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ISOPOD KING · THE ROYAL CARE ARCHIVES
Old World Ground & Burrowing Tarantula Care Essentials
These tarantulas include burrow specialists, heavy webbers and other ground-oriented animals. They require experienced, hands-off maintenance and species-appropriate substrate.
Representative catalog photo; follow the notes for your animal.
Enclosure & shelter
Provide a secure enclosure with a sheltered retreat, stable web anchors and enough cohesive substrate for the species' digging behavior. A deep burrower needs genuine digging depth; a heavy webber also needs sheltered attachment points. Keep a limited, safe fall distance above the substrate.
Water, moisture & temperature
Keep drinking water available and choose substrate moisture by species. A damp Asian earth-tiger retreat and a drier baboon-tarantula surface are not interchangeable conditions. Avoid uncontrolled bottom heat and sudden attempts to correct humidity by flooding or sealing ventilation.
Feeding & molting
Feed suitable captive-bred insects and remove uneaten prey. Leave sealed burrows and molting spiders undisturbed. Keep individually even if a species has been reported in communal collections.
Species & Stock-Specific Care Notes
Open the matching entry for stock-specific notes. The product link keeps the full listing identity and ordering options available.
Ceratogyrus marshalli – Straight Horned Baboon Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 1"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Selenocosmia javanensis – Javan Yellow Knee Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 1"+
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Augacephalus junodi – Golden Baboon Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 1-1.5"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Ceratogyrus brachycephalus – Greater Horned Baboon Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 1.25"+
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Ceratogyrus meridionalis – Zimbabwe Grey Baboon Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Melopoeus albostriatus – Thai Purple Zebra Tarantula (Cyriopagopus albostriatus)
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 1/2-3/4"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Haplopelma doriae – Kalimantan Orange Fringe Tarantula (Cyriopagopus doriae)
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 1-1.5"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Selenocosmia arndsti – New Guinea Rust Orange Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Pelinobius muticus – King Baboon Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Ceratogyrus darlingi - Rear Horned Baboon Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 1"+ · 1.5-2" · 2 to 3" · Mature Male
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Cilantica devamatha – Psychedelic Earth Tiger Tarantula
Cilantica devamatha is the accepted name for the listing also traded under older Haploclastus or psychedelicus labels. Retain a protected deep-soil retreat and use hands-off maintenance. A taxonomic description does not validate a precise captive humidity percentage; confirm the actual stock’s temperature and moisture regime rather than treating a colorful trade name as a care specification.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1.25" · 1.5-2"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Chilobrachys fimbriatus - Indian Violet Tarantula
A deep, stable retreat and controlled maintenance access are important. Do not dig out a concealed animal simply to make it visible.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1" · 1"+
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Ischnocolus vanandelae - Omani Golden Tiger Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 1"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Idiothele mira - Blue Foot Trapdoor Baboon Dwarf Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Chilobrachys huahini - Asian Fawn Tarantula
A deep, stable retreat and controlled maintenance access are important. Do not dig out a concealed animal simply to make it visible.
Listing options
- Size: Captive Bred 3/4-1.25" · Wild Caught 4-5" · Mature Male
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Ischnocolus jickelii 'Blue' - Dhofar Blue Dwarf Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Chilobrachys natanicharum - Electric Blue Tarantula
A deep, stable retreat and controlled maintenance access are important. Do not dig out a concealed animal simply to make it visible.
Listing options
- Size: 1-1.5" · 1.5-2" · 3 to 4" · Mature Male · Mature Female
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Monocentropus balfouri - Socotra Island Blue Tarantula
Monocentropus balfouri can show social tolerance, but communal keeping is a specialist project with documented cannibalism risk. Do not combine unrelated or previously isolated animals on the assumption that feeding prevents conflict. Individual housing remains the default here; give sheltered ground retreats, web anchors and drinking access.
Listing options
- Size: 1/4-1/2" · 1"+ · 1.5" · 3-4" Unsexed · Mature Female
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Birupes simoroxigorum - Borneo Neon Blue Leg Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1" · 1.25-1.75"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Melopoeus lividus – Cobalt Blue Tarantula (Cyriopagopus lividus)
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1" · 1.25-1.5"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Hysterocrates gigas - Cameroon Tawny Red Baboon Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: Wild Caught Mix Size
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Aspinochilus rufus - Peach Earth Tiger Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1.25"
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Harpactira pulchripes - Golden Blue Leg Baboon Tarantula
Use the shared guide for core enclosure and maintenance principles. Exact enclosure dimensions, temperature and watering frequency depend on the species, life stage and stock history; confirm these before acquisition.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1" · 3 to 4" Suspect Female
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Pterinochilus murinus 'Kigoma' – Kigoma OBT
Kigoma is retained as a stock/locality label for Pterinochilus murinus. This is an Old World tarantula with a ground-based retreat, not a New World pet-handling species.
Listing options
- Size: 1"+
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Pterinochilus murinus 'Usambara' – Orange Baboon Tarantula
Usambara is retained as a stock/locality label for Pterinochilus murinus. Color and locality labels do not establish a different described species.
Listing options
- Size: 3/4-1" · Mature Male · 3 to 4" Female · Subadult/Adult Male & Female Pair
The product selector is the authority for available options and current stock. Confirm any size, sex or life stage that is not specified before ordering.
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Keeper FAQs
Can I handle an Old World tarantula?
No handling is recommended. Speed and the potential consequences of a bite make hands-off routines important.
Why has it disappeared into a burrow?
Concealment is normal for many burrow specialists. Do not dig it out for viewing.
Is OBT an arboreal tarantula?
Pterinochilus murinus may web and climb low structures, but it still needs a grounded retreat and suitable substrate.
Can Monocentropus balfouri automatically share an enclosure?
Communal keeping is a specialist practice with risks, not a requirement or the default recommendation here.
Everyday care checks
Check containment, drinking access and the animal's condition each day. Use captive-bred feeder insects appropriate to its size, remove leftovers and keep a record of feeding, molts and enclosure changes. Separate new arrivals from established animals and keep specimens individually as the default.
Keep pesticide sprays, scented cleaners and treated furnishings away from enclosures. Avoid direct sun and uncontrolled heat. A thermometer measures temperature; a humidity reading cannot tell you whether a burrow is dry, saturated or structurally stable.
Observe without handling. Do not force open sealed retreats or disturb a molting animal. Persistent weakness, injury or an unsuccessful molt needs experienced veterinary assessment rather than repeated improvised changes.
These guides explain care principles and important exceptions. A listing name does not independently identify a specimen, and related animals can need different conditions. For uncertain stock, ask Isopod King for its established care and provenance before choosing equipment.
Written for Isopod King. Care content reviewed November 6, 2026.