What the substrate needs to do
Use a clean soil-style substrate for Harpactira pulchripes that can hold its shape without becoming hard, dusty or permanently waterlogged.
For Harpactira pulchripes, the substrate in a Golden Blue Leg Baboon enclosure should support normal movement and retreat building. Heavy decor must not be able to collapse if the spider digs underneath it.
Depth
Golden Blue Leg Baboons are fossorial, so give Harpactira pulchripes deep, compactable substrate that can hold a burrow. Depth is part of the enclosure design, not an optional extra.
Match substrate depth to the current size of Harpactira pulchripes. Small slings and fossorial individuals often use proportionally more depth than a large settled terrestrial adult.
Moisture
For Golden Blue Leg Baboons, use predominantly dry surface with a water dish and a small damp area; deep substrate and good airflow matter more than high humidity. Add water in a controlled area and judge how the enclosure changes over several days instead of trying to keep every centimetre equally wet.
Substrate moisture for Harpactira pulchripes should work together with ventilation. Persistent condensation, a stale smell or widespread mould usually means the setup is staying too wet.
Compaction and stability
Press the lower substrate layers firmly enough that a retreat or burrow for Harpactira pulchripes does not collapse immediately. The upper surface can remain looser where appropriate.
For Harpactira pulchripes, keep rocks, heavy cork and ornaments in a Golden Blue Leg Baboon enclosure low and secure so excavation cannot undermine them.
When substrate needs replacing
Spot-clean waste and prey remains from the Harpactira pulchripes enclosure. Normal digging, webbing or rearrangement by the spider is not a reason to replace clean substrate.
For Harpactira pulchripes, replace all substrate for a Golden Blue Leg Baboon only when it is fouled, contaminated, persistently mouldy or no longer structurally usable.