RecoveryInvertebrates
King Baboon care guide
Pelinobius muticus
Substrate depth is the enclosure. Give at least 10 in of packed burrowing mix — a fossorial species with shallow substrate sits exposed and stressed at the surface.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
King Baboon enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult king baboon should live in at least 12" L × 10" W × 14" H; we build toward 16" L × 12" W × 16" H (1.3 × 1 × 1.3 ft, roughly 1.3 sq ft of floor and about a 13-gallon glass equivalent).
Measure height as substrate depth plus a few inches of air, not as climbing space.
- Spiderling / sling
- 3" L × 3" W × 5" H recommended · min 2" L × 2" W × 4" H
- Juvenile
- 6" L × 6" W × 9" H recommended · min 5" L × 5" W × 7" H
- Adult
- 16" L × 12" W × 16" H recommended · min 12" L × 10" W × 14" H
Temperature and heating
Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — no basking site, no heat lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–80 °F ambient room temperature
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75 °F ambient room temperature
- Night
- Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Run lights on a Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 40–55% ambient. Keep the substrate bone dry and offer a full water dish; overflow it only if the species tolerates a damp corner.
Substrate and depth
Packed coco fibre, topsoil and a little clay so tunnels hold their shape. Depth: 10–14 in.
- Ventilation: Side vents above the substrate line, so the deep layer stays damp while the surface breathes.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Cork bark round pressed into the substrate as a burrow start
- Water dish at the surface
- Leaf litter for humidity and cover
Build list
- Deep-substrate enclosure with a locking lid — Fossorial species push lids off from below, and centipedes squeeze through any gap.
- Topsoil / coco fibre / clay burrowing mix — Pure coco fibre collapses; a clay fraction lets tunnels hold.
- Digital thermometer / hygrometer — Inverts are kept at room temperature — you need to know what the room actually does, not guess.
- Long feeding tongs and a catch cup — Every interaction — feeding, water top-ups, rehousing — should happen without your hand near the animal.
King Baboon FAQ
How big should an adult King Baboon enclosure be?
At least 12" L × 10" W × 14" H, and we recommend building to 16" L × 12" W × 16" H — about 1.3 × 1 × 1.3 ft, or a 13-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a King Baboon need?
Basking or warm surface None — no basking site, no heat lamp, warm side 72–80 °F ambient room temperature, cool side 70–75 °F ambient room temperature, night Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine. Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
Does a King Baboon need UVB?
None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Photoperiod: Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun.
What humidity does a King Baboon need?
40–55% ambient. Keep the substrate bone dry and offer a full water dish; overflow it only if the species tolerates a damp corner.
What substrate is best for a King Baboon?
Packed coco fibre, topsoil and a little clay so tunnels hold their shape, at a depth of 10–14 in.
How big does a King Baboon enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Spiderling / sling: 3" L × 3" W × 5" H recommended, minimum 2" L × 2" W × 4" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Is there anything to be careful about when keeping a King Baboon?
Old World species: no urticating setae, fast, defensive and medically significant venom. Bite-safe protocol only — catch cups, long tongs, never free-handle.
How much ventilation does a King Baboon enclosure need?
Side vents above the substrate line, so the deep layer stays damp while the surface breathes.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own king baboon record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.