Chile Rose Questions

[Sally026]

Hi,

I need some help with some conflicting information regarding my new chile rose please.

I have been reading numerous care sheets about housing and how to care for your tarantula and most of them say different to the shop owner!!!

They told me to keep the substrate (TRex forest bed singles) damp, i.e. to spray a little once per week, but on reading some other threads on here it sounds like they are to be kept dry - what is the best thing to do for him?

I have noticed he is not actually spending much time on the substrate he sits on top of his hidey hole or his log. (He hasn't gone into his hidey hole at all).

Also the shop told me he was a male which I would like to confirm but don't know if I can do this until he moults as I have now read that males don't live that long, are there any other ways to sex them, he is about a year old and I'm already very attached and only brought him yesterday.

As you can tell i'm really confused and would like any help or advice anyone can give me.

Thank you

[squaddie]

Best substrate to use is Coco-Foir (AKA Eco-Earth). Rosies come from dry areas so prefer the substrate dry, but provide them with a water bowl that always has clean fresh water.

Rosies won't always adopt a hide, but a hide should always be provided. The fact it won't go on the substrate may be an indication that the substrate is too damp.

If it is a mature male, you will noticed "swolen" pedipalps, for want of a better description, and there will be hooks on the front two legs. If it is not mature, these won't be visable. However, males tend to be more gangly than females.

You say it is a year old? What size is its leg span roughly? I have a Chile Rose sling that is about a year old and is tiny - it doesn't have it's adult colours yet.

The best way to sex is through a molt. You can sex ventrally but it isn't always a guarenteed result.

[mikemike118]

the best thing to do concerning the substrate with a g.rosea is to mix substrate 1 with substrate 2...

substrate 1

substrate 2

you don't have to use both, but i do. Bit if you do mix both then use more of the coco husk (substrate 1)...

[Sally026]

Hi,

Thanks for your help, not sure how to measure him his abdomen is just over 1 inch by 3/4 inch. His legs are between 2 to 3 inches.

His pedipalps don't look swollen nor does he look to have hooks but could be he is not mature enough yet.

Below are a couple of photos not brilliant but can see the sort of size.

[The Lone Gunman]

Originally Posted by Sally026

They told me to keep the substrate (TRex forest bed singles) damp, i.e. to spray a little once per week, but on reading some other threads on here it sounds like they are to be kept dry - what is the best thing to do for him?

When I first started keeping Chilean Roses about nine years ago, I was also advised to keep the substrate damp. However, that was definitely a mistake. Having kept three adult females for a long time now I can tell you that bone dry substrate with a decent-sized water bowl is undoubtedly your best bet.

Keep the water topped up and fresh, as these spiders can do plenty of drinking when the mood takes them, but they certainly don't like the substrate damp.

Here's a shot of one of my Chilean Rose set-ups. The substrate is predominantly coco fibre and is bone dry. As you can see, Ruby (the spider in the pic) has covered a small area of it with webbing. The hide is there for her if she needs it, although she never uses it. She is content to spend her time on the substrate in the middle of the tank.

In this shot, her water bowl is empty as I'd just cleaned it out (something I do every few weeks as bits of the substrate tend to get into it from time to time), but it's usually full of fresh water.

I hope that helps.

[s_f_o_s]

Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

When I first started keeping Chilean Roses about nine years ago, I was also advised to keep the substrate damp. However, that was definitely a mistake. Having kept three adult females for a long time now I can tell you that bone dry substrate with a decent-sized water bowl is undoubtedly your best bet.

Keep the water topped up and fresh, as these spiders can do plenty of drinking when the mood takes them, but they certainly don't like the substrate damp.

Here's a shot of one of my Chilean Rose set-ups. The substrate is predominantly coco fibre and is bone dry. As you can see, Ruby (the spider in the pic) has covered a small area of it with webbing. The hide is there for her if she needs it, although she never uses it. She is content to spend her time on the substrate in the middle of the tank.

In this shot, her water bowl is empty as I'd just cleaned it out (something I do every few weeks as bits of the substrate tend to get into it from time to time), but it's usually full of fresh water.

I hope that helps.

image

Agreeing here, I was told to keep the tank moist when I bought my first rosie, she died, lol.

Key words here are BONE DRY, just supply a water bowl, you can tell if your rosie thinks its too wet cos he'll be climbing the sides of the tank constatly, if mine gets too moist I tend to find her hanging from the ceiling of her tank. Make sure a small shallow dish of water is available at all times though.

[squaddie]

Doesn't look to be a mature male, you will have to wait until it molts to be able to sex it properly.

And it certainly isn't a year old, thats for sure. Probably looking at between 3 and 4 years judging by the size. If it is a mature female it could be anything from 4.5 to 5 years or more.

[Sally026]

Thank you so much for all your comments. Sounds like I need to make some changes to his tank (maybe her tank!!!!!!).

If anyone has anymore useful tips or hints how to keep him happy, I would be very grateful.

Thanks again

Sally