Not furry either, still lovely.
Togo Starburst Baboon
Heteroscodra maculata
Also called Ornamental Baboon Tarantula, Feather-Leg Baboon
From West Africa, primarily Togo and Ghana, also Cameroon and surrounding regions123
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Diagonal leg span (DLS) of an adult
Looks how to spot one
exoskeleton
A stocky, arboreal tarantula with a chalky white, grey and black mottled pattern that gives it a frosted, camouflaged look. The carapace has a starburst design, the abdomen is spotted, and the back legs are noticeably thick. Long hairs on the legs give a fluffy appearance.267
Personality what they are like
Very fast, defensive and shy. It prefers to flee but will bite if cornered, delivering a painful, medically significant venom. Not a handling animal; strictly for advanced keepers.436
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Low activity needs; it is a sedentary ambush predator that spends most of its time in its retreat. Enclosure maintenance must be done carefully due to its speed and defensiveness.42
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Minimal grooming; keep the enclosure clean, remove uneaten prey, and maintain stable warmth and humidity. Use long tools and secure access points during maintenance to prevent escapes.43
Home where they are happiest
An arboreal setup with a vertical cork tube or bark slab as a retreat, a water dish, and a substrate layer to retain humidity. Temperature 21-26°C, humidity 60-75% with good ventilation. A secure enclosure of at least 20x20x30 cm for an adult is recommended. This species is not venomous to humans in a life-threatening way, but its bite can cause intense pain, cramping and nausea; it is a display animal, not a handling animal.4365
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Insectivorous: crickets, roaches, locusts and other suitable live insects. Feed adults every 7-14 days, juveniles more often. Remove uneaten prey.436
Company who they like around
Solitary; keep one tarantula per enclosure. It does not need or tolerate company.4
The story where it all began
Heteroscodra maculata was first described in 1899 by British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock. It is an Old World tarantula native to West Africa, where it lives in tree holes and vegetation in humid forests. In the pet trade it is known as the Togo Starburst Baboon, prized for its striking camouflage pattern and fast, defensive nature. It has a reputation as a challenging species suitable only for experienced keepers.127
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Togo Starburst Baboon. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingDepends on species, many feed from the light and the watervaries
- Salinity checkevery week
- Water testevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Light checkevery month
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Togo Starburst Baboon?
Feed adults every 7 to 14 days and juveniles more often. Always remove any uneaten prey to keep the enclosure clean.436
What does a Togo Starburst Baboon eat, and what should it never eat?
It eats live insects like crickets, roaches, and locusts. Never feed it anything other than suitable live prey, and remove any uneaten food.436
How much space does a Togo Starburst Baboon need?
An adult needs a secure enclosure of at least 20x20x30 cm with vertical space for climbing. This arboreal species requires a retreat like a cork tube or bark slab.4365
What temperature, light or water does a Togo Starburst Baboon need?
Keep the temperature between 21 and 26°C with humidity at 60 to 75%. Provide a water dish and good ventilation. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests checking water quality weekly and topping up evaporation with fresh RO water daily.4365 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Togo Starburst Baboon's home?
Clean the enclosure as needed by removing uneaten prey and waste. Use long tools and secure access points during maintenance to prevent escapes.43
Can a Togo Starburst Baboon live with others?
No, it is strictly solitary and must be kept alone. It does not need or tolerate company.4
How long does a Togo Starburst Baboon live?
Females can live up to 15 years, while males have a shorter lifespan of around 3 years. This is a long-term commitment for a display animal.43
Can I handle a Togo Starburst Baboon?
No, this is not a handling animal. It is very fast, defensive, and will bite if cornered, delivering a painful, medically significant venom. It is strictly for advanced keepers as a display pet.436
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- wsc.nmbe.ch: 44154 wsc.nmbe.chused for origin, history
- fearnottarantulas.com: heteroscodra maculata togo starburst baboon tarantula fearnottarantulas.comused for origin, coat or body, colours, best traits, activity needs, history, fun fact
- thetarantulacollective.com: heteroscodra maculata thetarantulacollective.comused for origin, length cm, lifespan years, best traits, temperament, grooming or care, habitat needs, diet basics
- academy.herpeton.net: heteroscodra maculata academy.herpeton.netused for length cm, lifespan years, temperament, activity needs, grooming or care, habitat needs, diet basics, social needs
- coasttocoast.co.uk: togo starburst baboon heteroscodra maculata coasttocoast.co.ukused for length cm, habitat needs
- eightlegs.us: togo eightlegs.usused for coat or body, colours, temperament, habitat needs, diet basics
- jungledragon.com: togo starburst baboon spider jungledragon.comused for coat or body, history, fun fact
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-10-01. Text is written in our own words from these sources.