The New World Terrestrial tarantula Grammostola pulchripes, sometimes referred as the Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula, is indigenous to the subtropical country of Paraguay. This T may reach an adult size of about 7-8″ and reach a 20–25 years lifespan for females compared to 6–7 years for males. While not the slowest grower, this species has a medium pace of growth, so if you receive a golden knee as a young sling, it can take years to see the true adult hue. nike air jordan 4 black canvas nfl shop outlet adidas nfl custom jersey custom jersey wig stores adidas store houston adidas sale nflshop wigs for women wig store mlb custom jerseys sex toys for sale basketball jersey nike air max 270 sale
Being a new world tarantula, this T has urticating hairs but no medically important venom. Although this species is known for being calm and rarely kicking hairs, remember that disposition can vary between individuals and even between molts of the same individual. Although this tarantula is an opportunistic burrower, it seems to burrow less and more only to shift substrate around its container as it ages.
Physical Appearance
The yellow stripes on their knees, which give these tarantulas their name, distinguish them. Male lifespans are much shorter than those of females. They develop fairly swiftly when compared to other tarantulas of the same genus. Most first-time owners will be shocked to learn that they take years to attain full size, at which point their mature color is visible.
| Scientific Name: | Grammostola pulchripes |
| Type: | Terrestrial |
| Category: | New World |
| Common Name: | Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula |
| Endemic Location: | Paraguay, Argentina |
| Diagonal Leg Span (DLS): | 7” (18cm) |
| Urticating Hairs: | Yes Type III |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Life Expectancy: | Females 15 years / Males 5 years |
| Recommended Experience Level: | Beginner |
Feeding
The Grammostola pulchripes is a decent eater unless it is starving during premolt. You shouldn’t be alarmed if it goes without food for extended periods because it’s a Grammasolta and may last for months. Remove any unfinished game, and try your luck again after a week or two. When my spiderlings are under 0.5″ in length, I feed them Flightless Fruit Flies, and once or twice a week, depending on the size of the abdomen, I switch to one small cricket or roach. I make an effort not to overfeed my spiderlings. Once they reach the juvenile stage, they need a couple of medium crickets or a couple of meal worms once a week. I also give my adult female G. pulchripes 4-5 adult crickets every 7–10 days and a few large roaches or mealworms on occasion.
Handling of Chaco Golden Knee Tarantulas
Please don’t spend too much time carefully setting up this Golden Knee Tarantula’s cage because it is already quite the excavator and will spend most of the night rearranging everything there and destroying any exquisite setting you have created. My experience with these Ts is that they are really docile—my chacos have never kicked hairs at me—but they are also naturally curious. Almost every time I remove the enclosure’s lid, my chaos tarantulas will begin slowly climbing the wall and leaving their home to explore. With its stunning appearance and sparkling gold embellishments, this tarantula is remarkable. They often don’t put up a show and are not overly timid.
Temperament
Chaco Golden Knee Tarantulas are not only very soft but also rather huge. They are among the most calm tarantulas available, so they are frequently suggested for new owners. Women are especially tolerant and manageable. Males can be violent because finding a partner is their primary goal. As a result, they can start to cause some damage. We advise a female tarantula if you’re unfamiliar with them.
As it ages, though, its temperament might change significantly. Also, when a spider is young, it can be challenging to discern its gender. A guy who is larger than average may be mistaken for a female. Because of this, don’t be shocked if your tarantula is a little more combative than you’d prefer.
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Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup
The floor area of the tank is more important than the height because tarantulas live their entire lives on the ground. It can be relatively little because the tarantulas won’t use the height of their aquarium. You should add a lot of substrate to the tank to give them lots of space to move around. While spiderlings frequently only require one inch of the substrate, adults should have roughly five. As this species enjoys digging, more is frequently preferable.
There should only be one tarantula per cage; you cannot keep more than one in the same tank. Smaller enclosures are preferred by most tarantulas because they can’t become “lost.” Frequently, a shoebox-sized container suffices. Make sure you give the tarantula somewhere to hide in larger enclosures. Shells from empty coconuts work well as “houses.”
Ants should be avoided because they can quickly kill your tarantula. Placing your pet’s tank on a table and then generously covering the legs in petroleum jelly are two simple ways to avoid this. This coating will be impenetrable to ants.
Substrate
The finest choices include organic potting soil, coconut fiber mulch, and other comparable substrates. Perlite can be added to the tank to boost humidity if necessary. The safest choices are those for your tarantula. Wood shavings should never be used as they contain chemicals and oils that could harm your tarantula. For the majority of small animals, cedar is very harmful.
Spray some water on your substrate to give it some moisture, and then squeeze the water out. It shouldn’t be dripping wet but should retain its shape after being squeezed. Keep the consistency as is. Keep in mind that these spiders are native to the tropics. Two or three times a year, the substrate should be changed.
Keeping Your Chaco Golden Knee Tarantulas Healthy
The tarantula should remain healthy if the enclosure is properly configured. It’s crucial to keep in mind that its substrate requires routine spraying. Frequently, you want to spray the area where your tarantula is not merely. You will frighten your tarantula if you spray it. However, the tank’s humidity may significantly decrease if the substrate becomes completely dry.
Even if it isn’t time to change the substrate, it should be changed immediately if it has mold or mites. Your tarantula may develop mold, which may impair its ability to breathe.
If you discover mites, remove the tarantula from its enclosure and check to see if any mites are stuck. These mites can be taken off using a paper towel. Pay particular attention to any spots on your tarantula where the mites might attach, like the legs and mouth.
They don’t bleed. They instead leak a milky, translucent fluid. These tarantulas frequently won’t bleed heavily either because the blood is like an ooze. Because they do not form blood clots like mammals do, any cut must be attended to soon away to stop excessive bleeding. Use a Q-tip and water-based adhesive to treat wounds. Also effective is liquid Band-Aid. However, be careful not to use these drugs frequently as they may impair your tarantula’s ability to move.
Dehydration is a typical issue, especially when using heat pads. The spider is dehydrated if its abdomen is wrinkly or deflated. In this situation, gently turn your tarantula over and apply water directly to its fangs. Just a few drops will do. Your tarantula should regain its strength right away. Then address the problem that led to your tarantula’s injury in the first place.
How Much Do Chaco Golden Knee Tarantulas Cost?
It is frequently possible to get these tarantulas from various vendors. They are frequently sold at pet stores, but you may also get them straight from a breeder. You should conduct extensive research before buying a tarantula and talk to someone who already owns one. Before choosing to adopt a spider, it is crucial to understand what you are getting into.
They make great first species because they are readily available and reasonably priced. Be cautious when purchasing this species from your neighborhood Petco or other large chain pet stores, as they sometimes sell adult males and charge close to $100 for a T that you could purchase from an online vendor like Fear Not Tarantulas for less than half that amount. This T is a very small number of Ts I would consider handling while showcasing my collection to my friends, even though I don’t typically handle any of my Ts. Overall, because it is a remarkable tarantula in many aspects, this species is a mainstay in the hobby. It is docile, easy to care for, and necessary for every collection!
