Brazilian Black
Grammostola quirogai
The Brazilian Black (Grammostola quirogai — often traded alongside/under G. pulchra) is the 'little black dress' of tarantulas: a deep, uniform velvet-black terrestrial from the grasslands of southern Brazil and Uruguay, prized for pure jet colouring and an exceptionally calm temperament. Hardy, docile, slow-growing and long-lived, it's a premium beginner-to-intermediate species — understated, elegant, and one of the gentlest large tarantulas you can keep.
Photo Credit: Exotics Unlimited
- Temperature70–80°F (21–27°C) — room temperature, no heat lamp. Comfortable across a normal home range.
- HumidityMostly dry with a slightly damp corner and a water dish — around 60%. A grassland species that likes a touch more moisture than a Chilean Rose but nothing wet. Keep the surface dry, let one side hold a little dampness, and ventilate well.
- Adult sizeA large tarantula: adults reach 6–7 inches across the legs (diagonal leg span). A slow, deliberate grower; patience is part of the deal, and long premolt fasts are normal.
- LifespanFemales 20+ years (exceptionally long-lived); mature males around 5 years. Slow-growing and very long-term.
Enclosure
Terrestrial: floor space over height, a 5–10 gallon footprint, substrate deep enough for the light burrowing it enjoys. Cork hide, water dish, secure lid, cross-ventilation. Fill substrate to keep falls short.
Substrate & water
4–5 inches of coco/peat/topsoil, kept mostly dry with one damp corner and a water dish. It burrows modestly when young and adopts hides as an adult.
Feeding
A steady, reliable eater though a notably slow grower — patience is the theme with a Brazilian Black. Prey to abdomen size; juveniles every 5–7 days, adults every 7–10 days. Don't overfeed chasing size. Remove uneaten prey in 24 hours.
Temperament & defenses
Among the very calmest tarantulas in the hobby — placid, slow, tolerant, rarely defensive. Urticating hairs are its (seldom-used) defence; venom mild. One of the better handling-tolerant species, though we keep handling minimal on principle.
Keeper’s notes
A connoisseur's beginner spider — the deep black is unmatched and the temperament is angelic, but the slow growth means you're buying a long, patient relationship. Worth every year of it. Keep it dry-ish with a damp corner, feed it steadily, and enjoy one of the most elegant animals in the hobby. A standout gift-quality display spider.