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Rose-haired Tarantula

Chilean Rose-haired Tarantula Family: Theraphosidae
Subfamily: Theraphosinae

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Grammostola gala Syns: Grammostola rosea, Phrixotrichus cala, Grammostola spatulata
Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Paddy Campbell

   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.

For more Information on keeping tarantulas see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Invertebrate

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.

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.

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.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Rose-haired Tarantulas have been bred in captivity for many years. Mature males have longer legs and are somewhat more fuzzy in appearance. The females seem to benefit from a cooling period of a couple of months prior to mating.
   Once a mature male is produced, and he makes a sperm web, he should be introduced into the female’s enclosure. He will approach the female’s shelter cautiously, tapping and vibrating his legs. The female will be “lured” out of her burrow or shelter and the male will typically lunge forward to use his hooks to hold the female’s chelicerae and to push her into an almost upright position to give himself access to the female’s epigyne for mating. The male will insert either the left pedipalp, right pedipalp, or both alternately into the female’s epigyne and inject the fertilizing fluid into this area.
   If fertilized, the female will produce an egg sac in the following weeks. This species produces large egg sacs, usually containing in excess of 500 babies. A mature male can be introduced to multiple females or can be reintroduced to a female to enhance the possibilities of a successful pairing. Typically, the male will die in the weeks following a successful mating.

Ailments:
   Tarantulas are generally quite hardy and adaptable if they are provided with the right environment. A few signs that may indicate that your pet is not acting or feeling normal are a loss of appetite, lethargy, looking overly skinny, or pacing the enclosure.
   (A tarantula on its back is probably NOT sick.  Most tarantula species flip onto their backs during molting.  Though this is a very stressful and delicate time for tarantulas, if the humidity and warmth levels are correct, they will molt their exoskeleton, roll over, harden up, and within a week or two be ready for their next meals.)

• Molting: One of the most common reasons for your pet to demonstrate unusual behavior is due to a molting period. As they outgrow their existing skin all tarantulas regularly go through an extensive molt, shedding their entire skin as well as the linings of their mouth, respiratory organs, stomach and sexual organs.
     The process starts well before the actual molt. For several weeks prior to shedding they will be growing a new skin under their old one. During this time it is not unusual for a tarantula to get quite lethargic and even stop eating. There may also be lots of web spinning activity as they prepare to molt.
     When they begin to molt, they lay on their backs with their legs up in the air looking as if they are dead. Be sure not to disturb your tarantula when you see this. The shedding process goes quickly and smoothly as long the environment has adequate humidity.
     Once they have shed, their new skin is pale and very soft. The amount of time it takes for your pet to fully recover and be back to eating well will vary from a day or so up to several weeks depending on its size. Smaller spiders recover much quicker than larger ones.
• Other Problems: Other problems are usually the result of some type of environmental stress. There may be a drop in the temperature of the enclosure, there may be parasites, or the tarantula may just not be comfortable with the depth of its hiding place. These things can be easily adjusted or changed, or you can try moving your pet to a new enclosure.

Availability:
   Rose-haired Tarantulas are becoming more and more common as captive-hatched specimens.
   For years the only specimens available were imported (and imported by the thousands). Now that Chile no longer exports animals, most Rose-hairs are captive-produced animals. Fortunately, females can produce 300 to 500 spiderlings per egg sac so only a few captive breedings can supply dozens of hobbyists with this wonderful pet spider.

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Latest Comments
I just recently purchased my rose hair and I love her to death. Her name is Bella. She is my first turantula and I think shes an awesome breed for a beginner, so I don't know why others are saying they aren't. Since I haven't had her too long, I haven't noticed any of these mood swings that everyone is talking about. So far Bella lets me hold her and has never bitten me yet. She caused me to flinch pretty bad once when she was in my hand and she still didn't bite. Everytime I feed her she pounces on her food, which is pretty awesome to see. Rose hairs are fantastic tarantulas for anyone! Alex 2009-06-23
Hey all, I've had my G rose about 6 months now. I got it from a friend who had some hatchlings and just wondered how to tell between male or female. hope there's someone who can help. All the comments have been great and really helpful. Lee 2009-06-11
Hi there-I just got my T about 2 weeks ago for my b-day .His name is Derekk by the way. The Rose hair T is NOT good for beginners because it has needles in its stomach that will pinch you. So I recommend to get a diff breed for beginners. I could not live without him! Ben Stone 2009-05-28
Hi there - I've had my rose hair for the best part of 6 years. She's bordering on 16 years old now and is full of life - gr8 when handling and for some very strange reason gets on with dog :-S - very timid and a gr8 pet. John Hutchison 2009-04-26
Hi, I have a chilean rose, her name is terry. She is about 2.5 years old. She hasn't been eating for the last six weeks, but two days ago she started her second moult. It didnt take long, she is now up looking out a me. I don't handle her as she is a bit moody. Sometimes when you feed her she will try to grab the tweezers, a bit scary, but I wouldnt swap her for the world. Anyone who visits can't look at her and think I'm a bit mad for keeping a spider. But she is very low maintenance and costs next to nothing to feed, plus I don't have to take her out for walks in the rain. chris elliot 2009-04-17
Some of the coolest comments:
Wow. I have had my tarantula for almost eight years, and I love it. My Chilean Rose Hair was given to me by a friend when she couldn't keep her because of a moving situation, and I have come to love my eight legged pet. This particular breed of tarantula is quite docile, and a very friendly breed. I guess I am pretty fortunate in the fact that mine does not have mood swings, and loves to be taken out. I now have friends who come over and beg me to take her out, and they abosolutely love her. I was definitely fortunate in getting this arachnid, and will be getting another hopefully within the next week. Definitely worth it, and I would recommend this breed to anyone. They're amazing! Lexie 2009-03-06
Despite peoples beliefs, the rose hair is quite the burrower. So for all of you with 1, I urge you to put a good few inches of substrate in and a hidey hole like cork bark and watch it dig even further down under the bark, My rose hair has burrowed about 5 inches down to the bottom of her tank and is always trying to dig further down. Try it. Gary Spencer 2009-02-27
Comments Dr Jungle REALLY Likes to Hear!
I purchased a sub-adult male rosie from my local pet shop quite recently and he is absolutely fascinating! His name is Tom by the way. He is my first tarantula and is certainly not a handling pet (then again, I don't think TARANTULAS are even a pet that is meant to be handled)! I would not recommend this species as a particlularly good beginner tarantula because of their massive mood swings. Great site by the way! Kurt van Wyk 2009-02-24
I think my rose hair spider is amazing. When I went to the pet shop, I wasn't expecting to get a spider like I did. Now I think all people should have a rose hair. If you should come to this web-site, then you should get a rose hair tarantula. Anonymous 2007-12-16
All the comments about the Rose Hair is CORRECT. I have a 5 inch "Pushover" female. When I handled her she gets in the defensive posture but then draw her legs inward to signal "Please don't hurt me". I have seen one that looked like a brown version of the Colbalt Blue. It actually charged at me ready to bite. With any and all pets you must learn their behavior. Mine almost bit me because she was in the premolt stage and I did not realize that until a week later when she was on her back pulling herself out of her old skin. Lennie W. Collins 2007-07-14

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Author: Russ Gurley
Additional Information: Clarice Brough, CRS
Edited by Animal-World.