Help with everything.. Beginner..

[Fishies]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and have just started keeping tarantulas. I got a
baby Mexican red knee (Brachypelma smithi) very recently however there is an abundance
of information on them online. Since I live in South Africa me and my dad decided
to go out and see if we could catch a baboon spider... We did... Two infact.
The first is very small with a legspan of about 3cm. The other is very big (we caught it
from it's nest) whose leg span im not going to bother guessing but it's body and it's abdomen is
around 4 or 5cm and its big.. Anyhow, there is virtually no information online about keeping them.. how
should i set everything up? any advice is appreciated

 

[Bones Wiggill]

Firstly you need to find out what type of baboon you have there. If I'm not mistaken there are about 20 different species. See which baboon is native to your area and then work your way from there. Once you have that you should be able to trace habitat etc.

 

[Fishies]

Been looking for a long time now.. can't find any names :/. it is black with light brownish hairs...

 

[Bones Wiggill]

A little something like this?

 

[Bones Wiggill]

Found a site that might be usefull to you. It's a south african site dedicated to south african tarantula's (baboon spiders) it has pictures and explinations with latin names on all 42 species (yeah made a mistake when I said 20) enjoy it and keep us up to date on what you found out on the specie. http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/november/baboon.htm

 

[Fishies]

Thanks! yeah it looks pretty much exactly like that. having a look at the site now

 

[Fishies]

I'm going to see if I can get a photo on here...

 

[Bones Wiggill]

Glad I could help. Personal advise.....will probably get crusified cause of this (hahahah) ..... Try and imitate your tank to the area you caught the T. As far as I know, the south african T's are more aggresive, so handling will be a bit of a tough one, but it's like a bee sting when bitten. Have some allergex close to your vivariums just incase someone is allergic. The hairs is also venomous (not deadly) so wash your hands after you handled them just incase you rub your eye and one of those hairs gets in there.

 

[Fishies]

Heres a pic

 

[Scoolman]

Cool finds. The venom of the "Baboon" tarantulas of Africa is more potent than your typical New World species, and they do not have urticating hairs. Handling is not a good idea, due to their highly defensive nature and increased venom potency.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Hello Fishies
Just be careful, since our laws and legislations don't allow capture and keeping of indigenous species. You will be crucified by locals, and risk getting in trouble. You can however acquire african not south african species from breeders that have captive bred them or could point you in the right direction, will post links in this reply.
http://www.petbugs.co.za/
http://www.tarantulasforsale.co.za/tarantulas-for-sale/
http://www.tarantulacafe.co.za/online-shop