Grammostola rosea
Temperment: docile
Habitat: terrestrial, burrowing, arid
Care: beginning keepers
The Chilean Rose is one of the most common and readily available tarantulas. They are gentle, docile, and almost never strike, even when bothered. They are long lived and slow growing. This is a good beginners spider - the only caveat being their somewhat strange eating habits. Most Chileans are wild-caught as adults and have a tendency to fast during the months of Nov - April. It can be very disconcerting for a novice keeper to have an animal that refuses to eat for 6 months a year. Apparently this yearly fasting has no lasting harmful effects, as long as water is available.