Keeper guide

Brazilian Black Temperature Guide — Grammostola pulchra

A practical temperature range for Grammostola pulchra, commonly known as the Brazilian Black, is 20–24°C. Stable room conditions matter more than chasing tiny changes on the thermometer.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
New World
Origin
Brazil
Lifestyle
Terrestrial
UK hobby rarity
Common
Maximum size
Roughly 15–18 cm (6–7 in)
Growth rate
Slow
Male lifespan
Often around 5–8 years
Female lifespan
Often 20–30 years
Temperament
Typically calm and measured; individual spiders can still flick hairs or react defensively
Venom
Venomous, but bites are not generally considered medically significant
Temperature
20–24°C
Moisture / humidity
Mostly dry surface, water dish, and a modest moisture gradient rather than constantly wet substrate
CITES
Not CITES-listed

Working temperature range

Keep Grammostola pulchra around 20–24°C. Use that as a practical captive range and avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures well outside it.

Brazilian Blacks do not need the enclosure to hit one exact number all day. Normal small room fluctuations are easier to manage than repeated heating and cooling adjustments.

Measure the shelf, not just the room

Check the temperature where the Grammostola pulchra enclosure actually sits. Shelves near windows, radiators, computers or external walls can differ from the centre of the room.

A thermometer placed near the enclosure gives more useful information for a Brazilian Black than a reading taken across the room.

Avoid direct heat on the enclosure

Do not attach a heat mat directly to a Grammostola pulchra enclosure. Small containers can develop concentrated hot areas that are much warmer than the surrounding room.

If the room is genuinely too cold for Brazilian Blacks, warm the room instead and check the temperature at enclosure level. That gives a more even and controllable result.

Summer heat

During hot weather, keep Grammostola pulchra out of direct sunlight and watch rooms that heat up during the afternoon. A closed window area can become much warmer than expected.

Do not respond to a warm day by soaking the Brazilian Black enclosure. Temperature and substrate moisture are separate husbandry issues.

Winter conditions

In winter, check the coldest part of the day where Grammostola pulchra is kept. Rooms can cool overnight even when daytime readings look comfortable.

If room heating is used, remember that it may also dry Brazilian Blacks enclosures faster. Adjust watering to the actual drying rate rather than assuming winter always means wetter substrate.

Use behaviour as context

Temperature readings for Grammostola pulchra should be considered alongside normal feeding, retreat use and moulting. One slightly different reading is less useful than a consistent pattern over time.

If a Brazilian Black suddenly changes behaviour, check temperature along with water, moisture and recent disturbance instead of assuming temperature is the only cause.