Socotra Island Blue Baboon (Monocentropus balfouri)
Last updated: October 3, 2026
This is not a care guide. If you are interested in keeping this species, please research its husbandry thoroughly before purchasing. Tom's Big Spiders has species-specific husbandry notes that are a solid place to start.
Quick facts
- Adult size
- About 5.5 inches (females)
- From
- Socotra Island, Yemen
- Lifestyle
- Burrower, can be kept communally
- Type
- Old World
While most tarantulas are solitary animals, this species of tarantula has been seen cohabitating with one another in tight spaces. Monocentropus balfouri is a gorgeous cream and blue species that is able to live communally with one another, so long as certain parameters are met. Even if not kept communally, M. balfouri is a wonderful fossorial species that webs a bit of their enclosure, and tends to wander out occasionally.
Endemic to Socotra Island off the coast of Yemen, these isolated tarantulas have such a unique appearance compared to other baboon spiders in their subfamily. Females can reach a size of 5.5 inches, with males getting a bit smaller. The males, upon reaching maturity, take on a much more blue color than their female counterparts, almost turning completely midnight blue. This species is called the “Socotra Island Blue Baboon” or sometimes just “Blue Baboon Tarantula.” A beloved species in the hobby, no matter if they're kept communally or solitary; they make a great introduction into old worlds.
Current Prices
Monocentropus balfouri (Socotra Island Blue Baboon) currently sells for between $39.99 and $320.00 in the United States, with a median asking price of $65.00 across 27 in-stock listings from 16 vendors. Price depends mostly on size and sex: slings sit at the low end, mature females at the high end.
| Cheapest listing right now | $39.99 |
|---|---|
| Typical price (median) | $65.00 |
| Most expensive listing | $320.00 |
| Listings in stock | 27 |
| Vendors carrying it | 16 |
In stock at: Big Z's, Buddha Bugs, FangzTV, Fear Not Tarantulas, Grimoire Exotics, Jamie's Tarantulas, Josh's Frogs, Juice's Arthropods, Marshall Arachnids, Micro Wilderness, One Love Tarantulas, Pacific Northwest Arachnids, Plumb's Exotics, Spider Shoppe, Vexotic Me, Wonderland Exotics. Compare every Monocentropus balfouri listing by price.
Prices as of October 14, 2026. Live figures in the table below.
Related Guides
- How Much Substrate Do I Need?
- What to Expect When Ordering a Tarantula Online
- Why Buying From One Vendor Can Save You Money on Shipping
This profile was written by Jonathan Strub, a fellow keeper. Thank you, Jonathan! I did some light copy editing.