Keeper guide

Why Is My Rear Horned Baboon Not Eating? — Ceratogyrus darlingi

A Rear Horned Baboon refusing food is often normal. Ceratogyrus darlingi may fast before a moult, after rehousing, at maturity or simply during a period of lower appetite.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
Old World
Origin
Southern Africa
Lifestyle
Fossorial
UK hobby rarity
Uncommon
Maximum size
About 12–14 cm (4.75–5.5 in)
Growth rate
Fast
Male lifespan
Roughly 2–4 years
Female lifespan
Often 8–12 years
Temperament
Fast and defensive when exposed; usually prefers to remain underground
Venom
Venomous; Old World bite effects can be more significant than those of common beginner New Worlds
Temperature
21–27°C
Moisture / humidity
Mostly dry surface with a modest moisture gradient below; provide water and ventilation
CITES
Check current CITES rules before cross-border trade

The first thing to check

Look at the whole situation before worrying about a missed meal from Ceratogyrus darlingi. Check whether the abdomen is already well filled, whether the spider is hiding more and whether a moult may be approaching.

Make sure a Rear Horned Baboon has access to fresh water and that the enclosure is within the normal temperature range of 21–27°C.

Premoult fasting

Premoult is one of the most common reasons Rear Horned Baboons stop eating. Heavier webbing, a closed retreat and changes to the exposed abdomen can support that explanation.

If Ceratogyrus darlingi appears to be in premoult, remove live prey and stop offering more until after the moult and hardening period.

After rehousing or disturbance

A recently moved Rear Horned Baboon may ignore food while it establishes a retreat. Give Ceratogyrus darlingi time to settle instead of treating the first refusal as a husbandry emergency.

With Ceratogyrus darlingi, repeatedly opening the enclosure, moving the hide or offering prey every day can prolong disturbance. Keep water available and try again later.

Adults and mature males

Adult Ceratogyrus darlingi often eat less frequently than fast-growing juveniles. Mature males may become more active around the enclosure and less interested in food after the ultimate moult.

Do not try to force-feed a Rear Horned Baboon. Offer suitable prey occasionally and remove it if the spider is not interested.

When to offer food again

After a normal refusal, wait before trying Ceratogyrus darlingi again. The exact interval depends on size and life stage, but there is no need to replace an ignored feeder immediately.

When a Rear Horned Baboon resumes normal activity after a moult or fasting period, start with a sensible meal rather than several feeders at once.

When to look beyond appetite

Food refusal in Ceratogyrus darlingi matters more when it appears alongside other problems such as obvious loss of body condition, difficulty moving or an enclosure issue that could limit access to water.

Appetite alone is a poor measure of health in Rear Horned Baboons. Use the spider's overall condition, recent moults and normal behaviour to decide whether the fast is unusual for Ceratogyrus darlingi.