Fort Hall baboon tarantula (Pterinochilus lugardi)

Short answers

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

30×30×25 cm (floor area over height, deep substrate they can dig in).

Fort Hall baboon tarantula: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Fort Hall baboon tarantula: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed (nocturnal).

Fort Hall baboon tarantula: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females 10–15 years, males approx. 3 years.

Fort Hall baboon tarantula: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

50–60 % (keep dry, water bowl)

UVB

No UVB needed (nocturnal)

Enclosure

Minimum size

30×30×25 cm (floor area over height, deep substrate they can dig in)

Substrate

A dry, diggable coco humus or soil mix, 10–15 cm; a cork tube; it webs strongly

Feeding

Food

Insects (house crickets, roaches, crickets, locusts)

Feeding interval

adults approx. 1×/week or every 10–14 days, juveniles 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

10–12 cm leg span (body ~4–5 cm)

Life expectancy

females 10–15 years, males approx. 3 years

Origin

Eastern and southern Africa

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; no special registration duties

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Single housing. Solitary and cannibalistic; no pair/group housing. The reason is not conflict but predation: these animals take anything that fits in their mouths, and a second animal in the enclosure is included.

Notes

Markedly calmer than its notorious sister species P. murinus, but still fast and defensive. It builds deep burrows and webs them heavily. Keep it dry — waterlogging is the commonest keeping mistake with this species.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Orange baboon tarantula (Pterinochilus murinus) – Expert
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Fort Hall baboon tarantula (Pterinochilus lugardi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (30×30×25 cm (floor area over height, deep substrate they can dig in)), substrate (A dry, diggable coco humus or soil mix, 10–15 cm; a cork tube; it webs strongly), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.