The King Baboon Spider of Africa - Not a Good Beginner Spider

Pelinobius Muticus, commonly referred to as the king baboon spider, is one of the most celebrated spider pets in the hobby. People love the immense size, aggressive nature and easy care of this African spider. The problem with the king baboon spider is that while popular, it is not a good beginner spider to keep. Many amateur spider keepers do not realize this, and seek out this incredible arachnid as their latest pet. While the king baboon spider is relatively easy to keep as a pet as far as maintenance, there are other considerations that make it a bad choice for anyone other than an experienced spider expert. Here are several considerations that highlight why this massive spider is a poor choice for the beginner:

Size considerations

Most beginning spider keepers have no clue just how large this spider gets. A full grown king baboon spider is likely to reach a leg span of around nine inches. That is a whole lot of tarantula, and they need a ton of room to move around in. The ideal structure would be 12x12x12 or larger. Most amateur spider keepers are not set up for such a large spider, and often end up keeping the spider in enclosures that are not sufficient. This causes problems with escaping and also with stressing the spider. It also can complicate feeding and put you in danger.

Danger and Aggression

The king baboon spider is noted for having a more powerful venom than most other tarantulas, and more importantly are more aggressive and likely to deliver it. When the king baboon spider senses danger, they immediately rear up on their hind legs and bare two imposing fangs. These fangs are more than capable of delivering a powerful bite to a human, and the bite can be serious. Because of their size, the bite and fangs are that much larger. The king baboon spider also will hiss loudly and let you know that danger exists, though it may bite before doing so. It is not like a rattlesnake that generally will rattle first and bite after. If you get too close, the king baboon spider may bite immediately.

Potential for Escape

Needless to say, you would not want this large and aggressive spider running around loose in your home. The king baboon spider is one of the better escape artists in the spider kingdom. They have large, strong fangs that are very capable of breaking a latch or enclosure that is not properly constructed. They also can escape through the smallest of spaces, in spite of their massive size. Some amateur spider keepers do not give enough thought to this possibility and can find themselves with a very unwelcome bed partner.

Breeding and Feeding Problems

The king baboon spider is also a fairly difficult spider to breed. Most spider keepers want to breed their species, and the king baboon spider can be notoriously hard to entice into actual copulation. The male will seek out the female, and will do their best to entice a coupling. The female, however, is almost as likely to kill and eat the male as to mate with them. The timing must be just right to actually have them breed, and most amateurs are not able to recognize this properly.

Also, the feeding of a king baboon spider is tough at times. They will eat without much problem, but it is easy to overfeed them as well. Occasionally, the king baboon spider will drag the food into their burrows under the substrate, and you will not be aware of whether they are eating it or if it is simply rotting in their lair. This can cause issues with over or under feeding. King baboon spiders are also famous for eating large prey in the wild such as reptiles or mice. Many amateurs try to feed the spider prey items that are too large, and end up killing the spider in the process. The average size of a captive king baboon spider food source should be around half their size. Large insects, earthworms, grasshoppers, mealworms and cockroaches are ideal.

Sources:
"The King Baboon Spider - Notes on Mating and Rearing", Giantspiders.com