Gresham Pet Supply Pet Care Guide
Rose Hair Tarantula
Grammostola rosea
Why We Love Them: For decades, the Rose Hair Tarantula has been the undisputed gateway into the tarantula hobby. They are incredibly hardy, very slow-moving, and live for decades. Their fuzzy, metallic-pink carapace and calm demeanor make them the perfect "pet rock" for someone looking for a low-maintenance exotic pet.
Lifespan
Females 20-30+ years / Males 4-5 years
Adult Size
5-6 inch leg span
Enclosure
5 to 10-Gallon Tank
Warm / Basking
72°–80°F
Cool Side
68°–72°F Night
Humidity / Water
40-60% (Low-Moderate)
Species Profile & Temperament
| Trait | Overview |
|---|---|
| Origin | Arid deserts and scrublands of Chile |
| Diet Type | Insectivore (Crickets, Roaches, Mealworms) |
| Activity | Nocturnal (Very slow, inactive spider that often sits out in the open) |
| Temperament | Generally docile and slow-moving, though they are known to have occasional grumpy "mood swings." |
| Handleability | Calm, but best enjoyed as a display pet. Every tarantula is fragile. |
| Venom | Wash any bite that breaks the skin with soap and water. Ask your doctor about any health concerns. |
| Urticating Hairs | Yes (They can flick mildly irritating hairs from their abdomen if stressed) |
| Difficulty | 1/5 — Beginner (The ultimate classic beginner tarantula) |
| Hardiness | 5/5 — Bulletproof (Incredibly forgiving of husbandry mistakes, provided they are kept dry) |
Notable Morphs & Locales
While the standard Rose Hair (Grammostola porteri) is mostly grey-brown with a subtle pinkish carapace, the Red Color Form (often sold as **Grammostola rosea "Red"**) is a highly sought-after morph.
- The "Red" Morph: This variant features a brilliant, fiery copper/red hue across its entire body and legs, rather than just the carapace. Their care is completely identical to the standard grey/pink form, but they are visually stunning.
Safety Information
Venom/Defense: Their primary defense is kicking urticating hairs from their abdomen. While these hairs are mild compared to other species, they are still itchy.
Handling Precautions: They are calm, but all tarantulas are fragile. Because they are heavy-bodied terrestrials, a fall from a human hand to a hard floor can kill them. If you must handle them, always sit on the floor or hold them directly over a soft surface (like a bed).
Housing & Enclosure
Enclosure Type & Size
- Type: Terrestrial / Ground Dweller.
- Minimum: A 5-gallon to 10-gallon glass aquarium or an Exo Terra Low (18x18x12) is perfect for an adult.
- The Height Warning (CRITICAL): You must prioritize floor space over vertical height. If the enclosure is too tall, you must fill it with deep substrate so the distance from the dirt to the ceiling is no more than 1.5x the spider's leg span. A fall from the ceiling is fatal.
Substrate
- Recommended: Coconut fiber (Eco Earth), peat moss, or organic topsoil.
- Depth: Provide 4 to 5 inches of substrate. They will occasionally dig small starter burrows, and the deep soil cushions them if they climb.
- Moisture: KEEP IT DRY. Rose Hairs come from the arid scrublands of Chile. They hate wet feet and will climb the glass to escape damp soil, increasing their risk of a fatal fall.
Décor & Enrichment
- Hides: Provide a curved cork bark hide or half-log.
- Water Dish: Provide a shallow water dish. Keep it filled with fresh water at all times. Do not put sponges in the water; tarantulas cannot drink from sponges and they harbor bacteria.
Temperature
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 72–80°F (22–27°C) |
- Heating: Room temperature is perfect. If you are comfortable in a t-shirt, your Rose Hair is comfortable. Never use a heat lamp.
Humidity
- Target Range: 40–60% (Low-Moderate).
- How to Maintain: Do not mist the enclosure. The only moisture they need comes from their water dish and their food. Keep the substrate bone dry.
Diet & Nutrition
The "Fasting" Warning (CRITICAL)
Rose Hairs are infamous in the hobby for going on massive hunger strikes. It is completely normal for a healthy adult Rose Hair to refuse food for months at a time. If their abdomen is plump and they are refusing food, do not panic. Simply remove the crickets, ensure they have fresh water, and try again in a few weeks.
Primary Diet
- Live crickets, dubia roaches, or mealworms. Ensure the prey is smaller than the spider's abdomen.
Feeding Schedule
| Life Stage | Frequency | Prey Size |
|---|---|---|
| Spiderling (Sling) | Every 5–7 days | Pinhead crickets or small mealworms |
| Juvenile | Every 7–10 days | Medium crickets |
| Adult | Every 2–4 weeks | 2-3 Large crickets or 1 Large Roach |
Molting
During the Molt
- DO NOT disturb the spider. It will flip on its back to molt. It is not dead. Do not flip it over.
- Remove any live crickets from the enclosure immediately. A live cricket will eat a molting tarantula alive.
Post-Molt Care
- Wait until the new fangs have turned solid black before offering food. For a heavy-bodied spider this can take days to a couple of weeks. Feeding too soon can damage the soft new fangs.
What We Use & Recommend
These are products we use and recommend for this species. Stock varies by store, so ask us what we have in store today.
| Category | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Aqueon 10-Gallon Tank | Prioritize floor space over height |
| Substrate | Zoo Med Eco Earth (Coco Fiber) | Use completely dry |
| Hides | Zoo Med Natural Cork Bark (Curved) | The perfect starting roof for their hide |
| Tools | Zoo Med 10-inch Feeding Tongs | Highly recommended for safe maintenance |
| Water Dish | Exo Terra Shallow Water Dish (Medium) | Provide fresh water, no sponges |
Last updated: 2026-08-04
How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply
- Oregon Winter Furnace Air vs. Molting Humidity: When Pacific Northwest furnaces kick on from October through April, indoor room humidity drops fast and dries out small enclosures from the top down. Rather than misting the spider or invert directly (which stresses terrestrial species and invites stagnant mold), we keep Rose Hair Tarantula on dry substrate with a full shallow water dish and good cross-ventilation. We never mist this spider or wet its bedding.
- Safe Room Heating in the Willamette Valley: If your house drops below 65°F on winter nights, never stick a heat pad on the bottom of a burrowing invertebrate tank—they dig down to escape heat and will cook themselves. Use a low-wattage side-mounted heat mat on a digital thermostat or warm the room ambiently to
72°–80°F. - Shopping at Newberg & Gresham: For enclosures, cork bark, substrates, springtails and feeders at Critter Cabana (Newberg) and Gresham Pet Supply, ask us what we have in store today.
Common Questions (FAQ)
How do I keep my Rose Hair Tarantula warm and humid enough during an Oregon winter?
Target 72°–80°F room temperature with no heat lamp and 40-60% humidity. Keep the substrate dry and keep a shallow water dish filled. Never mist the spider or dampen its bedding. Never put a heat mat underneath the enclosure.
What size enclosure does a Rose Hair Tarantula need?
An adult Rose Hair Tarantula thrives in 5 to 10-Gallon Tank with secure ventilation. For terrestrial tarantulas and scorpions, floor space and deep substrate matter most (keep open fall height low so a fall cannot hurt your spider); for arboreal species, prioritize vertical cork bark tubes and cross-ventilation.
Can I put isopods in a Rose Hair Tarantula bioactive enclosure?
Most dry-setup tarantulas do best without a cleanup crew. Remove leftovers with tongs instead.
Where can I find Rose Hair Tarantula, cork bark, and feeder insects in Oregon?
Ask us what we have in store today at our two exotic animal stores: Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) and Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606).
Shop supplies for this animal
Everything for your Rose Hair Tarantula setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
