This is a specific care sheet for Usambara Orange Baboons (Pterinochilus murinus), for more in this genus see Category:Pterinochilus.
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Commonly known as the Usambara Orange Baboon Tarantula (OBT) but also referred to as the Mombassa Golden Starburst Tarantula, Mombassa Golden Sunburst Baboon and the True Starburst. This is a very attractive species that will deliver a painful bite if given the oppurtunity. The Usambara Orange Baboon is a beautiful tarantula. For this reason they have become more and more popular among experienced hobbyists. The Usambara Orange Baboon Spider, or Pterinochilus sp., is native to the Usambara region of Africa, a dry area near Kenya.
| Tarantula Information (for a more detailed Tarantula care review see Tarantula Care Sheets | |
| Regions Found: | Usambara region of Kenya |
| Class: | Semi Arboreal |
| Longevity: | Matures in under two years |
| Adult Size: | 10-13cm |
| Temperament: | Aggressive and Defensive |
| Urticating Hairs: | No |
| Venom Potency: | Strong |
| Pterinochilus murinus Housing Requirements | |
| Tarantula Housing: | Floor space is more important than height, a deep substrate is not really required as this species will web its own retreat. |
| Temperature: | Between 23 to 28°C |
| Humidity: | About 70% |
| Special Requirements: | No special requirements. |
| Breeding Pterinochilus murinus Tarantulas | |
| Breeding Difficulty: | Unknown |
| Egg sac size: | Unknown |
| Danger to Male: | Probable sexual cannibalism |
| Pterinochilus murinus Diet | |
| Livefood insects such as crickets, locust, butter worms, meal worms, superworms, housefliesand cockroaches. | |
| Recommended Pet Supplies for Pterinochilus murinus | |
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The Usambara Orange Baboon is semi-arboreal, meaning it is comfortable both on and off the ground. They are often called “Orange Demon Spiders” and “The Orange Bitey Things” because of their speed and aggressive natures. They like to build webbed retreats off the ground. They may also burrow. Because this tarantula is so aggressive it is often not recommended for beginners. In captivity this tarantula feeds on crickets, roaches and King Mealworms. When feeding it is often recommended to feed through a sliding door at the top of the enclosure to prevent bites and escapes. About 14 to 15 centimeters in length, the Usambara Orange Baboon is an average sized spider. However, its size is the only thing that’s average about it! They are a fiery, deep orange or red in color, with dark marks on the abdomen and cephalothorax. Paired with their extremely quick speeds, they often resemble a ball of fire.
Specific care
The Usambara Orange Baboon spider should be kept in a large aquarium, at least 5.5 gallons in size. They should be provided with shelters and about 4.5″ of a peat moss/vermiculite/potting soil mix. Because of their native habitat, they can take hot temperatures of 80 degrees or more, but they are happiest in low humidity. They can be fed crickets, waxworms and mealworms.