Pterinochilus murinus DCF
Kigoma Starburst Baboon - complete care guide
Kigoma Starburst Baboon
Temperature
24-28 °C
Target ambient range
Humidity
60-70 %
Substrate / enclosure RH
Adult DLS
11-14 cm
Average - varies per individual
Moult interval
Sling 2-5w - Juv 1.3-2.3mo
Adult 8-12mo
Adult cycle = mature females; males never moult again after maturity
About
The Kigoma Starburst Baboon - the DARK colour form (DCF) of Pterinochilus murinus from Kigoma, Tanzania, and southward into Botswana and Zimbabwe: charcoal-grey setae with the starburst pattern in gunmetal rather than orange. Same animal, different paint - and a slightly more subdued look that many keepers prefer. Full OBT behaviour and ease of care; a little harder to find than the orange forms (around £28 for juveniles).
Husbandry cheat sheet
- Origin
- Tanzania (Kigoma) / Botswana / Zimbabwe
- Habitat
- Dry scrub and mopane woodland - web fortresses
- Temperament
- Defensive
- In your collection
- 0
Growth, lifespan & conservation
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maturity
- ♀ 18mo ♂ 12mo
- Lifespan
- ♀ 14yr ♂ 3yr
- Continent
- Africa
- UK availability
- Uncommon
Care Guide
Pterinochilus murinus DCF
Kigoma Starburst Baboon - a complete husbandry sheet. Use as a starting point and adjust to your individual specimen.
What size enclosure does a Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula need?
Adults
30 × 25 cm footprint with 10-15 cm of substrate.
Slings & Juveniles
Small tubs with 6-8 cm of substrate and an anchor.
To map exact floor space and substrate safety limits for your setup, use our free interactive tarantula enclosure planner.
What temperature and humidity does a Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula need?
Heating
The Kigoma Starburst Baboons is comfortable at 24-28 °C. UK homes need supplementary warmth for much of the year; warm the room, never the tank floor.
Humidity
60-70 %: dry substrate, full water dish.
Ventilation
Cross-ventilation with a dry setup.
What substrate is best for a Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula?
Recommended Mixes
Depth
10-15 cm
Notes
Deep and dry-packed, anchoring the fortress web.
How do you set up a Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula enclosure?
Décor
The Hide
Its own web fortress from substrate to lid.
Water
Always provide a shallow water dish at the fortress edge.
Lighting
Ambient room light only.
How often should you feed a Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula?
Good Feeders
Long refusal worrying you? Separate premoult fasting from genuine problems with our "Is my T okay?" checker.
Is my Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula dying or moulting?
Pre-moult signs to look for
Refusing food for weeks is normal before a moult - a healthy Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula fasting is almost never an emergency in itself. Watch for slowing down and spending more time in the hide, laying a thick moult mat of web on the floor. Old World species do not flick urticating hairs, so there is no bald patch to watch - rely on fasting, lethargy and hide time instead.
On its back is MOULTING, not dying
A Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula lying upside down or on its side with legs curled inwards is almost certainly mid-moult. Do not touch it, do not right it, do not mist it - just remove any live prey (crickets can kill a defenceless moulter) and leave the room.
How long between moults?
For this species, expect a moult roughly every 16-32 days for spiderlings, every 40-68 days for juveniles, and every 95-150 days for sub-adults, with adult females moulting around every 8 months (up to 12 months at the extreme). Males never moult again after their ultimate (mature) moult.
After the moult: fang hardening time
The new exoskeleton stays soft, with fangs that cannot grip, for roughly 6 days in this species. Offer no food and no handling for about 7 days - feeding too early is how fresh moulters get injured. The shed exuvium is also the best sexing tool there is - see our tarantula sexing guide for what to look for.
Genuinely worried about behaviour that is not moulting? Our "Is my T okay?" triage tool walks the danger signs one by one.
What ongoing care does a Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantula need?
🪞 Moulting
Moults inside the web fortress, often sealed in. Do not open the system; keep the water dish full and wait until it reopens with hard black fangs before feeding. Adult intervals apply to mature females - males never moult after their ultimate moult.
🧹 Cleaning
Weekly: refresh the water dish and clear boluses via the web with tongs. Full cleans need a rehouse plan.
✋ Handling
Never - full OBT behaviour. Catch cup, lid discipline, full attention.
What are the most common mistakes when keeping Kigoma Starburst Baboon Tarantulas?
✓ What They Love
- Deep substrate for the fortress
- Dry-side setup with a full water dish
- Warm and stable
- Long tongs and lid discipline
- Secure clamping lid - they climb
✕ Common Mistakes
- Free handling - bites without warning
- Wet substrate
- Open-lid maintenance
- Underestimating the speed
Keep exploring: related care guides
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