Roseanne
Chilean Rosehair Tarantula
Grammostola rosea
Home Range: Bolivia, Argentina, and Northern Chile
Habitat: Lives in shallow burrows in forested areas; also deserts and scrublands
Wild Diet: Mostly large insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and roaches; will also eat smaller tarantulas and other spiders, frogs, and baby mice
Life Span: 15-20 years for females; 1-2 years for males
Interesting Facts: Rosies use venom as a last resort for defense. Instead, they rely on hiding in the security of their burrows. If pursued, they use their hind legs to brush irritating hairs off their abdomen, called urticating hairs. These become airborne and function like microscopic porcupine quills. Most New World tarantulas possess these hairs. While a tarantula may not be as cuddly as a dog or cat, Rosies are calm and gentle enough to hold. They are also one of the most common and most reasonably priced tarantulas in the pet industry.