Monocentropus balfouri “Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula”

Monocentropus balfouri “Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula” is one of the most popular tarantula species in the hobby. It is not only their beautiful appearance that makes them so popular, but also the fact that they can be kept in groups. When we first saw this species, we were a little disappointed with the colour of the animals. We had googled the species before and saw bright blue animals and also went into this with that expectation. Unfortunately, this appearance was not confirmed and we would also like to point out to everyone that the animals showing such a colour spectrum in photos were always photographed shortly after a moult. Nevertheless, the animals are beautiful and also the pattern is extraordinary, you should just lower your expectations a bit.

Their nature is very sociable and they prefer to flee in case of danger. Aggressive behaviour has not yet been observed, a threatening gesture is the absolute exception and it takes a lot for it to happen.

Keeping them in groups works quite well. You should make sure that the animals do not start to form territories and thus develop a certain aggressiveness. A 30 cm cube is very suitable for 3-5 animals and should not be larger. As Monocentropus balfouri comes from Yemen, where it also lives in coastal areas, a forest humus and sand mixture in a ratio of 1:1 should be used as substrate. It is relatively dry there and the ground-dwelling tarantula copes very well with a relative humidity of 65 to 70 %. In its natural habitat, the spider builds living tubes in the ground and comes out at dusk to look for food. Alternatively, you can offer it a cork tube in the terrarium. A container with water or aquapearl should always be offered. Any food that is appropriate for their size and can be managed is suitable.