Animal-World > Reptiles and Amphibians > Tarantulas > King Baboon Spider

King Baboon Spider

Family: Theraphosidae

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Citharischius crawshayi Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Russ Gurley

   A bad tempered spider, the King Baboon Spider will rear up with its fangs ready at the slightest disturbance or perceived threat!

   At one time, the King Baboon Spider was the most sought after species for collectors. Their velvety terra cotta-colored hair and incredible display behaviors make them popular among collectors.

   They are a very active spider at night, with an amazing burrowing behavior. During the day they stay hidden and sealed in their burrow. Then at night they emerge to search for prey and begin to excavate. They are constantly enlarging their burrow and forming new ones throughout the substrate.

   The King Baboon Spider was first collected in Kenya in 1899. Like most baboon spiders, they are very aggressive and can be considered a potentially dangerous species. Despite its incredibly aggressive nature, the King Baboon Spider has become a staple in the hobby and captive-produced spiderlings are occasionally available.

For more Information on keeping tarantulas see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Invertebrate

Description:
   The King Baboon Spider is a large tarantula that is covered over its entire body with a velvety burnt orange coloration. It has enlarged back legs as do most of its baboon spider relatives. It also has large black shiny fangs and is not afraid to use them!.
   They average about 5.5 - 6" (14 - 15 cm), though a mature female may exceed 7.8" (20 cm). Mature males are smaller than females. Males are very hairy and slender and have no tibial hooks to aid in breeding.

Care and Feeding:
   There is a tendency by keepers to feed their large, aggressive species lots of live mice. We suggest feeding the King Baboon Spider a diverse diet consisting of adult crickets, grasshoppers, Tenebrio larvae, and only occasional feedings (once or twice a month) of mice. This variety more closely mirrors the diet of this tarantula in nature and will keep them healthy.

Environment:
   In nature the King Baboon Spider is found in deep burrows associated with rock piles or the bases of trees. In captivity they should be kept in a 15 to 20-gallon terrarium with a secure lid. This enclosure should have a deep substrate of at least 10” of compacted sand and peat moss or potting soil. They should be allowed to dig and maintain a burrow which will help meet their need for a warm, humid retreat.

Temperature and Humidity requirements:
   Warmth in the 78° to 82° F range and a humidity of 75 to 85% is best for this burrowing species.

Social Behavior/Activities:
   The King Baboon Spiders are very aggressive and best housed singly. With the slightest disturbance they can become defensive. They make a hissing noise by rubbing the hairs on their front legs together, and they will rear up on their hind legs with fangs bared, and bite.

Handling:
   This species is very aggressive / defensive and should not be handled under any circumstances. The bite can be medically significant for some people. We suggest using a paint brush or other tool to corral the King Baboon Spider when moving it from enclosure to enclosure for cleaning, maintenance, or for breeding attempts.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Mature males are smaller than females, are very hairy and slender, and have no tibial hooks to aid in breeding. Unlike most baboon spiders, the King Baboon Spider is very difficult to inspire to breed, even when a healthy well-conditioned adult pair is available. The females are extremely aggressive to any males (and anything else) that come close to their burrow.
   Adult males should be carefully introduced into the female’s enclosure after he has produced a sperm web. The males will be quickly attacked if the female is not interested in mating. He may be quickly eaten unless a keeper can protect him with a piece of cardboard or other tool if he is to be used for further breeding attempts.
   Once mating occurs, the female should be fed a variety of prey on a more frequent schedule (up to three times a week). When an egg sac is produced, a female will tend to be a good parent and the process moves forward without problems. An egg sac will be produced from a month to eight weeks after mating. The sac, typical for baboon spiders, is suspended in a web hammock and will incubate for five to eight weeks.
   The babies emerge and molt and will begin spreading throughout the enclosure. When this occurs, they should be separated into individual containers as they will begin cannibalizing each other soon. Young baboon spiders can be easily raised in plastic vials or jars with a deep substrate (1/3 to ½ of the height of the enclosure) and a small clump of sphagnum moss or piece of leaf on top to add some humidity to their environment. The spiderlings feed well and grow rapidly.

Ailments:
   Tarantulas are generally quite hardy and adaptable if they are provided with the right environment. A few signs that may indicate that your pet is not acting or feeling normal are a loss of appetite, lethargy, looking overly skinny, or pacing the enclosure.
   (A tarantula on its back is probably NOT sick.  Most tarantula species flip onto their backs during molting.  Though this is a very stressful and delicate time for tarantulas, if the humidity and warmth levels are correct, they will molt their exoskeleton, roll over, harden up, and within a week or two be ready for their next meals.)

• Molting: One of the most common reasons for your pet to demonstrate unusual behavior is due to a molting period. As they outgrow their existing skin all tarantulas regularly go through an extensive molt, shedding their entire skin as well as the linings of their mouth, respiratory organs, stomach and sexual organs.
     The process starts well before the actual molt. For several weeks prior to shedding they will be growing a new skin under their old one. During this time it is not unusual for a tarantula to get quite lethargic and even stop eating. There may also be lots of web spinning activity as they prepare to molt.
     When they begin to molt, they lay on their backs with their legs up in the air looking as if they are dead. Be sure not to disturb your tarantula when you see this. The shedding process goes quickly and smoothly as long the environment has adequate humidity.
     Once they have shed, their new skin is pale and very soft. The amount of time it takes for your pet to fully recover and be back to eating well will vary from a day or so up to several weeks depending on its size. Smaller spiders recover much quicker than larger ones.
• Other Problems: Other problems are usually the result of some type of environmental stress. There may be a drop in the temperature of the enclosure, there may be parasites, or the tarantula may just not be comfortable with the depth of its hiding place. These things can be easily adjusted or changed, or you can try moving your pet to a new enclosure.

Availability:
   King Baboon spiderlings are only sporadically available. Captive breeding of this amazing species has proven very difficult. Most spiderlings that become available are from dealers offering spiderlings that have been produced from egg sacs taken from wild-caught females. Spiderlings are hardy but grow slowly. Hopefully the future will see more success in producing this species.

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Latest Comments
Hi again, gotta say I have this species and many other baboons and tbh, they are very mis-understood. These are not aggresive t's but more on the defensive side. They would prefer to run away than bite but will definitely bite if cornered. As for being scared of spiders, I can speak from experience it is quite easy to pass. I used to be terrified of spiders but my partner really wanted one, so one day when I felt brave, I got my partner a curlyhair spiderling. I kept this on my computer desk and watched it day & night and after a few week of interest and reasearch I found myself the one who wanted spiders. It's now maybe a year on from that point and I have well over a hundred different species, many of which are supposed to be aggresive. But believe me, baboons ain't nothing compared to culyhair's, lol. I am far more scared of our curlyhair than I am of any of my baboons or pokies. My advice as far as aggressiveness is concerned is that take no notice. I have so called aggressive t's that are relatively docile so to speak, and a few t's (e.g chille rosea & curlyhair) that are nasty. They will jump at my hand at the drop of a hat. Like humans they all have their own personalities! got the bug 2009-02-23
If you are an arachnaphobic, the why are you even looking at a tarantula site. john g 2008-11-24
Just got my king baboon home today to add to my small collection of two mexican red knees, a versicolor, and an indian ornemental. It's so young it could easily sit on your little finger nail. Looking forward to watching the little blighter grow :) pete hallett 2008-08-23
I find it unbelievable that anyone would have such a creature living in their home! I am a severe arachnaphobic! Susie Parker 2007-08-18
i have had my baby baboon for about a 5 days so far. he stay's in his burrow he constructed overnight. he is always making it bigger and changing it. he left an opening were i can see him during the day. he piles up cricket legs and roach nymph shells outside his lair of death. i have never seen him outside his burrow and i have not seen any molted exoskeleton, but he seems bigger looking already. he was an inch when i got him. cannot hardly wait till he is 5 inches plus. mark 2006-09-05

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Author: Russ Gurley
Additional Information: Clarice Brough, CRS
Edited by Animal-World.