The Rose-haired Tarantula or Chilean Rose-haired Tarantula has been an important spider in our hobby for more than thirty years!
As one of the most docile and hardy spiders being kept, the Rose-haired Tarantula has been a standard in the pet shop and science classroom across the planet.
These fascinating spiders are quiet, require very little space, and are easy to care for. They are good natured and handleable, though holding them does cause them stress so is best kept to a minimum. These traits along with being commonly available and inexpensive make them an ideal species for a beginner.
Distribution: Rose-haired Tarantulas are from Chile, thus often being called the Chilean Rose-haired Tarantulas.
Description: The Chilean Rose-hair Tarantula is a moderately large tarantula. They reach adult size in about 3 to 4 years with about a 5" (12.5 cm) leg span. This stocky beauty is dark brown to black but is covered with a coat of reddish-orange to pink hairs over its entire body. This subtle rose casting on the hair is where the name comes from.
Mature males have longer legs and are somewhat more fuzzy in appearance. The female remains stocky and bulky throughout its life. There are reports that mature males are more brightly colored than females but they can be quite variable in color.
Picture of a Rose-haired Tarantula or Chilean Rose-haired Tarantula
Grammostola gala
Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Russ Gurley
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION: This is one of the most difficult tarantulas to determine its "correct" scientific name. Not only has it gone through many name changes, it is still under discussion whether the different color forms are different varieties of this spider, or just color morphs. Most sources are currently referencing this spider as Grammostola rosea.
- There are discussions about the Grammostola rosea and Grammostola cala being
anatomically different and therefore two definite, different species, but this has not
been confirmed.
- Naming them by their color morph appears as follows: Grammostola rosea being the
standard, Grammostola cala being a reddish phase, and Grammostola spatulata being
brownish.
- The species names cala and gala are both used regularly. This may just be the result of
a spelling error that has been dupicated. (Which spelling is correct is also not confirmed.)
Feeding: Rose-haired Tarantulas feed well on a variety of insect prey including crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, and others. They should be feed live insects once or twice a week.
Environment: The Rose-haired Tarantula thrives in a simple enclosure. Though not necessary, this Tarantula will like a scrubland type environment and will live in a shallow burrow if provided. A piece of driftwood, cork bark, or a hollow log will work well for this. Artificial or hardy live plants and other interesting decorations can also be added to the enclosure.
Temperature and Humidity requirements: This species will do best if you maintain the enclosure at 78° to 82° F. The humidity is best kept at between 60 to 80%. This can be accomplished by including and occasionally misting some sphagnum moss or orchid bark.
Social Behaviors: The Rose-haired Tarantula is one of the most docile species available in captive collections. These tarantulas are easily handleable and make wonderful pets.
They may rear up when agitated and will even occasionally flick urticating hairs. After a short display, they will beat a hasty retreat or more commonly will simply walk away. High-strung specimens will often show a dark bald patch on their abdomens from flicking away urticating hairs.
Once they settle into captivity, this flicking rarely occurs and with a molt the bald patch is cleaned up and the coating of reds, oranges, browns, and pinks is restored.
Picture of a Rose-haired Tarantula or Chilean Rose-haired Tarantula
Grammostola gala
Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough
Handling: You can carefully pick up these tarantulas by cupping them gently with the legs folded under their bodies. Another, gentler method is to simply place a hand out flat in front of them and gently prod the tarantula’s abdomen, forcing it to walk onto the hand. As they walk, simply place the other hand in front and have the spider walk across your hands...