Jhan - 2015-02-18 i have an obt but im a beginner i dont know how to care it..please advice me on how to care for it..thanks
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Clarice Brough - 2015-02-18 There's lots of information on the Mombasa Baboon Spider page above, with foods and feeding, housing, cage care, ailments and more.
Ted MacRae - 2013-11-16 I just got an OBT - a little over 3' from tip of right front to tip of left back leg and stocky so I presume a still juvenile female. I have her in a 10G aquarium with 4-6' of shredded coconut husk for bedding and a Y-shaped cork round leading down into the bedding for a natural hide. She stays in my office, which is typical office heating during the winter and cooling during the summer. The lights are on when I am there and off when I am not. Should I add any supplemental lighting or heat? Perhaps a day/night light? Specific recommendations would be greatly appreciated. She is VERY skittish to vibration or touch but not approach; I am really looking forward to watching her over the next several years (hopefully).
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Ted MacRae - 2013-11-16 Here is a photo of her.
Clarice Brough - 2013-11-17 Wow, she's a real pretty little lady!
Clarice Brough - 2013-11-17 It sounds like a good environment temperature-wise. I'm thinking the office temperature is so regulated itself, that it may not change significantly and so you may not need any black/red night lighting. What a fascinating creature you get to watch:)
spencer - 2014-11-03 What are some specific characteristics of its web? what circumstances does it spin them.
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Clarice Brough - 2014-11-03 This type of spider lives in a heavily webbed burrow. It will build a tunnel in the substrate and much of its time there. The substrate needs to be at least 4 - 5 inches (10-12 cm) deep, even up 8 inches (20 cm). substrates can be made up of a peat moss/soil mix, coconut mulch, or an invertebrate mix. If you want less substrate, you can provide adequate shelter with a piece of driftwood that has a cave type opening or a piece of hollow bamboo, or even a paper towel roll can work. Don't let the enclosure get too damp, as they don't like excessive humidity. Keeping humidity levels between 40-60% works fine for keeping them hydrated.
aimee - 2009-03-04 My friend has one named gloria and it's really surprising to read how aggresive they are. I don't know about you but it's the laziest pet in the house and hasn't displayed any aggresive behavior to the hundreds of people who've handled it in the 2-3 months he's had it. I hope it's not sick or anything.
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Marc - 2010-07-30 It's like if you own a tiger. It might not be aggressive if it's been taught to be around humans, and it's well fed, but one day it might have fear or his instincts might get stronger and, pop, it will attack.
Simon - 2011-03-30 So long as the tarantula is eating on a weekly basis & the colors & hair look vibrant & fuzzy it should be ok mine is very lazy unless it involves food or making someone back away because he does not like to be messed with, if you have any questions please let me know I have been raising & caring for tarantulas of all kinds for 21 years so please ask away I do not mind at all.
Dougie - 2014-10-23 Cudny agree more. Wen i got mine wuz told it wuz a texas brown,next time i went 2 take her out she had morphed in 2 a hairy alien like m-f duzny stop me from handling her doh. . . . . . . . . . . . . She b a friendly dude,also have 2 boas 2 pythons hoo live 2 gether wuz told not a good idea no 1 told dem dat,have bin living 2gether 4 6 months now,same tng bout corn snakes have 6 living very happy 2gether. .
Phillip Van Blerk - 2014-05-14 Hi, I recently adopted a Mombasa golden starburst baboon spider, and have no idea what to do? I am aracnafobic don't like spider at all since one nearly killed me, but I'm trying to get over it, any advice???? I've got an enclosure for her but no idea what to do, or how to handle het, all I knw is she is old aged, about 10cm big and very agressive, also very beutifull, may I ask for any pointers?
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Leanne - 2014-08-01 Simple answer to handling. don't. Obts are extremely aggressive and will bite if they have to. The bite is very painful. They're not recommended for beginners for this reason. They're also very fast. She is best left alone with the enclosure only opened to feed or clean which requires a lot of care and undivided attention from you. Honestly, if you're afraid of spiders an obt is not the pet of choice.
Dougie - 2014-10-23 wud have 2 disagree wit many r all comments bout obt's i have mine out an about wen i can,just put mine bac in 5 mins ago,not overly skittish an a happy little spider..
jix - 2010-05-02 Hiya, I saw my pet this morning with one leg missing. Does it grow back?
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Anonymous - 2010-07-08 Next time it molts it should start growing back.
Ifrit - 2013-02-03 The leg will not grow back, it's a spider not a reptile or starfish.
Allan - 2013-02-11 It will grow back after a moult or two.
Anonymous - 2013-11-23 It will not grow back. Even touching them during a molt can severely damage them for life.
Anonymous - 2013-12-22 Yes, the leg will regenerate at the next moult. My 7 legged B.beohmei shed last week and now has her leg back.
CrossyRox - 2014-03-23 Legs DEFINITELY grow back, it may take a couple of moults but it WILL return! Happened to a friend of mines Brazilian Black. Right as rain again after a couple of sheds and wasn't hindered at all in the mean time! :)
Justin Stumbo - 2014-02-07 I have a juvenile otb and I've had he for two months now. She's been on a two cricket diet per week now but for some reason hasn't eaten for almost two weeks:/ I tried putting the cricket in her burrow thinking she'd eat but she ran out the other end. Not sure what's going on with her. Temperature seems to be right but the guy at the pet store said to keep it a little damp for moisture. Any help would be much appreciated. I just want the best for this little creature
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Clarice Brough - 2014-02-08 Sounds like it may be preparing for a molt. See molting info under the 'Diseases: Ailments/Treatments' section above.
terry - 2008-08-29 I just had a night in hospital due to an orange baboon bite, no display, no warning just jumped and bit my index finger. Intense burning pain to finger followed by burning bruiselike feeling that progressed up to shoulder. Was put on oxygen and antibiotics. Pain eased after around 5 hours, finger was numb approx 12 hours during this. Heart rate and blood pressure went high, now approx 26 hrs later no pain to finger but there is to base of digit which showed bruising and am now getting random joint pain and cramps to legs arms and neck. Spider was not provoked in any way and I've kept various spiders for many years, this is my first time bite. Little knowledge around on reactions to bites so I thought I'd post this. I am male 51, 6ft, 18 stone, and never had any reaction to bee or wasp stings... Editor's Note: WOW! Thanks for sharing this important iformation! This knowledge can go a long way in helping other hobbyists be prepared and take preventative measures.
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went - 2010-07-23 Okay, are you sure you didn't provoke it, but having said that I have been told that old world tarantula spiders, are nasty and aggressive, so they may attack without provocation.
Penny - 2010-12-06 Old world tarantulas don't have urticating hair for defense which is one reason it is thought they are so aggressive. Mine would take the defensive position every time I fed her.
Simon - 2011-03-30 I've learned from raising a mombasa that they are known to do that unfortunately it was my ex that found out the only thing I've done to keep being bitten from mine considering his attitude problem is to either talk gently to him or sing to him when I'm servicing his cage & make sure that I keep a close eye on him as well & it's bad that he did bite but I'm just glad that it was an adult & it only happened once.
Daniël - 2012-01-12 Hey everyone, just thought I share this - was bitten by a Starburst Baboon Spider while camping at De Hoop this December. Scary experience and I can confirm the note of Terry above, the pain was severe and I experienced similar symptoms. I did not see the spider at all before the bite and must have frightened it accidently to evoke the attack. Thinking of getting one as a pet as after reading more about these special creatures I found them very interesting......
Cheryl Luhrs - 2013-11-17 This is one T I find fascinating and a bit comical. He/she definately earns the knickname (Orange Bitey Thing) that has been bestowed upon this sp. of Tarantula. I remember the 1st time I heard someone refer the OBT in this manner and it still brings a chuckle out of me. My T-hobby has grown into 26 spideys, most of them were purchased as spiderlings (or slings) and are all 'new world'. Their venom is much less signif. that the 'old world T's. These are fairly easy to breed and the females will actually care for their 'male' partner by sharing the food etc. until she has been bred.
All T's are eye popping lil guys and even though she colors up nicely, she'll let him and her 'guardians' have it every chance she's given.
Incredibly interesting hobby but use your tong religiously to feed etc. He/she is just waiting for the OBT change to nail ya.
Alejandro - 2013-04-23 I got my juvenile baboon a week ago. She has molted less than a month ago and is currently in a temporary housing. She is a little more than an inch long, and spends most time in the bottom of the jar. I threw in there some sticks for her to climb onto. Looking for a proper housing. What would you suggest on size? I looked for some kind of a bottle housing so its tall and has room for some depth in the soil to burrow. I have not found yet what i want but will continue looking.
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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-23 As adults they have up to about a 6' (15 cm) leg span, and will need at around a 5.5 gallon aquarium, or an enclosure that's about 12x8x8 inches (30x20x20 cm) in size.
Codey Holloway - 2013-03-31 any tips on the housing? like what cage size and should i get a lamp? i live in reno nevada desert. its very dry here. hot days cold night. should a get a humidiphire?
The Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spider has a tough attitude, and a tough constitution!
i have an obt but im a beginner i dont know how to care it..please advice me on how to care for it..thanks
There's lots of information on the Mombasa Baboon Spider page above, with foods and feeding, housing, cage care, ailments and more.
I just got an OBT - a little over 3' from tip of right front to tip of left back leg and stocky so I presume a still juvenile female. I have her in a 10G aquarium with 4-6' of shredded coconut husk for bedding and a Y-shaped cork round leading down into the bedding for a natural hide. She stays in my office, which is typical office heating during the winter and cooling during the summer. The lights are on when I am there and off when I am not. Should I add any supplemental lighting or heat? Perhaps a day/night light? Specific recommendations would be greatly appreciated. She is VERY skittish to vibration or touch but not approach; I am really looking forward to watching her over the next several years (hopefully).
Here is a photo of her.
Wow, she's a real pretty little lady!
It sounds like a good environment temperature-wise. I'm thinking the office temperature is so regulated itself, that it may not change significantly and so you may not need any black/red night lighting. What a fascinating creature you get to watch:)
What are some specific characteristics of its web? what circumstances does it spin them.
This type of spider lives in a heavily webbed burrow. It will build a tunnel in the substrate and much of its time there. The substrate needs to be at least 4 - 5 inches (10-12 cm) deep, even up 8 inches (20 cm). substrates can be made up of a peat moss/soil mix, coconut mulch, or an invertebrate mix. If you want less substrate, you can provide adequate shelter with a piece of driftwood that has a cave type opening or a piece of hollow bamboo, or even a paper towel roll can work. Don't let the enclosure get too damp, as they don't like excessive humidity. Keeping humidity levels between 40-60% works fine for keeping them hydrated.
My friend has one named gloria and it's really surprising to read how aggresive they are. I don't know about you but it's the laziest pet in the house and hasn't displayed any aggresive behavior to the hundreds of people who've handled it in the 2-3 months he's had it. I hope it's not sick or anything.
It's like if you own a tiger. It might not be aggressive if it's been taught to be around humans, and it's well fed, but one day it might have fear or his instincts might get stronger and, pop, it will attack.
So long as the tarantula is eating on a weekly basis & the colors & hair look vibrant & fuzzy it should be ok mine is very lazy unless it involves food or making someone back away because he does not like to be messed with, if you have any questions please let me know I have been raising & caring for tarantulas of all kinds for 21 years so please ask away I do not mind at all.
Cudny agree more. Wen i got mine wuz told it wuz a texas brown,next time i went 2 take her out she had morphed in 2 a hairy alien like m-f duzny stop me from handling her doh. . . . . . . . . . . . . She b a friendly dude,also have 2 boas 2 pythons hoo live 2 gether wuz told not a good idea no 1 told dem dat,have bin living 2gether 4 6 months now,same tng bout corn snakes have 6 living very happy 2gether. .
Hi, I recently adopted a Mombasa golden starburst baboon spider, and have no idea what to do? I am aracnafobic don't like spider at all since one nearly killed me, but I'm trying to get over it, any advice???? I've got an enclosure for her but no idea what to do, or how to handle het, all I knw is she is old aged, about 10cm big and very agressive, also very beutifull, may I ask for any pointers?
Simple answer to handling. don't. Obts are extremely aggressive and will bite if they have to. The bite is very painful. They're not recommended for beginners for this reason. They're also very fast. She is best left alone with the enclosure only opened to feed or clean which requires a lot of care and undivided attention from you. Honestly, if you're afraid of spiders an obt is not the pet of choice.
wud have 2 disagree wit many r all comments bout obt's i have mine out an about wen i can,just put mine bac in 5 mins ago,not overly skittish an a happy little spider..
Hiya, I saw my pet this morning with one leg missing. Does it grow back?
Next time it molts it should start growing back.
The leg will not grow back, it's a spider not a reptile or starfish.
It will grow back after a moult or two.
It will not grow back. Even touching them during a molt can severely damage them for life.
Yes, the leg will regenerate at the next moult. My 7 legged B.beohmei shed last week and now has her leg back.
Legs DEFINITELY grow back, it may take a couple of moults but it WILL return! Happened to a friend of mines Brazilian Black. Right as rain again after a couple of sheds and wasn't hindered at all in the mean time! :)
I have a juvenile otb and I've had he for two months now. She's been on a two cricket diet per week now but for some reason hasn't eaten for almost two weeks:/ I tried putting the cricket in her burrow thinking she'd eat but she ran out the other end. Not sure what's going on with her. Temperature seems to be right but the guy at the pet store said to keep it a little damp for moisture. Any help would be much appreciated. I just want the best for this little creature
Sounds like it may be preparing for a molt. See molting info under the 'Diseases: Ailments/Treatments' section above.
I just had a night in hospital due to an orange baboon bite, no display, no warning just jumped and bit my index finger. Intense burning pain to finger followed by burning bruiselike feeling that progressed up to shoulder. Was put on oxygen and antibiotics. Pain eased after around 5 hours, finger was numb approx 12 hours during this. Heart rate and blood pressure went high, now approx 26 hrs later no pain to finger but there is to base of digit which showed bruising and am now getting random joint pain and cramps to legs arms and neck. Spider was not provoked in any way and I've kept various spiders for many years, this is my first time bite. Little knowledge around on reactions to bites so I thought I'd post this. I am male 51, 6ft, 18 stone, and never had any reaction to bee or wasp stings... Editor's Note: WOW! Thanks for sharing this important iformation! This knowledge can go a long way in helping other hobbyists be prepared and take preventative measures.
Okay, are you sure you didn't provoke it, but having said that I have been told that old world tarantula spiders, are nasty and aggressive, so they may attack without provocation.
Old world tarantulas don't have urticating hair for defense which is one reason it is thought they are so aggressive. Mine would take the defensive position every time I fed her.
I've learned from raising a mombasa that they are known to do that unfortunately it was my ex that found out the only thing I've done to keep being bitten from mine considering his attitude problem is to either talk gently to him or sing to him when I'm servicing his cage & make sure that I keep a close eye on him as well & it's bad that he did bite but I'm just glad that it was an adult & it only happened once.
Hey everyone, just thought I share this - was bitten by a Starburst Baboon Spider while camping at De Hoop this December. Scary experience and I can confirm the note of Terry above, the pain was severe and I experienced similar symptoms. I did not see the spider at all before the bite and must have frightened it accidently to evoke the attack. Thinking of getting one as a pet as after reading more about these special creatures I found them very interesting......
This is one T I find fascinating and a bit comical. He/she definately earns the knickname (Orange Bitey Thing) that has been bestowed upon this sp. of Tarantula. I remember the 1st time I heard someone refer the OBT in this manner and it still brings a chuckle out of me. My T-hobby has grown into 26 spideys, most of them were purchased as spiderlings (or slings) and are all 'new world'. Their venom is much less signif. that the 'old world T's. These are fairly easy to breed and the females will actually care for their 'male' partner by sharing the food etc. until she has been bred.
All T's are eye popping lil guys and even though she colors up nicely, she'll let him and her 'guardians' have it every chance she's given.
Incredibly interesting hobby but use your tong religiously to feed etc. He/she is just waiting for the OBT change to nail ya.
I got my juvenile baboon a week ago. She has molted less than a month ago and is currently in a temporary housing. She is a little more than an inch long, and spends most time in the bottom of the jar. I threw in there some sticks for her to climb onto. Looking for a proper housing. What would you suggest on size? I looked for some kind of a bottle housing so its tall and has room for some depth in the soil to burrow. I have not found yet what i want but will continue looking.
As adults they have up to about a 6' (15 cm) leg span, and will need at around a 5.5 gallon aquarium, or an enclosure that's about 12x8x8 inches (30x20x20 cm) in size.
any tips on the housing? like what cage size and should i get a lamp? i live in reno nevada desert. its very dry here. hot days cold night. should a get a humidiphire?