Chilean rose tarantula

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Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Suborder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Theraphosidae
Genus:	Grammostola
Species:	G. rosea

Binomial name

Grammostola rosea
(Walckenaer, 1837)

The Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea) also know as the Chilean flame tarantula, Chilean Fire Tarantula or the Chilean Red Haired Tarantula (depending on the colourmorph) is probably the most common species of tarantula available in pet stores today, due to the large number of wild caught specimens exported cheaply from their native Chile into the US pet trade. G. rosea originates from the northern Atacama Desert region of Chile and live in the driest deserts on earth. G. rosea is a common pet of amateur tarantula rearers. Females have been known to live as long as 15-20 years but due to the limited time they have been available on the market and hence for extensive study, there is a possibility that they may live considerably longer.

1 Habitat
2 Food
3 Pets
4 Gallery
5 See also
6 Resources
7 External links

[edit] Habitat

The Chilean rose tarantula lives in many different places. It could live from the South-West part of the United States of America to Chilie. They do not burrow in their native habitat although they like to live in drier regions. When night comes they just find a hole to sleep in.

[edit] Food

In Captivity:They will eat many insects such as flies and crickets. Some older spiders will eat small pink mice.

In the wild:They will eat many smaller mammals and lizards; they will also eat insects and other spiders.

[edit] Pets

The fact that they are relatively docile, low to maintain, attractive, and inexpensive make them exceedingly good pets. Chilean Roses can be kept in a low-humidity terrarium at least twice its legspan in length, with a retreat for hiding. These spiders are quite happy living at room temperatures of around 20-30°C, and a diet of four to six crickets every 3 weeks (or 1 locust per week too). However, its feeding schedule is rather erratic and can fast for weeks to months at a time. Fasting is sometimes an indication of an upcoming moult.

Chilean Roses are usually skittish, running away from danger rather than acting defensively, but they have been known to raise their front legs and present their fangs in preparation to defend themselves. As with all tarantula from the Americas (New World Tarantula) they have small spine like urticating hairs on their abdomen that they will kick off when threatened. This is made apparent by the shaking of their abdomen.