The King Baboon Tarantula can only be described as spectacular. The King Baboon is one of the most popular tarantulas among experienced hobbyists.

An extremely skittish and aggressive species, King Baboon Tarantulas are known to bite their keepers. The venom of their bite is said to be more toxic than other tarantulas. Their toxic venom and aggressive tendencies make them less suitable for beginners, the King Baboon is only recommended for experienced hobbyists. Handling is generally not recommended, even for the most experienced keepers. When disturbed, they will stand up on their hind legs in a defensive position. They have been said to hiss at danger, as well. Surprisingly the females have a much longer life span than males. Females can live an astonishing twenty to thirty years, while males generally only live seven to ten years. Their mating rituals do not help the short life span of the male. After mating, the female will normally eat the male's body to nourish them ensure good health while pregnant. Captive young King Baboon spiderlings can be fed small crickets. The adult King Baboon Tarantula does well with a diet of large insects, amphibians, pinkie mice, and other invertebrates. The King Baboon is an active tarantula. They are generally seen from dusk into evening. This is the time they hunt and work on their ever-changing burrows. They are typically not active in the daytime. In the wild the King Baboon is a deep burrowing tarantula. In captivity mature King Baboons have been reported to stay in their burrows for months at a time. If this is true they might not be the best tarantulas for those who like to watch their tarantulas on a day-to-day basis. Other sources, however, state that this tarantula is constantly making new burrows and will not disappear. Whichever is true, the King Baboon Tarantula is a deep burrower, both in captivity and in the wild. Captive housing should mimic their natural environment as closely as possible. For housing use a ten to twenty gallon tank. It is important to use five to eight inches of potting soil, vermiculite, or both, for burrowing. The depth of the substrate will depend on the actual size of your King Baboon. The substrate should be approximately one and a half times the length of the tarantula. The substrate should be kept only slightly damp. This species prefers a drier substrate than most. Keep the temperature between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity stable. Although some humidity is required, the tank for the King Baboon Tarantula can be kept relatively dry. If your tarantula's leg span is over three inches, it will be able to drink from a shallow dish, though many keepers do use them. Instead, if there is enough condensation on the walls of the tank this can suffice.

Mature King Baboons will grow to a length in between six and a half to nine inches. They are a slow growing species. They are the second largest of all the African Tarantulas; females are generally larger than males. All mature King Baboons that have a length of eight inches or greater are female. They have bright brown to rusty red bodies that are clothed in small short hairs giving them a velvety texture. The King Baboon is a very handsome tarantula.

Originating in African the King Baboon Tarantula is commonly found in deep burrows on the scrublands of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

When keeping King Baboon Tarantulas it is important that you ensure a tight fitting lid on your container. They are known escape artists and have strong feelers and fangs that enable them to snap even the strongest lid.

The King Baboon Tarantula is a very aggressive species, and they have rather toxic venom. For this reason, they are only recommended for experienced hobbyists. Handling is not recommended.

Male King Baboons will need ample room for creating their sperm webs. It is also important that several different objects be present for them to attach it to. Proper feeding and watering of the male is important prior to breeding. Female King Baboon Tarantulas will typically eat the male after mating. This ensures the proper nutrition and health of the female during her pregnancy.