Basic Description

One of the newest Grammostola species that entered the tarantula hobby. This species became available around 2015 along with other Grammostola species that were imported from Europe. Grammostola anthracina originated from Uruguay but are also found in Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. This species had two morphs one that is redish grey brown which is similar to Grammostola alticeps and one that is jet black similar to Grammostola pulchra in coloration. Later on, taxonomist ID the two morph into two different species. The redish grey morph remained Grammostola anthracina. This morph has dark brown to greyish black body with redish hair on its legs the only difference between the alticeps is that anthracina tends to have stronger black color and less redish leg than alticeps. While mature male has a distinct red coloration on its legs and a black body. This is the only stage of this species that Grammostola anthracina can be distiguish more clearly from alticeps. On the other hand, the black morph of Grammostola anthracina became known as Grammostola quirogai this species is jet black to faded dark grey in coloration, as they mature, their black coloration intensifies which is very similar to pulchra. One of the only possible way to tell quirogai apart from a real pulchra is that a pure blood pulchra can get to 7" and are very massive other than that its hard to tell them apart from an eye test. Futhermore both anthracina and quirogai spiderling and juvenile have a mirror patch that are visible and some individuals ranges from dark grey to black. From slings to mature individual both these specimens are very robust and bulky. They have thick legs, big abdomen, and as they reach adult stage their carapace becomes more massive and define. They grow to about 5 1/2" but they can reach 6" with optimal care. Eventhough they are big tarantulas this species produce medium egg count per sac. Their sac usually ranges from 150 to 250 eggs compare to other species of big tarantulas that can produce 500 to 2000 per sac. Even if they are closely related to each other quirogai and anthracina should not interbreed in captivity because it will futher water down their distinction. They do not mixed in the wild but they have a close dna analysis. Not a lot of information is known about this species which resulted to its accidental hybridization in captivity. The difficulty to find clean bloodline, slow growth rate, difficult to breed and a high demand for this species makes a pure blood Grammostola anthracina very hard to find.

Controversy

Because of the strong similarities of this species between other Grammostola they also have been hybridized when they entered the hobby. Some people mislabeled the redish morph into alticeps or mollicoma and the black morph into pulchra. The worst part is that when they are mislabeled there is no way to tell each of the black Grammostola apart from one another. The only way to properly ID the females is through DNA sequencing while males have different tibial hook. Eventhough the males can be ID its impossible to ID a female once its mislabeled unless it will be dissected. As a result its hard to produce a clean bloodline when the species have been compromised. The best way to avoid hybridzation is to buy several slings from dealers when they import a specimens and establish a breeding group from those slings. Another one is to buy from specialized breeder who keep track of their linage. Most of our Grammostola's linage can be track down all the way from the person who imported them. If we cannot track down the purity of a specimen we don't breed them to avoid hybridization.

Temperament

Grammostola anthracina/quirogai is one of the beginner pet tarantulas. Most individuals are very docile and hardy. They are usually out from their house or burrow which is perfect as a display pet. From 1 - 10 being ten the most aggressive this specie is 1 to 2 in most individuals. I have raised 100s of individuals and they have the best personality from all the species of tarantulas I worked with. They move very slow and have a very sweet demeanor. I never witness any type of aggression from this species which is why they are my top recommendation for first time tarantula hobbyist.

Diet

In captivity they usually feed on crickets, roaches, mice, small reptiles and amphibians. They only eat once or twice a week. Depending on the size of the abdomen of the tarantula, they can survive for weeks without eating.

Housing

Tarantulas can be house in different size containers. 1 inch tarantula can be house in a deli cup. 3-5 inch can be house in a 5 gallon tank. 6 inch and above can be house in a 10 gallon tank. They can also be house in a shoe box to save space.

Tarantulas need moist substrate so that their book lungs will not dry out. Any of the following substrate can be use, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, cocofiber and orchid bark, top soil, black forest moss and clay soil.

Water dish is required, not a lot of people know but tarantulas drink too. Make sure that the water dish is clean at all times to stop the development of bacteria in the tarantula cage.

Growth Rate

This specie grow rate from 1 - 10, 10 being the fastest and 1 being the slowest. This specie grow about 4 out of 10 speed, with daily feeding they can reach breedable size in 4 years in captivity which is power feeding but with regular feeding of once every 2 weeks they can get reach adulthood in 8 to 10 years. The life span of a tarantula is connected to its molt count.

Special Feature

Very massive in stature, one of the most docile tarantula in the hobby, jet black color with bluish highlight when they are freshly molted and mature males are very beautiful with their redish legs