Activity | 1 minutes |
| Caloric Notes | Feed 1-2 crickets per week; may fast for months (normal behavior); do not force feed |
| Litter Size | 100–500 |
|---|---|
| Dystocia Risk | Low |
| CHIC Required Tests | N/A |
| Recommended DNA Tests | N/A |
| Neonatal Weight | 0.1–0.2 g |
|---|---|
| Growth Notes | Very slow grower; spiderlings molt monthly; adults may molt once per year or less; females mature in 4-6 years |
| Vaccine/Health Schedule | No vaccines; quarantine new specimens; maintain clean dry enclosure |
| Temperature | 21-27°C (70-80°F); tolerates cooler temperatures well |
|---|---|
| Humidity | 60-70%; drier species - avoid excess moisture; water dish sufficient |
| UVB Requirement | Not required; avoid direct sunlight; ambient room lighting fine |
| Diet | Crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches; feed sparingly; known for extended fasting periods |
| Common Issues | Dehydration, mites, fungal infections in overly humid conditions, fall injuries, molt issues |
| Anxiety Proneness | Very Low |
|---|---|
| Top Triggers | Vibrations, handling, bright lights, excessive moisture, temperature extremes |
| Separation Anxiety Risk | None |
| Calming Interventions | Consistent environment, proper hide, minimal disturbance, stable temperatures |
| Enrichment Needs | Cork bark hide, shallow water dish, substrate for light burrowing, minimal decoration |
| Cognitive Dysfunction Risk | Very Low |
| Sociability Score | 1/10 |
| Locomotion | Extremely sedentary; may sit in same spot for days/weeks; slow deliberate movement when active |
|---|---|
| Social | Strictly solitary; cannibalistic; highly territorial |
| Comfort | Sitting motionless in open or at burrow entrance; legs relaxed and spread |
| Stress/Displacement | Hair kicking, threat posture, rapid retreat, refusing food (though fasting is also normal) |
| Breed-Specific | Famous for extended fasting periods (months); extremely docile; most popular beginner tarantula; unpredictable mood changes |
| Types | Stridulation when threatened (rare) |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 100-1,500 Hz |
| Tendency | Very Low |
| Primary Modality | Primarily tactile/vibrational; chemical pheromones for mating |
| Tail/Body Signals | No tail; spinnerets for web/burrow lining; abdomen hair condition indicates health and hydration |
| Top Problems | Extended food refusal (often normal), sudden aggression after long docile period, escape attempts |
|---|---|
| Medical Etiology | Leg curling from dehydration; lethargy; abdomen shrinkage; discoloration |
| Fear/Anxiety Etiology | Hair kicking, threat posture, rapid bolt to hide; rarely bites |
| Frustration Etiology | Pacing, web destruction, climbing enclosure walls |
| Learned Behavior | Very limited; may associate tong vibrations with food; basic habituation to routine |
| Cognitive Dysfunction | Extremely limited; instinct-driven with basic associative learning |
| AI-Trainable Signals | Abdomen size (feeding/hydration), posture changes, activity level changes, web production |
|---|---|
| Context-Dependent Vocalizations | Food refusal can be normal fasting OR illness - duration and abdomen condition differentiate |
| Interspecies Communication | Generally tolerant of gentle handling; mood can shift unpredictably; individual variation significant |