Monocentropus balfouri (Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula) 0.5-0.75"

Monocentropus balfouri (Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula)

The Socotra Island Blue Baboon is one of the most visually striking Old World species in the hobby, and it earns that look gradually. Slings start out a plain grey brown, then slowly build toward the adult look over several molts, metallic blue legs, a silver blue carapace, and a cream to tan abdomen with darker mottling. This is an old world tarantula for sale unlike almost anything else out there, both for its color and for a trait most tarantulas simply do not have.

Why do hobbyists keep Monocentropus balfouri?

• Stunning Coloration: Metallic blue legs paired with a silver blue carapace and a cream to tan abdomen with darker mottling, a combination that stands out even among colorful old world species.
• Color Change: Slings start out a plain grey brown and only gradually build into the full blue and cream adult look, making the transformation part of the appeal.
• Heavy Webber: Builds extensive tube webs and silk tunnels throughout the enclosure, giving it a genuinely lived in, decorated look over time.
• Communal Species: One of the very few tarantula species that can be raised in groups when introduced young, a trait almost no other species in the hobby shares.

How should Monocentropus balfouri be kept?

• Adult Size: Reaches about 5 to 6 inches at full leg span, a solidly built medium to large old world terrestrial.
• Enclosure: Provide a terrestrial setup roughly 3 times the leg span in width and depth, and 2 times the leg span in height, with soil about equal to the leg span in depth and a hide included. At full adult size that works out to about 18 inches of footprint, 12 inches of height, and 6 inches of substrate for it to build tunnels into.
• Temperature: 75-85°F, reflecting this species' warm, arid origin on Socotra Island.
• Humidity: Keep this species on the drier side overall, more so than most old world terrestrials. Good ventilation with only occasional light misting works well, since this is an arid adapted species rather than a rainforest one.
• Water: A shallow textured water dish works well, something they can grip when climbing out.
• Diet: Crickets, roaches, and similar feeders sized to about a quarter of the leg span, matching the width of the carapace (head). An efficient hunter with a strong feeding response. Feed at least once a week.
• Temperament: Fast and alert like most old world species, though generally calmer once established in its web system than many old world relatives. It carries a medically significant bite, so this is a display only animal. We do not encourage or recommend handling with any of our tarantulas, old world species especially.

Are there any additional notes or considerations?

• Communal Tendencies: This is one of the rare tarantula species that can genuinely thrive in group housing when raised together from a young age, something almost no other species in the hobby can claim.
• Slow Color Reveal: Expect the signature blue and cream look to develop gradually over multiple molts rather than all at once, part of what makes raising this species so rewarding.
• Captive Bred: All Tarantulas are 100% captive bred.