Golden blue-legged baboon tarantula (Harpactira pulchripes)

Short answers

Golden blue-legged baboon tarantula: How big does the enclosure need to be?

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

Golden blue-legged baboon tarantula: What temperature does it need?

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

Golden blue-legged baboon tarantula: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed (nocturnal).

Golden blue-legged baboon tarantula: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females 12–15 years, males 3–4 years.

Golden blue-legged 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

— (no basking spot; even room warmth)

Humidity

50–60 %

UVB

No UVB needed (nocturnal)

Enclosure

Minimum size

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

Substrate

Coco humus, peat or soil, 8–12 cm deep for digging; mostly dry, a water bowl; not too tall (to prevent falls)

Feeding

Food

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

Feeding interval

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

Key facts

Adult size

13–14 cm leg span (body ~4–5 cm)

Life expectancy

females 12–15 years, males 3–4 years

Origin

South Africa (the Eastern Cape)

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 burrowing spider with NO urticating hairs, considered a comparatively "good-natured" Old World species, but fast and with stronger venom – no handling, and secure against escape. Keep it dry; a strong weaver (offer anchor points). Colourful, and therefore popular.

Do you keep this species?

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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 Golden blue-legged baboon tarantula (Harpactira pulchripes) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (30×30×25 cm (floor area over height, deep substrate they can dig in)), substrate (Coco humus, peat or soil, 8–12 cm deep for digging; mostly dry, a water bowl; not too tall (to prevent falls)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.