SPECIES CARE GUIDE
Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula
Grammostola pulchripes
ENVIRONMENT
Core care conditions
Use these ranges as a starting point and adjust for life stage, enclosure ventilation and observed behaviour.
HUSBANDRY OVERVIEW
At a glance
- Taxonomic group
- Arachnida
- Origin
- Paraguay / Argentina
- Lifestyle
- Terrestrial
- Adult size (diagonal leg span)
- 18–22 cm
- Temperament
- Calm / docile
- Experience level
- Beginner
- Visibility
- Often visible once settled
- Burrowing
- Usually uses hides rather than heavy burrowing; provide moderate substrate depth
- Growth rate
- Slow to medium
- Urticating hairs
- Yes
- Venom
- Mild
CARE NOTES
Keeping considerations
A large, slow-growing terrestrial tarantula suited to a low enclosure with more floor space than height. Use deep, firm substrate to reduce fall distance and allow shallow excavation, then add a stable hide and a water dish. Keep most substrate dry with normal room ventilation; spiderlings can be given a small moisture gradient rather than a wet enclosure. Feeding should follow abdomen condition and life stage, as adults may fast for extended periods without this alone indicating illness. Although commonly described as calm, individual behaviour varies and handling adds avoidable fall and urticating-hair risk.
PRACTICAL HUSBANDRY
Day-to-day care
Diet & prey
Captive-bred crickets, roaches, locusts and mealworms of an appropriate size; avoid wild-caught prey.
Feeding
Offer suitable prey once or twice weekly according to age and body condition. Remove uneaten prey after 24 hours and stop feeding during premoult and until the fangs harden after moulting.
Enclosure
Secure, low terrestrial enclosure around 1.5 times the leg span in length, with a cork-bark hide and shallow water dish. Keep climbing height limited to reduce fall risk.
Substrate
Provide 8–10 cm of compacted coco fibre or soil-based substrate. Keep it mostly dry to slightly damp, never waterlogged.
Ventilation
Provide ample ventilation and avoid stagnant air or persistently wet substrate.
Hydration & misting
Keep a clean, shallow water dish available at all times. Overflow a small area occasionally if needed, allowing it to dry before watering again.
Handling
Best kept as an observation animal. Handling risks a sudden fall and exposure to irritating urticating hairs; use a catch cup for transfers.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Keeper notes
Usually calm, but individuals vary and may kick urticating hairs. Avoid over-humid conditions, keep hairs away from eyes and airways, and never disturb a moulting tarantula.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the references
Care can vary by species, life stage and local conditions. Review multiple reputable sources before making husbandry decisions.
Last reviewed:
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