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Heteroscodra maculata – Togo Starburst Baboon Tarantula
The Togo Starburst Baboon Tarantula is a stunning Old World African species with explosive speed, bold webbing, and a crisp starburst pattern across the carapace. This is one of those tarantulas that commands respect immediately—beautiful, intense, and incredibly rewarding for keepers who love fast baboon species with dramatic display behavior.
| Special Notices | |
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| Setup notes | This is a fast Old World arboreal to semi-arboreal baboon tarantula that needs a secure, escape-conscious enclosure. I like giving them height, cork bark, webbing anchor points, and enough substrate at the bottom so they can web, hide, and feel locked in. |
| Keeper note | Heteroscodra maculata is not a handling species. Expect speed, defensiveness, and strong feeding responses. This is a fantastic display tarantula for keepers who enjoy powerful African baboons and understand careful rehousing technique. |
| Care videos | Check out the Urban Tarantulas YouTube channel for care, setup, feeding, and show-and-tell videos to see how we keep and feed our tarantulas: Urban Tarantulas on YouTube. |
| 🧰 Care Details | |
| 🌡️ Temperature | 75–85°F (24–29°C). Warmer temperatures usually mean faster growth because they molt more often, but I keep this species stable and well ventilated rather than pushing extreme heat. |
| 💧 Humidity | Around 50–60% works well for this African baboon, with good ventilation and a slightly moist area available when needed. Avoid swampy substrate, stale air, and bone-dry conditions during molt. Water dishes are optional; I usually skip them except for larger species. |
| 🏠 Housing | |
| 🏠 Babies | Use a vial up to 5 inches tall x 2 inches in diameter with ventilation. Add a little substrate, a small cork bark sliver or fake foliage, and anchor points for webbing. FREE vial at checkout IF requested; not included otherwise. |
| 🏠 Juveniles | Juveniles over about 2 inches do great in a 7–8 inch tall enclosure with cork bark, webbing anchor points, and a secure hide. This species can teleport when startled, so keep rehousings calm, controlled, and escape-conscious. |
| 🏠 Adults | Adults do well in a 12–16 inch tall enclosure with vertical cork bark, secure anchor points, and enough substrate at the bottom to support webbing and retreat construction. Give them a tight, structured setup and they usually create an impressive webbed display. |
| General Diet | |
| 🍽️ Feeding | Crickets + roaches work great, especially Dubia, Red Runner, and Lobster roaches. Babies should get baby crickets or baby roaches. If prey is too big, pre-kill by crushing the head, leave it, then remove leftovers or bolus. Occasional treat for super large specimens: pinky/hopper mouse or feeder lizard very sparingly; excess calcium can cause constipation/pooping issues. We never use pinhead crickets because they do not provide enough protein. |
| In-depth Facts | |
| 🕷️ Latin name / Scientific name | Heteroscodra maculata |
| 📛 Common name(s) | Togo Starburst Baboon Tarantula, Ornamental Baboon Tarantula. |
| 🌡️ Temperature | 75–85°F (24–29°C), with stable warmth and strong airflow. |
| 💧 Humidity | About 50–60% with ventilation and a lightly moist area available. Do not keep them wet, swampy, or sealed in stale air. |
| 📍 Locale | West Africa, especially Togo and surrounding regions in the hobby. They are commonly associated with arboreal retreats, bark crevices, and heavily webbed hiding areas. |
| 🏷️ Category | Old World African arboreal to semi-arboreal baboon; fast, defensive, heavy webbing, and best kept with vertical structure and secure retreats. |
| 📏 Size | Females commonly reach about 5–6 inches DLS; males are usually smaller and leggier, around 4–5 inches DLS. Large females are slender, athletic, and very impressive on display. |
| 🪶 Urticating hairs | No urticating hairs. This Old World species relies on speed, defensiveness, threat postures, and a potent bite when pushed. Respect the animal and use tools during maintenance. |
| ⏳ Growth rate | Fast. With steady feeding, warmth, and good enclosure conditions, babies can size up quickly because they molt more often. |
| 🧭 Life span | Females commonly live around 10–15 years with good care; males usually live about 3–5 years. |
| 🍽️ Feeding | Usually an aggressive and reliable eater once settled. Offer appropriately sized crickets or roaches, and remove uneaten prey or bolus. Expect quick strikes and a strong feeding response from webbed retreats. |
| 🎯 Recommended levels | Ideal for lovers of defensive baboon species who want speed, attitude, bold webbing, and a beautiful starburst-patterned African tarantula. Best for keepers who are confident with secure enclosures, careful rehousing, and hands-off maintenance. |
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| ⚠️ Safety Disclaimer | |
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Safety Disclaimer: Tarantula bites are extremely rare, and there are no recorded human fatalities. Venom strength varies by species; Old World tarantulas are usually more potent than New World tarantulas, with Poecilotheria known for especially strong venom. Larger tarantulas may also deliver more venom. If bitten, stay calm. Most symptoms fade within minutes to hours, though potent species may cause discomfort for up to a week. In 13 years, I’ve only been bitten once, and symptoms were gone after one week. Handling is at your own risk. I’m not responsible for bites or injuries. Always prioritize your safety and the tarantula’s well-being. |
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