| Special Notices |
These Chaco Golden Knees are captive bred here by me at the Urban Tarantulas facility. I selectively breed only the best females I own—large, beautiful, proven animals that I have held back for years and personally raised from babies. That means these babies come from females with excellent genetics, strong size, great structure, and the calm personality this species is famous for.
We handle these because many customers choose Chaco Golden Knees as their first tarantula or as a confidence-building species. They are very hardy, very forgiving, and one of the best beginner tarantulas available. In my experience, they almost never kick urticating hairs or show defensive behavior, which is a huge reason they are so loved by new keepers and long-time collectors alike.
Whether you are looking for a baby to raise, a male, or a female, this is one of those species everyone should own at least once. It is a big, beautiful, dependable Grammostola and easily one of the best and most important species in the entire tarantula hobby.
For care, setup, feeding, and show-and-tell videos to see how we keep and feed our tarantulas, check out my YouTube channel here:
Urban Tarantulas on YouTube.
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| Care Details |
| 🌡️ Temperature |
75–85°F (24–29°C). Warmer temperatures usually mean faster growth because they molt more often, though Chaco Golden Knees are naturally steady growers. |
| 💧 Humidity |
Moderate humidity works well. Keep babies and juveniles with a lightly moist area of substrate, keep larger specimens mostly dry with good ventilation, and avoid swampy or bone-dry extremes. |
| 🏠 Housing |
| Babies |
1–4 oz deli cup with needle ventilation and enough substrate to settle in or make a starter burrow. FREE container at checkout IF requested; not included otherwise. |
| Juveniles |
Use an enclosure about 2–3x the spider’s body size with good floor space, secure footing, a hide, and a slightly moist area of substrate. |
| Adults |
Adults do best in a roomy terrestrial enclosure with good ventilation, deeper substrate, a sturdy hide, and a water dish for larger specimens. |
| General Diet |
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🍽️ Crickets + roaches are the staple diet, including Dubia, Red Runner, and Lobster roaches. Babies take baby crickets or small roaches. If prey is too big, pre-kill it by crushing the head, leave it for the tarantula, then remove leftovers or bolus later. For super large specimens, an occasional pinky/hopper mouse or feeder lizard can be offered very sparingly; excess calcium can cause constipation/pooping issues. We never use pinhead crickets because they do not provide enough protein.
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| In-depth Facts |
| 🕷️ Latin name / Scientific name |
Grammostola pulchripes |
| 📛 Common name(s) |
Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula, Chaco Golden Stripe Tarantula |
| 🌡️ Temperature |
75–85°F (24–29°C) |
| 💧 Humidity |
Moderate; lightly moist area for babies and juveniles, mostly dry with good ventilation for larger specimens |
| 📍 Locale |
Argentina and Paraguay region |
| 🏷️ Category |
Terrestrial, heavy-bodied, hardy, calm, occasional burrow use, low to moderate webbing |
| 📏 Size |
Females can reach about 7–8 in DLS; males are usually smaller and leggier |
| 🪶 Urticating hairs |
They almost never kick urticating hairs or show defensive behavior in my experience, which is one of the reasons they are such a trusted beginner species. |
| ⏳ Growth rate |
Medium; steady growth with consistent feeding and warm, stable conditions |
| 🧭 Life span |
Females may live 20+ years; males mature sooner and live a shorter adult life |
| 🍽️ Feeding |
Usually an excellent feeder. Offer appropriately sized crickets or roaches and remove uneaten prey. |
| 🎯 Recommended levels |
Anyone can own this species. This is one of the best beginner tarantulas in the world and a must-have for any collection because it is hardy, beautiful, calm, large, and incredibly rewarding to raise. |
| Follow me on social media |
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| Safety Disclaimer |
Safety Disclaimer: Tarantula bites are extremely rare, and there are no recorded human fatalities. Venom strength varies by species; Old World tarantulas are usually more potent than New World tarantulas, with Poecilotheria known for especially strong venom. Larger tarantulas may also deliver more venom.
If bitten, stay calm. Most symptoms fade within minutes to hours, though potent species may cause discomfort for up to a week. In 13 years, I’ve only been bitten once, and symptoms were gone after one week.
Handling is at your own risk. I’m not responsible for bites or injuries. Always prioritize your safety and the tarantula’s well-being.
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