Grammostola pulchripes (Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula)

Grammostola pulchripes (Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula)

Grammostola pulchripes has been a hobby classic for years, likely one of the first docile species to break away from the typical browns, oranges, and reds seen in beginner-friendly tarantulas. Adults have a darker body with stunning gold striping down the legs, the detail that gives this species its iconic name. Spiderlings start out with a pinkish coloration, gain their stripes around 1 inch, and intensify as they grow. Reaching around 6 inches fully grown, this is a great docile new world tarantula for sale if you love color paired with an easygoing temperament.

Why do hobbyists keep Grammostola pulchripes?

• Stunning Coloration: A darker body set off by gold striping down the legs creates a display animal that stands out from typical earth-toned docile species.
• Color Change: Slings start out pinkish, then gain their gold stripes around 1 inch and intensify as they grow into that darker adult look, a rewarding transformation to watch.
• Docile Temperament: Calm and easygoing, a great pick for anyone who wants color without giving up an easy temperament.
• Hobby Favorite: A long-standing classic, among the first docile species in the hobby to break from the usual brown, orange, and red color palette.

How should Grammostola pulchripes be kept?

• Adult Size: Reaches around 6 inches at full leg span, one of the larger Grammostola species in the hobby.
• Enclosure: Provide roughly 3 to 4 times the leg span as footprint, 2 times the leg span as height, with substrate at least 1 times the leg span deep and a hide 1 to 2 times the leg span wide. Pick a size above for that tier's exact setup.
• Temperature: Keep between 65 to 75 degrees F.
• Humidity: Maintain a moisture gradient with a slightly damp lower layer and a drier surface, similar to a morning dew cycle in the wild. Good ventilation is critical.
• Water: A shallow textured water dish works well, something they can grip when climbing out.
• Diet: Crickets, roaches, and similar feeders sized to the carapace (head). Pick a size above for that tier's exact prey measurement.
• Temperament: Docile and easygoing, a great pick for keepers who want color without giving up a calm temperament.

Which size should I choose?

• 0.5-0.75" Spiderling: your cheapest way to collect this species and watch it grow up from the very start.
• 0.75-1" Spiderling: your cheapest way to collect this species and watch it grow up from the very start.
• 1-1.5" Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.
• 2.5-3" Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.
• 3" Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.
• 3" FEMALE Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.
• 2.5-3" MALE Juvenile: past the delicate early stage with color already coming in, and still years of growth ahead.
• 3.5-4" FEMALE Sub-Adult: nearing full size, with the gold striping at its richest and most of the growing already done.
• 4" MALE Sub-Adult: nearing full size, with the gold striping at its richest and most of the growing already done.

Are there any additional notes or considerations?

• Sling Coloration: Spiderlings start out pinkish, with the signature gold striping developing around the 1 inch mark and intensifying from there.
• Hobby Classic: One of the longest-standing, most trusted docile species in the hobby, a reliable choice for any collection.
• Captive Bred: All Tarantulas are 100% captive bred.

Frequently asked questions about Grammostola pulchripes

• Is Grammostola pulchripes a good beginner tarantula? Yes. It is docile, easygoing, and forgiving of the small mistakes every new keeper makes, which is part of why it has been a hobby classic for so long.
• How big does the Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula get? Adults reach around 6 inches in diagonal leg span, with the gold striping fully developed by full size.
• Do Chaco Golden Knee spiderlings already have the gold stripes? Not right away. Spiderlings start out pinkish and begin developing the signature gold striping around the 1 inch mark, intensifying from there.

Looking for similar species?

• Browse our New World Tarantulas and Terrestrial Tarantulas collections to explore related care profiles and species groupings.