Cameroon Red Baboon Spider (Hysterocrates gigas “Cameroon Red”) Care Sheet

Quick Facts

Attribute	Details
Common Name	Cameroon Red Baboon Spider
Scientific Name	Hysterocrates gigas
Origin	Cameroon, West Africa
Adult Size	15–18 cm leg span
Lifespan	10–15 years
Activity	Nocturnal / burrowing predator

Behavior

• Defensive.

• Burrower; spends most of the day in substrate or under hides.

• Active at night when hunting.

• Generally slow-moving but strong; may rear up when threatened.

Enclosure Requirements

• Tank Size: Minimum 40 liters for a single adult

• Substrate: 10–15 cm of moist coconut fiber, soil, or peat moss for burrowing

• Decor: Cork bark, rocks, and hides; provide secure burrowing space

• Humidity: 70–80%

• Temperature:

  • Day: 24–28°C

  • Night: 20–24°C

• Lighting: Low light; indirect lighting preferred

• Ventilation: Moderate airflow to prevent mold while maintaining humidity

Compatibility

• Best housed singly; highly territorial.

• Avoid cohabiting with other spiders or predatory arthropods.

• Can tolerate quiet, non-threatening tank mates only if space is abundant.

Diet

• Carnivorous: live prey only

  • Crickets

  • Roaches

  • Mealworms / superworms

  • Occasional waxworms

• Feed juveniles 2–3× per week; adults 1× per week

• Provide shallow water dish

• Remove uneaten prey after 24 hours

Care Tips

• Avoid handling; may bite defensively.

• Maintain proper humidity and substrate moisture for burrowing and molting.

• Provide secure hides and burrowing opportunities.

• Spot-clean regularly and remove mold or waste.

• Ensure a secure lid; strong climber and escape-prone if given the chance.

Visual Quick Guide

• 🏠 Enclosure: ≥40 L, burrowable substrate, hides

• 🌡️ Temp: Day 24–28°C / Night 20–24°C

• 💧 Humidity: 70–80%

• 🍴 Diet: Carnivorous (live insects)

• 🕒 Activity: Nocturnal, burrowing hunter

• ⚠️ Stress: Avoid handling; provide secure burrows