SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

The wonderful world of exotic animals

Socotra Island blue baboon tarantula (Monocentropus balfouri)

Tof Yemen, this species is adapted to a semitropical arid environment. Interestingly, the blue baboon is one of very few species of tarantula that can successfully be kept communally.

They have a medium growth rate and a diagonal leg span of around 15cm, making them a manageable size. These spiders are also considered reasonably docile for an Old-World tarantula but are fast-moving once disturbed. Of course, the emphasis here is on the “for an OldWorld tarantula” meaning they can still become aggressive and give an unpleasant bite and therefore should not be considered a ‘beginner’ species.

Socotra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it contains a high degree of endemism because of its complete seclusion from the mainland for many years. This means there are still lots to learn about the fauna of this island. In fact, it was only recently this spider was correctly categorised as a ‘bird spider’ (belonging to the Eumenophorinae family) and not a ‘baboon spider’. Colour variants have been recorded several times in the last few decades, but it is expected these are just juvenile spiders that have not yet developed their striking blue appearance.

When cohabiting this species, diligence is required to create an amicable group dynamic. Even though young spiders at different stages of life can happily live together, introducing different spiders should be done in a separate, much larger enclosure as opposed to introducing a new spider into an established setup. Once a healthy group has been formed, it has been reported that these tarantulas will even share food with one another, and it is common for several spiders to be active at the same time. Hobbyists can therefore create a very interesting display tank with a number of these invertebrates. They are also prolific in producing webs, creating some visually striking structures.

They should be kept at reasonably low humidity (50-60%) and slightly warmer than room temperature (24-28°C). This is a terrestrial species that will frequently burrow and should be provided with a deep layer of substrate. These burrows will also naturally hold higher humidity which is essential for the spider to shed. Therefore, creating microclimates of higher humidity with regular spraying is advised. This species will often utilise cork bark and climbing opportunities when it does leave its burrow, so providing some height is recommended.

The blue baboon reaches sexual maturity at around 2 years old and can be mated at just 4 inches in length. This, combined with the fact that the egg sacks are small and contain fewer slings than other species, makes this an excellent spider for an experienced keeper to breed. Furthermore, slings can be reared with their mother in the same enclosure, although this will naturally spur a lot of apprehension and manic counting of baby spiders to ensure they are all alive and healthy.