Grammostola rosea
Chilean Rose Tarantula
A calm, undemanding invertebrate for keepers who want an unusual display animal, with the understanding that it is to be watched rather than held.
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At a glance
- Scientific name
- Grammostola rosea
- Family
- Theraphosidae
- Origin
- Deserts and scrub of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina
- Lifespan
- Females 15–20 years, males 3–5 years
- Adult size
- 12–14 cm leg span
- Weight
- 30–60 g
- Temperament
- Docile and slow-moving, but not a handling animal
- Activity level
- Very low
- Social needs
- Strictly solitary
- Intelligence
- Simple associative responses only
- Noise
- Silent
Housing and environment
- Housing
- 30 x 30 x 30 cm terrestrial enclosure with 8–10 cm of dry substrate
- Space requirement
- Floor space; height risks fatal falls
- Temperature
- 20–26°C
- Humidity
- 50–60%
- Exercise
- Not required
- Grooming
- Not applicable; provide a shallow water dish and dry substrate
Life stages and changing needs
Expanded care guidance · Updated 7 October 2026 · Not professionally reviewed
Young animals and settling in
Young spiders moult more frequently than mature adults and need appropriately sized prey and safe access to moisture. A tiny spiderling’s enclosure must prevent escapes without sacrificing ventilation. Growth occurs through moulting, not a predictable monthly timetable. Record sheds and feeding, and avoid disturbing an animal that begins sealing its retreat or refusing food before a moult.
Adult care and reproductive changes
Adult females and mature males can have very different remaining lifespans and activity patterns. A mature male may roam and feed less; that does not justify repeatedly adding prey. These terrestrial spiders need secure ground-level hides and limited fall height. Housing alone prevents cannibalism and removes the need to manage unsafe social introductions.
Later life and changing needs
Long-lived females may have increasingly long intervals between moults. Continue watching abdomen condition, hydration and movement without imposing a mammal-style senior diet. A prolonged fast can be normal in some circumstances, but dehydration, injury or an abnormal curled posture needs specialist advice. Keep photographs and dated observations for a professional assessment.
Diet and feeding
Two to four appropriately sized crickets or roaches every one to two weeks
Feed responsibly sourced invertebrate prey sized for the spider. Do not offer pesticide-exposed garden insects or prey capable of overpowering the animal. Remove uneaten live prey, especially around a moult, because a vulnerable spider cannot defend itself normally. These spiders do not need bowls of human food or routine vitamin powder on prey.
Judge portions by abdomen condition and the feeding record rather than offering food every time the spider moves. Leave it undisturbed through the moult and wait until the new exoskeleton and fangs have hardened before resuming feeding; the interval depends on size and species. Ask an experienced specialist if you cannot judge readiness safely.
Daily care and ongoing checks
Every day
Check the water supply, enclosure security, ventilation and substrate each day without dismantling the retreat. Provide species-appropriate moisture rather than copying a tropical setup for every tarantula. A water dish should be safely accessible; water gels and sponges are not a substitute for hygienic water provision. Remove prey remains and visible mould carefully.
Regular maintenance and prevention
Observe rather than handle. A short fall can rupture the abdomen, and defensive hairs can irritate eyes, skin and airways. Keep the enclosure away from young children and other pets. Plan access to an exotic veterinarian or experienced invertebrate specialist before an emergency; do not pull an animal out of its old skin or apply household adhesives.
Behaviour and compatibility
Burrowing, web-matting the substrate, long fasts and periodic moulting
- With children
- Observation only
- With other animals
- House alone
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Fatal falls from height
- Dehydration
- Failed moult
- Urticating hair loss
- Parasitic mites
Very few vets treat tarantulas; prevention through correct husbandry is the strategy
Special care requirements
Never disturb a tarantula on its back — it is moulting, not dying
Ground-level safety and moulting
A Chilean rose tarantula is a terrestrial spider: deep fall height and tall climbing decoration can be dangerous rather than enriching. Offer secure ground-level shelter and species-appropriate substrate. Avoid turning the enclosure into a constantly wet tropical tank; moisture needs must be assessed alongside ventilation and the individual’s access to water.
These spiders can have long fasting periods, but compare the fast with abdomen condition and behaviour rather than ignoring all changes. A spider on its back may be moulting: do not flip it over or add food. Mature males and long-lived females have different expectations, so establish sex and maturity when possible.
Before you take one on
Sources and further guidance
These welfare and veterinary resources inform general husbandry advice; they do not certify this profile or replace a species-experienced professional. Confirm exact environmental settings and feeding plans for your animal.
Can your home meet chilean rose tarantula needs?
- Plan for a lifespan of Females 15–20 years, males 3–5 years, including holiday cover and, where one is available, a vet familiar with this species. Lifespan ranges are not guarantees.
- Arrange the social setting before arrival. Social guidance for this species: Strictly solitary. Do not assume another animal of any species is a suitable companion.
- Habitat priority for this species: Floor space; height risks fatal falls. Make sure your setup can provide this consistently. Measure temperatures and humidity with thermometers and a hygrometer rather than guessing.
- Key care point: Never disturb a tarantula on its back — it is moulting, not dying. Discuss diet and any specialist needs with the supplier, rescue and a vet who treats this species, and check local legal requirements before acquiring an animal.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.