The Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea), also known as the rose hair tarantula, the Chilean fire tarantula, or the Chilean red-haired tarantula (depending on the color morph), is probably the most common species of tarantula available in American and European pet stores today, due to the large number of wild-caught specimens exported cheaply from their native Chile into the pet trade. The species is also known from Bolivia and Argentina. G. rosea is a common pet of tarantula hobbyists. Females have been known to live as long as 20 years, but due to the limited time they have been available on the market (and hence for extensive study), they may live considerably longer than 20 years. Considerable confusion exists between this species and Grammostola porteri, with some arguing that many of the "G. rosea" in the pet trade actually are G. porteri. Habitat The natural habitat of Grammostola rosea is the desert and scrub regions of northern Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. Spiders live at lower altitudes, ranging between above sea level. Natural habitats of the Chilean rose tarantula have been disturbed by human activity and modifications to the environment, making exact distributions of the species harder to pinpoint. Though habitat loss is a threat to the species, they are not endangered and have no wildlife conservation status. The Chilean rose tarantula either digs ground burrows or finds abandoned rodent burrows to live in that they then line with their produced silk. The burrows are typically straight down with only one or two chambers. Males tend to have burrows in more covered in vegetation or under stones while female burrows are less covered but are deeper, reaching 40 cm down. The burrows are occupied by only one spider, as this species lives most of its life solitary. In areas of high population density, burrows are found to be no closer than apart. Females leave the burrow in short distances only for trapping food and potential mates, while males abandon their burrows to look for mates typically between September and March. Diet This tarantula has a diverse diet, including grasshoppers, crickets, moths, beetles, cockroaches, mealworms, small lizards, and mammals. When tarantulas are kept as pets, the best food that can be provided for them are crickets that have been gut-loaded on vegetables, as this is the best source of hydrated nutrition for the tarantula. Reproduction Grammostola rosea has two mating seasons: September