Featherleg baboon tarantula (Stromatopelma calceatum)

Short answers

Featherleg baboon tarantula: How big does the enclosure need to be?

30×30×40 cm (height over floor area, a vertical cork tube).

Featherleg baboon tarantula: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot — (no basking spot; even room warmth), at night 20–22 °C.

Featherleg baboon tarantula: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed (nocturnal).

Featherleg baboon tarantula: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females 12–15 years, males 2–3 years.

Featherleg baboon tarantula: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

— (no basking spot; even room warmth)

Humidity

65–75 %

UVB

No UVB needed (nocturnal)

Enclosure

Minimum size

30×30×40 cm (height over floor area, a vertical cork tube)

Substrate

Coco humus, 5 cm; a vertical cork tube or bark to web up; slightly damp, well ventilated, a water bowl

Feeding

Food

Insects: crickets, roaches, house crickets. No vertebrates are needed

Feeding interval

adults 1×/week or every 1–2 weeks, juveniles 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

13–15 cm leg span (body ~5–6 cm)

Life expectancy

females 12–15 years, males 2–3 years

Origin

West Africa (Ghana, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone)

Protection status

Not protected (no CITES, no German Federal Nature Conservation Act listing); no registration duty

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is essential. Territorial and cannibalistic; put them together only briefly and under supervision for breeding

Notes

An Old World arboreal species with NO urticating hairs, but extremely fast, very defensive and with strong, medically significant venom – considered one of the most "venomous" and trickiest hobby species. ONLY for experienced keepers, never handling, and secure against escape when opening. It builds extensive silk tubes.

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Related species

• Amazon birdeater (Iridopelma hirsutum) – Intermediate
• Arizona blonde tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes) – Beginner
• Pinktoe tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) – Beginner
• Cobalt blue tarantula (Cyriopagopus lividus) – Expert
• Gooty sapphire ornamental tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica) – Expert
• Peruvian blue tarantula (Thrixopelma cyaneolum) – Beginner
• Singapore blue tarantula (Omothymus violaceopes) – Expert
• Blue foot baboon tarantula (Idiothele mira) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Featherleg baboon tarantula (Stromatopelma calceatum) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (30×30×40 cm (height over floor area, a vertical cork tube)), substrate (Coco humus, 5 cm; a vertical cork tube or bark to web up; slightly damp, well ventilated, a water bowl), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.