SPECIAL NOTE: USPS forbids shipping venomous spiders or scorpions in the mail.

Because of this, we ship these animals FedEx priority overnight for a flat fee of $39.99.

This species has medically significant venom, bites from this species may require medical attention!

• One of the more popular African arboreal species, their lovely appearance as adults should not lull you into a false sense of security, these spiders do have a medically significant bite.
• Due to the strong nature of this species’ venom, extra caution should always be taken any time the enclosure is open.
• Although this species prefers to stay hidden, they can occasionally be seen on daytime walkabouts during times of low traffic in the room that houses their enclosure.
• Preferring to burrow as slings and travel upwards as they gain some size, they are among some of the easier to house arboreal babies.

Name: Stromatopelma calceatum or “Featherleg baboon” Has a scientific name with both Greek and Latin roots meaning “Covered sole of foot” and “having shoes” and it’s not hard to see why - they have some pretty attractive feet with wide scapulae, almost making it look like they’re wearing fuzzy boots.

Recommended Enclosure Size: As with most arboreals, we recommend an enclosure with at least two times the spider’s diagonal leg span for length and width, and at least three times the spider’s diagonal leg span for height. Stromatopelma slings do require about 1-1.5 inches of a good substrate to burrow into, a vertical hide and some leaf clutter high in the enclosure is suggested to help the spider feel more secure as it decides to venture out of the ground.

Want to spice up your enclosure with live plants? Our experts have curated kits of easy-to-care-for and SAFE plants for your tarantula. Check them out here!

Temperatures: Comfortable range for them is between 75°-82°, temperatures consistently 5 or more degrees outside of this range should be avoided for long term safety of the spider.

Humidity: 65%-75%, can be achieved by misting ½ of the enclosure every week or two depending on ventilation, more frequently or less frequently if you find that the substrate is drying out too quickly or just staying consistently wet.

Size: At time of sale specimens have about a 0.25 inch diagonal leg span. Full grown, they'll reach around a 5 inch diagonal leg span.

Age: S. calceatum sold by Josh’s Frogs are at least 1 year old at time of sale.

Females of this species can reach 12-15 years of age, while males will only live 3-5 years.

Feeding: At time of sale most specimens are eating D. hydei fruit flies. As they grow, they will eat larger prey (roughly the size of their carapace or smaller) and will eat less frequently.

Young tarantulas should be offered food every 4-7 days, adults every 7-10 days. Never attempt to feed a freshly molted tarantula less than a week after their molt to prevent injury to the spider.

Sexing: Due to their age, Stromatopelma calceatum sold by Josh's Frogs are sold as unsexed.

Sexing can be done at 2.5-3 inch diagonal leg span accurately, and most accurately done by molt. Females, between the top two sets of book lungs in the molt will have a pronounced spermatheca and uterus externus that will present as a "flap" that will catch and open if a pin is gently run down it. Males will have just a simple slit that does not budge if manipulated.

Coloration/Patterning: As slings S. calceatum are a mottled golden brown. As they molt and age, they gradually adopt their adult coloration of a flat beige-gray with a black starburst on the carapace and black patterning on the abdomen and legs. Adults have reddish setae on the legs.

Social Behavior: Stromatopelma calceatum are not social creatures, any attempts to cohabitate will likely result in cannibalism.

Breeding: Spiders for breeding purposes should remain supervised when together and should only be attempted well fed. Mature males can be put in the enclosure of a mature female for courtship/mating. Remove male promptly after insertion is observed, or immediately if female is aggressive rather than receptive. This is best done around a month after the female molts, as a freshly molted female is less likely to molt out of a pairing.

Natural Range: Stromatopelma calceatum are found over much of West Africa.

Links of Interest: 

• Arachnoboards: a community of spider enthusiasts that will be able to or have already answered almost any question you can think of with regards to tarantulas.

http://arachnoboards.com/

Still not sure if Feather Leg baboon tarantula from Josh's Frogs is the right pet bug for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!