Basic Description

One of the most beautiful Grammostola species. The Grammostola grossa originated in southern parts of Brazil. This species is another fuzzy type Grammostola. It has a black greyish color while having golden to black carapace depending on their molt cycle. In additon Grammostola grossa has golden satae around its body giving it that golden highlight feature. They start out as dark grey with goldrump as spiderlings and as they mature their color starts to intensifies. Their dark grey coloration slowly becomes black with golden highlight while their abdomen have a more gold mirror patch pattern. From slings to mature individual 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. In addition, they have a unique look that get better as they age. When the black and gold coloration starts to bcome more define as they mature, they will make a great display pet. This species is one of my favorite Grammostola because of the color and body structure. In addition it has a similar personality of a rose hair. They are calm and docile Grammostola species. The Grammostola grossa usually grows up to 6" but with optimal care it might reachh almost 7". This is another species that produce medium sac. This species produce big eggs and a small egg count per sac. Their sac usually ranges from 80 to 180 eggs compare to other species of big tarantulas that can produce 500 to 2000 per sac. In addition this species is very hard to breed. Small egg count, slow growth rate, difficult to breed and a high demand for this species makes a pure blood Grammostola grossa hard to find.

Controversy

N/A

Temperament

Grammostola grossa is one of the best 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 one of the best personality from all the species of tarantulas I worked with. Most of them are slow and have a very sweet demeanor. In addition, 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, golden wooly black color with gold to silver highlight when they are freshly molted.