Tarantulas of the World

Ceratogyrus darlingi breeding report

Species: Ceratogyrus darlingi

Common name: Rear horned baboon tarantula

Successful: Yes

Timeline:

The female molted on December 10^th, 2015 and after fully hardened was fed heavily between December 20^th-25^th

First pairing took place on December 26^th at 9pm and three separate insertions were witnessed.

The male was paired with female a total of 3 times between December 26^th and janurary 6^th

After the last pairing attempt the female was fed heavily. She dropped a sac on February 10^th 2016

After 25 days the sac was pulled on march 6^th, 2016

Post-mating care:

no special care. Female was kept at a constant 75-78 degrees throughout the project

Total count: 116 EWLs

Ceratogyrus darlingi caresheet

The Rear Horned Baboon tarantula (Ceratogyrus darlingi) or sometimes referred to as the Burst Horned Baboon is an Old World (OW) arachnid from the southern parts of Africa. Indigenous to Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe they grow to be about 4.5 to 5 inches in size with females being a lot bigger then their male counterparts. This is a very fast growing species. Females are known to live 10 to 15 years while males can mature within 2 years and typically live between 2 and 4 years. This is one of the most common Ceratogyrus species in the hobby highly admired due to its carapace/peltidium featuring a black slightly reared foveal horn. The Rear Horned Baboon tarantula’s coloring are ash gray, mud-brown to black.

(Photo credit: @arachnophobaea)

Habitat: The rear horned baboon (Ceratogyrus darlingi) is an obligate burrower and terrestrial tarantula. As slings they should be kept in damp substrate in small vials and as they grow in deli cups. This is a very fast growing tarantula and you can expect a few molts a year until they reach maturity. Fully grown they only need about a 5 gallon tank with a somewhat dry substrate. Be sure to add plenty of substrate as this tarantula will start burrowing and tunneling within days of being housed. You can add a starter hide which may or may not get used. A water dish should be available and it is recommended to overfill this at least once a week. Temperature should be kept around 78° to 80° F with a humidity of 60% to 70%. This tarantula is notorious for webbing up its home and you will notice that right away.

Feeding: This tarantula eats EVERYTHING you throw its way. A steady diet of crickets, roaches, locusts, and other insects should be fine. They are ferocious and will pounce on anything even when they’re small little slings. As always feed your tarantula about once a week and be sure to remove any prey if not touched after 24 hours. If your tarantula is in pre-molt stages do not feed and wait at least a week and a half to re-feed after it molts.

Attitude: Being that Ceratogyrus darlingi is an Old World tarantula they are known for being aggressive. They do not come equipped with urticating hairs and rely on their bite and venom for protection. Though this is a very common species in the hobby we do not recommend this being a beginner tarantula at all. Their venom is equivalent to a bee sting but can still pack a punch. Common symptoms of a bite include; nausea, muscle aches, headache. If an allergic reaction occurs seek medical attention.

Do you have a Ceratogyrus darlingi ? Comment below!

The Kilimanjaro Mustard Baboon Spider is an old world tarantula from the eastern part of Africa and can be found in Tanzania and Sudan. They grow to be about 4 to 5 inches in length with females living to be as old as 20 years old and males living to be about 3 to 5 years old. The true colors of the Kilimanjaro Mustard Baboon is dark grey and black with a thin orange tint at the knees however there is a light color form of this species that is orange/brown and black.

Habitat: As full grown adults the most you will need for the kilimanjaro mustard baboon a 5 gallon enclosure. They are obligate burrowers though do just fine with a startup hide or piece of bark to live under. They are pretty good at webbing. Though not heavy webbers like their distant cousin the OBT. We recommend you give them 5 to 6 inches of damp substrate in the event your baboon does end up burrowing. Temperatures should be kept in the higher 70’s Fahrenheit with humidity levels of about 60 to 65 percent. As slings they do just fine in vials and at 1 inch in size can easily be transferred to deli cups.  As always a good water source should always be available in their enclosure whether its a water dish or spraying.

Feeding: These guys are voracious eaters. As slings you can feed them fruitflies and pinhead crickets with their heads smashed in. One of the few species that personally goes out to hunt instead of waiting for you to throw prey towards them. You can feed them a variety of meals such as crickets, roaches, mealworms, superworms and even locusts. Feeding once a week would be ideal.

Attitude: Being old world they come packed with attitude. Though not as fast and aggressive as their cousin the P.murinus. You should still use caution when opening their enclosure to feed or do maintenance. Their bite can bring a world of pain and they have potent venom. Though not lethal it can induce muscle pains, cramps, headaches and nausea. We recommend you to not handle this tarantulas!

All in all a definite beauty to have and most definitely a less aggressive alternative to the OBT if you are planning on getting a good hardy African tarantula.