Keeper guide

Straight Horned Baboon Growth Rate — How Fast Does Ceratogyrus marshalli Grow?

Ceratogyrus marshalli, commonly known as the Straight Horned Baboon, has a fast growth rate. Young spiders usually moult more often than large juveniles and adults, but no two Straight Horned Baboons grow at exactly the same speed.

At a glance

Quick facts

World
Old World
Origin
Zimbabwe and Mozambique
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, defensive and best maintained with planned catch-cup techniques
Venom
Venomous; Old World bite effects can be medically important
Temperature
21–27°C
Moisture / humidity
Mostly dry upper substrate with some lower moisture and clean water
CITES
Check current CITES rules before cross-border trade

How fast does it grow?

Straight Horned Baboons are generally described as fast growers. That gives a useful expectation for Ceratogyrus marshalli, but it is not a promise that every sling will reach the same size at the same age.

Adult Ceratogyrus marshalli reach about 12–14 cm (4.75–5.5 in). The time taken to get there depends on sex, feeding, temperature and ordinary individual variation.

Moult intervals change with age

Small Straight Horned Baboons often moult more frequently because they are growing rapidly. As Ceratogyrus marshalli gets larger, the interval between moults normally becomes longer.

Do not treat a longer interval in an older Straight Horned Baboon as a problem by itself. Look at appetite, body condition, retreat use and the spider's previous moult pattern.

Feeding and temperature

Feeding influences how quickly Ceratogyrus marshalli grows, but there is no benefit in keeping the abdomen constantly overfilled. Offer suitable meals and let appetite guide the interval.

A practical temperature range for Ceratogyrus marshalli is 21–27°C. Stable conditions are preferable to pushing the temperature upward in an attempt to force faster growth.

Male and female growth

Male Ceratogyrus marshalli usually mature sooner and have a shorter lifespan of about roughly 2–4 years, while females can live 8–12 years. That difference means two similar-sized juveniles may eventually follow very different timelines.

Sex cannot be judged reliably from growth speed alone. Use a suitable moult when possible instead of assuming a faster-growing Straight Horned Baboon must be male.

Tracking growth

Record moult dates for Ceratogyrus marshalli and note approximate size when rehousing. You do not need precise measurements after every moult; a simple record is enough to show whether the spider is growing steadily.

Photographs taken after a Straight Horned Baboon has hardened can also help show changes over time, provided the spider is not disturbed simply to get a measurement.

When growth means rehousing

Rehouse a Straight Horned Baboon when its current enclosure no longer gives enough retreat space, substrate or safe access for maintenance. Do not move Ceratogyrus marshalli after every moult automatically.

Prepare the larger enclosure before the transfer. The goal is to keep each stage of Ceratogyrus marshalli's growth in housing that is secure and practical, not to race toward the adult enclosure.