King Baboon Tarantula Care Sheet

King Baboon Tarantula
ADULT FEMALE
Specimen provided by Mike "Troll".
Photo taken by Mike "Troll".

The King Baboon Tarantula is one of the most prized tarantulas in the hobby. These impressive tarantulas are rusty red to bright brown and reach a massive body size! The photo to the left shows an adult female next to a US 25 cent piece. Although the King Baboon Tarantula has many good features, it is an extremely aggressive species, and should be owned by experienced keepers only. These tarantulas will stand up on their hind legs in a defensive position, and even make a hissing noise at the first sign of danger, which can be almost anything to them such as fingers, a pair of tongs, etc. King Baboon Tarantulas have been known to stay in their burrows for months at a time, therefore they don't make the best display tarantulas. In the wild, they are found in deep burrows at the base of acadia bushes. The venom from King Baboon Tarantulas are said to be more toxic than most other tarantulas, which makes it more qualified to be kept by experienced hobbyists, and not beginners. Besides that, the King Baboon Tarantula makes a great tarantula for the serious collector!

Range	Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in dry acadia scrublands.
Type	Burrowing.
Diet	Spiderlings eat pinhead crickets, and other small insects. Adults eat crickets, other large insects, pinkie mice, and an occasional fuzzy mouse.
Full Grown Size	6.5 to 9 inches.
Growth	Slow speed.
Temperature	75 to 90° F.
Humidity	75 to 80%. All tarantulas that have at least a 3" legspan may drink from a shallow, wide water dish.
Temperament	Aggressive and nervous.
Housing	Spiderlings can live in a clear plastic deli-container with air holes. Adults can live in a 10 to 20-gallon tank. Floor space is as important as height.
Substrate	6 to 8 inches of peat moss, or potting soil.
Decor	No decorations are really needed, but you can add a log, or cork bark.
Other Names	N/A.

*Please note that ALL tarantulas have a certain amount of venom. Although most people are not affected by this species, some people may be allergic to the venom, or just more sensitive, making it a dangerous situation. This is one of the reasons that people should not handle this tarantula. Affects of this tarantulas' natural defenses may vary between people. All tarantulas should be considered dangerous, so be careful, because you don't want to find out if you are allergic or more sensitive the HARD WAY!