Quick Answer: Heteroscodra maculata, the Togo Starburst Baboon, is an advanced Old World arboreal from West Africa. Tall arboreal enclosure, 76-84°F, 70-80% RH, cork bark tube anchor. No urticating hairs. Medically significant venom — extremely fast defensive species. Experienced keepers only. Download the free care sheet PDF.
Introduction
Heteroscodra maculata, the Togo Starburst Baboon, is an Old World arboreal from the tropical forests of West Africa — Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Cameroon. It occupies tree hollows and bark crevices, building dense silk tube retreats that it defends aggressively. The species takes its common name from the striking geometric patterning on the abdomen: a cream-and-brown starburst design that makes it one of the more visually distinctive baboon tarantulas in the hobby.
H. maculata carries a reputation as one of the more unpredictable defensive species in the hobby. It is faster than most keepers expect and bites with less warning than comparable Old World arboreals. That reputation is earned. This is not a species for someone working through their first Old World enclosure, or for a keeper who has not yet developed solid, unhurried maintenance habits with a fast spider.
For the keeper who is genuinely ready for it, the Togo Starburst is a long-term display animal with no behavioral equivalent in the hobby. Nothing sits still, nothing threatens, and nothing is predictable in the way a slow New World species is. That is exactly what advanced keepers are looking for.
Quick Stats
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Heteroscodra maculata |
| Common name | Togo Starburst Baboon |
| Origin | West Africa — Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon |
| Habitat | Arboreal; tree hollows and bark crevices in tropical forest |
| Adult female legspan | 5-6 inches |
| Adult male legspan | 4-5 inches |
| Female lifespan | 10-15 years |
| Male lifespan | 2-3 years post-maturity |
| Experience level | Advanced |
| Urticating hairs | None (Old World species) |
| Venom | Old World — medically significant; seek medical care after any bite |
| Webbing | Heavy tube webber; seals bark hide densely with silk |
Enclosure Setup
Arboreal enclosure with cross-ventilation. Height matters more than footprint for this species — it builds its retreat high and will use every inch of vertical space. A secure lid with a positive-latch closure is mandatory. H. maculata is an escape risk with any gap or loose-fitting cover.
| Life Stage | Enclosure Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sling (under 1") | 6-16 oz deli cup | Side ventilation; cork bark anchor vertically |
| Juvenile (1-3") | 6"W x 6"D x 10"H | Arboreal; top-opening preferred; secure lid |
| Sub-adult / Adult | 10"W x 10"D x 14"H minimum | Positive-latch lid; cork bark anchor at mid-to-upper height |
Substrate: 3-4 inches coco fibre or coco/peat mix, lightly moist in the lower third, dry at the surface. Anchor a large piece of cork bark vertically against the back wall — this is where the spider will build its tube. H. maculata seals the bark hide completely with dense silk and spends the majority of its time inside the retreat. A permanent water dish at substrate level is required. Do not mist the enclosure directly.
Temperature and Humidity
Tropical West African forest conditions: warm and moderately humid year-round. This species is more forgiving of humidity variation than some other Old World arboreals, but sustained low humidity will cause problems over time. Good cross-ventilation prevents bacterial and mold buildup at this humidity level.
| Parameter | Target Range | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime temperature | 76-84°F (24-29°C) | Below 68°F or above 88°F |
| Night temperature | 70-78°F (21-26°C) | Sustained below 65°F |
| Ambient humidity | 70-80% RH | Below 60% sustained or above 85% |
| Substrate moisture | Moist lower third; dry surface | Waterlogged or bone-dry throughout |
Overflow the water dish once a week to moisten the lower substrate. Cross-ventilation keeps the ambient humidity in range without the air becoming stagnant. Do not mist the enclosure walls or spray toward the spider.
Feeding
H. maculata feeds reliably when settled. It typically ambushes prey from the tube entrance or hunts at night after the room is dark. Prey dropped near the web anchor area is usually taken quickly. Pre-kill prey for slings and small juveniles to eliminate any risk of prey injuring the spider.
| Life Stage | Prey Item | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Sling | Fruit flies, pinhead crickets (pre-killed) | Every 4-5 days |
| Juvenile | Small crickets, small dubia roaches | Every 5-7 days |
| Sub-adult / Adult | Large crickets, large dubia roaches | Every 10-14 days |
| Pre/Post-molt | None — remove all live prey | Resume 14-21 days post-molt (adults) |
Remove uneaten prey within 24 hours. Pre-molt fasting in adults typically runs 4-8 weeks — longer than many comparable species. A sudden stop in feeding from an otherwise reliable spider almost always means pre-molt, not illness. Do not attempt to force-feed.
Watering
A permanent shallow water dish at substrate level is required. Refresh it every 3-4 days. Overflow it once a week onto the lower substrate to maintain moisture in the lower third of the enclosure. Do not mist the enclosure walls or spray toward the spider at any time. H. maculata drinks from the dish and derives sufficient humidity from the lower substrate moisture and water dish evaporation.
Molting
Pre-molt signs: extended prey refusal (4-8 weeks in adults), abdomen darkening, and heavy additional silking of the tube entrance or complete sealing of the retreat. Do not disturb a sealed tube during pre-molt or active molt. Remove all live prey from the enclosure immediately when pre-molt behavior appears.
Post-molt: wait 14-21 days for sub-adults and adults before offering food. Fangs must be fully dark and hardened before the spider is ready to eat. Do not rush the post-molt wait — this species hardens more slowly than smaller New World species. Offering prey too early after molt risks injury to both the spider and the keeper during prey removal.
Temperament and Handling
Do not handle this species. H. maculata is considered one of the most defensively unpredictable tarantulas in the hobby — faster to strike than many Poecilotheria species, and less likely to display a visible threat posture before biting. Old World venom is medically significant. Any bite from H. maculata warrants immediate medical evaluation, not a wait-and-see approach.
Use long metal tongs and a large clear acrylic container for all enclosure maintenance. Always confirm the spider's location before opening the lid — H. maculata can be at the top of the enclosure and out the gap before the lid is fully open. Never reach bare-handed into the enclosure. Work slowly, deliberately, and with the spider's position tracked throughout the entire procedure.
Is This Species Right for You?
The Togo Starburst Baboon is appropriate for a keeper who has successfully maintained at least one Old World arboreal species — a Poecilotheria or comparable — and has developed the slow, deliberate maintenance habits that Old World species require. Keepers who are still learning those habits with a more forgiving species should finish that learning before acquiring an H. maculata.
If you have the experience, the equipment, and the patience for a genuinely advanced Old World species, the Togo Starburst delivers. The geometric patterning is striking, the silk work is impressive, and this is a species that commands attention in any collection. Adult females live 10-15 years. A well-settled specimen in a properly built enclosure is one of the most interesting long-term keeper species available.