SPECIAL NOTE: USPS forbids shipping venomous spiders or scorpions in the mail.

Because of this, we ship these animals FedEx priority overnight for a flat fee of $39.99.

• An eye catching spider from South Africa, these blue legged cuties will grow up to be the crown jewel of any hobbyist’s collection.
• Old world species aren’t suggested for beginning hobbyists, however this species is widely hailed as a good first foray into the keeping of Old World tarantulas.
• Generally reclusive and skittish, this species’ big appetite can get the best of them and they are often found with their little blue feet peeking out of their burrow on feeding day.

Harpactira pulchripes has Latin and Greek roots meaning “plunderer” and “beautiful foot.” With their enthusiasm for prey and especially striking leg coloration, it’s not hard to see how their name came about. They are commonly known as the Golden Blue Legged Baboon.

Enclosure: 

This is an obligate burrowing species. Surface area of the enclosure should be no less than two times the spider's diagonal leg span in one direction and three times the diagonal leg span in the other. The enclosure should be tall enough to accommodate 2"-3" of substrate for slings and 6"+ for adults. Never allow your terrestrial spider more than two times their diagonal leg span as head space above their substrate as a fall from any higher could be catastrophic.

Temperatures:

Ideally kept in the 70-76 degree range, temperatures consistently 5 or more degrees outside of this range should be avoided for the well-being of the spider. This species natural range only gets to temperatures of 80 degrees during the hottest months of the year and as such they thrive in slightly lower temperatures than most tarantulas.

Humidity:

65%-70%, these little ones aren’t especially moisture tolerant as slings and should be given a dry area of the environment so they don’t get overwhelmed by the dampness in the substrate, they are fine with around ⅓ of the enclosure moistened for safety’s sake as slings, as they grow they are perfectly ok with just a water dish that gets overflowed occasionally.

Size:

Specimens sold by Josh's frogs will be at least .75" at time of sale. Adults can reach up to 5-6” for females and around 3” for males.

Age:

Golden Blue Legged Baboon babies sold by Josh's Frogs are at least 2-3 months old. A female can live 10-12 years, whereas males average about 3-4.

Feeding:

At time of sale they are eating 4-5 hydei fruit flies one time per week, food should be sized to about the size of the spider's carapace. Older spiders can eat less frequently, with adults eating every 10-14 days.

Sexing:

Due to age, H pulchripes spiderlings sold by Josh's Frogs are sold as unsexed. Specimens of 2.5"-3" diagonal leg span will be able to start being accurately sexed. The most accurate method is always molt sexing, the molt of a female tarantula of appropriate size will have spermatheca and a uterus externus in between the top two sets of book lungs that will appear as a "flap" that will catch and open if a pin is gently run down this section of the old exoskeleton. Males will have a much more plain slit that will not budge with attempts to manipulate it.

Coloration/patterning:

Slings start out hinting at their adult coloration, generally a dark orange with black tipped feet, getting closer to their signature golden body with slate blue feet with each molt as they grow up.

Social behavior:

H pulchripes are not social creatures and any attempt to cohabitate will likely result in cannibalism.

Breeding:

Spiders for breeding purposes should remain supervised when together and should only be attempted well fed. Mature males can be put in the enclosure of a mature female for courtship/mating. Remove male promptly after insertion is observed, or immediately if female is aggressive rather than receptive.

Natural Range:

South Africa

Still not sure if Golden Blue Leg Baboon tarantula from Josh's Frogs is the right pet for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!