The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 30 × 30 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts; adults may take a pinkie occasionally · Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 7–14 days
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
75–85% (humid)
Identity
Order / Family
Araneae
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated (IUCN); not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Uncommon–common – large hardy baboon, periodically imported
Adult size
Body ~7–8 cm; leg span ~15–20 cm (large)
Lifespan
Females ~12–15 yr; males ~3–4 yr
Growth rate
Fast
Activity & niche
Fossorial deep burrower; can swim/submerge; humid rainforest
Temperament
Bold, strong and defensive; powerful feeding response
Venom / defense
No urticating hairs; medically significant venom – experts only; large and defensive
Price (THB)
500–1,500 ฿ (indicatif)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C (75–82°F)
Humidity
75–85% (humid)
Min. enclosure
Adult ~30×30×30 cm; deep moist substrate, fossorial
Substrate
15–20 cm moist coco fibre/topsoil for deep burrows
Hides / decor / water
Deep starter burrow, cork, larger water dish (it will use it)
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, locusts; adults may take a pinkie occasionally
Feeding frequency
Slings 2–3×/week; juveniles ~weekly; adults every 7–14 days
Supplements
None – gut-load feeders only
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Not recommended – large, strong, defensive with potent venom; observation only
Communal
No (solitary) – though some Hysterocrates tolerate kin briefly, treat as cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Threat posture, striking, stridulation, bolting into burrow; no hair-kicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Oviparous; 1 large egg sac, ~100–200 spiderlings; fast-growing young
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration if too dry, mold/mites if stagnant, fall/rupture, DKS from pesticides
Red flags / quarantine
SignsOften WC – quarantine for mites/nematodes and dehydration; watch DKS, death curl
Good to know
- Can submerge underwater for minutes and even hunt prey in shallow water – an unusual talent among tarantulas
Others in this group
Orange Baboon Tarantula (OBT / 'Orange Bitey Thing')Pterinochilus murinusCurly Hair TarantulaTliltocatl albopilosus (ex Brachypelma)Mexican Red KneeBrachypelma hamorii (ex smithi)Green Bottle Blue (GBB)Chromatopelma cyaneopubescensThai Zebra Leg TarantulaCyriopagopus albostriatus (ex Haplopelma albostriatum)Cobalt Blue TarantulaCyriopagopus lividus (ex Haplopelma lividum)Gooty Sapphire Ornamental TarantulaPoecilotheria metallicaIndian Ornamental TarantulaPoecilotheria regalis