Help- Strange behavior from my Rose Hair

MrsU · May 6, 2010

I have a rose-haired tarantula that, since he molted last month, has been acting strangely. He creates a blanket of webbing, crawls upside-down under the blanket, and then fortifies the blanket from underneath. This all takes about 2 hours, then he destroys the whole thing. Does anyone know what this is about?

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...190122305657_548150656_12522707_6598096_n.jpg

fangsalot · May 6, 2010

hes building a sperm web.loading up his sperm.hes ready for a female.

mhill · May 6, 2010

+1 to what fangsalot said...he needs a lady friend. What substrate do you have him on? Couldnt quite tell from the pic.

Roski · May 6, 2010

He went through what is called the ultimate molt, and is now a mature male. When mature male tarantulas are ready to mate, they spin a sperm web, deposit their sperm on it, and load up their pedipalps (what should now look like boxing gloves) with the packets of sperm.

Here is a spiffy video.

He will also become more active in his enclosure in search for mates. I'd get him off the sandy substrate, though.

BrynWilliams · May 7, 2010

did you know he was a male before this? If not that's typical mature male behaviour

it's a boy! congrats!

LadySharon · May 7, 2010

ARG - I keep seeing threads like this - and I know what they are talking about the first line - *but* I've never seen mine do this. It's driving me crazy. My male matured last aug (I posted a pic here - also a rose hair) and I've *NEVER* seen him do a sperm web - and he just sits there - doesn't try to get out or anything. Eats about one crix a month.

Do temps play a part? I don't put any extra heat and in the winter I keep my place between 65 and 70.

I even put webbing from what I HOPE is a female (was gurnteed by one dealer - but the dealer sold his stock to another dealer and the 2nd dealer wouldn't gurentee without a molt - but the 2nd spider is much larger then my mature male) - and still nothing.

-Sharon

BrynWilliams · May 7, 2010

sometimes males (of any species really) are just not so 'keen' and appear to only to make sperm webs and do the whole 'being male' thing once they've been directly exposed to a female or some not at all

I had two OBT males who never displayed any male behaviours but sent them out on loan and they've subsequently got their act together and are fine

Are you actively trying to pair your male with a female?

LadySharon said:
ARG - I keep seeing threads like this - and I know what they are talking about the first line - *but* I've never seen mine do this. It's driving me crazy. My male matured last aug (I posted a pic here - also a rose hair) and I've *NEVER* seen him do a sperm web - and he just sits there - doesn't try to get out or anything. Eats about one crix a month.

Do temps play a part? I don't put any extra heat and in the winter I keep my place between 65 and 70.

I even put webbing from what I HOPE is a female (was gurnteed by one dealer - but the dealer sold his stock to another dealer and the 2nd dealer wouldn't gurentee without a molt - but the 2nd spider is much larger then my mature male) - and still nothing.

-Sharon

LadySharon · May 7, 2010

BrynWilliams said:
sometimes males (of any species really) are just not so 'keen' and appear to only to make sperm webs and do the whole 'being male' thing once they've been directly exposed to a female or some not at all

I had two OBT males who never displayed any male behaviours but sent them out on loan and they've subsequently got their act together and are fine

Are you actively trying to pair your male with a female?

No... because I've been waiting on "her" to molt to be absolutly sure.

I bought her in Nov and have no idea of the molt cycle. The two are houseed in seperate cages but right next to eachother.

Now my main computer just crashed on me - but I'll try to get some pics of the "female" to show size diff... maybe I'll get her in a deli or something and try to take a under pic. (I really don't feel comfortable picking up a T - re- pinch grabbing)

It just may take a bit to get them up because all I have right now (other then work and I can't use that computer for uploading pics) is a netbook.

- Sharon

BrynWilliams · May 7, 2010

Always worth waiting for the girl to moult so you have the best chance of a sac, even though roseas do everything on a rather long time course

If you can get a couple ventral shots i'm sure we can all have a go at sexing 'her' for you

but a moult will be the definitive for sure

LadySharon said:
No... because I've been waiting on "her" to molt to be absolutly sure.

I bought her in Nov and have no idea of the molt cycle. The two are houseed in seperate cages but right next to eachother.

- Sharon

DrCharoletteMD · May 12, 2011

similar question

i was informed that my rose haired was a female, but i am not sure if the woman knew what she was talking about.
She didn't seem to know much about anything but the reptiles, so i honestly think she was just making a wild guess. Either way, i started 'her' off in a rather small plastic tank, and she didn't seem to enjoy it, she'd stay against the side, with her legs on the walls, and attempt to climb the same corner for hours. thinking she may feel too confined, i moved her, and put her in a 55 gallon tank, i added a few branches (due to a 'tip' for another owner) and now she is pacing back and forth in the same spots, making BLANKETS of webbing... i have no idea why. She's also become a bit more jumpy, and although the woman told me she only ate once a week, seh eats several times a week... is there something wrong with her, or is this normal?

Hobo · May 12, 2011

Look at the end of it's palps. Are they enlarged? Do you see bulbs tucked under the ends?
If so, then it's a mature male.
If the ends of the palps just look like it's other legs, than it's either an immature male or a female. You will need a molt to be able to sex it, or a decent ventral shot of the spider.

The behavior you describe sounds like that of a mature male, but it could very well be just a stressed out individual.
Have any pics?

Chris_Skeleton · May 12, 2011

DrCharoletteMD said:
i was informed that my rose haired was a female, but i am not sure if the woman knew what she was talking about.
She didn't seem to know much about anything but the reptiles, so i honestly think she was just making a wild guess. Either way, i started 'her' off in a rather small plastic tank, and she didn't seem to enjoy it, she'd stay against the side, with her legs on the walls, and attempt to climb the same corner for hours. thinking she may feel too confined, i moved her, and put her in a 55 gallon tank, i added a few branches (due to a 'tip' for another owner) and now she is pacing back and forth in the same spots, making BLANKETS of webbing... i have no idea why. She's also become a bit more jumpy, and although the woman told me she only ate once a week, seh eats several times a week... is there something wrong with her, or is this normal?

A 55 gallon is WAY too big for a G. rosea. They are also terrestrial species that do not require branches, what reason did he give you that 'tip'? If it was so your T could have stuff to "climb on", then they were wrong.

And yes, pet store employees typically have no clue what they are talking about and that other owner might have no more knowledge than you do on tarantulas.

synyster · May 12, 2011

55gl is way too big for a rosea. 5gl would be fine. Do you keep your substrate moist? This could be the reason that it want's to climb the sides as they tend like it on the dryer side. Ditch the climbing sticks, rosea's are clumbsy climbers and this can only contribute to a fall, which could kill it (I can only imagine how much height is provided in a 55gl!). As Hobo mentioned, check the end of the palps to see if their enlarged and also check to see for hooks under legs I at the joint of the patella/tibia.

For the rest on housing, READ THIS THREAD.

DrCharoletteMD · May 12, 2011

i had 'her' in a 5 gal to begin with, that was the tank she was constantly trying to climb the corner of, i don't spray the substrate, but my tends to climb through her water bowl, and leaves the webbing in there too. i will try to post pics, when i have a camera avaliable.
As for the palps, i checked, and they look the same as the legs,although I may be missing something as this is my first T. I've removed the branches (which were sugested for a more 'natural' feeling environment, although i was wary on it to begin with.. just because someone's in their 40's and has raised a T before doesn't nesisarily mean they know what they're doing, lol. well, that and she MOSTLY raised reptiles) hopefully it will calm 'her' down a bit.
My Tis about 4" now, and I'm not sure how old 'she' is, but the woman at the pet store (once again, probably guessing as sheep tend to do) informed me that 'she' was about a year. Of course, she couldn't even recall the last time the poor thing was fed.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't well taken care of, because when i got it it was mildly aggressive, and flung it's hairs at me the first day... since then, though it's become more docile, and actually comes toward me when i open the cage(sometimes) i don't know if this is normal, either, but i assume she can feel the vibrations, and i always come from the same side, usually w/ food.

I'll be back on, and eager for response, later tonight.

for now, i'm going to go drink some hot mint tea

Londoner · May 12, 2011

Chris is right about most petstore employees when it comes to tarantulas unfortunately. If you do have a mature male, the physical characteristics should be pretty obvious. This pic is a bit blurry, but it shows the "blunt" palps and the "hooks" on the underside of the raised leg that your looking for.

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Musicwolf · May 12, 2011

DrCharoletteMD said:
and although the woman told me she only ate once a week, seh eats several times a week... is there something wrong with her, or is this normal?

I'll just respond to this part of your question since the rest has been answered well already.

This actually makes me think that it's not a Mature Male - - usually they don't eat much at all after they mature. As for the difference from what the woman told you - - feeding schedule is almost entirely up to you. An adult rosie will be just fine eating 5 or 6 crickets a month, but will also eat every time you feed it, or just randomly stop eating for several months at a time. They are REALLY unpredictable in that regard. Adult roseas have been documented going over two years without a meal . . . and they were fine. So, don't stress too much over feeding, just be sure to keep a nice water dish available at all times - - they don't like moisture in their substrate though.

astraldisaster · May 13, 2011

The fact that the T is only 4" also seems to point away from it being a mature male...

DrCharoletteMD · May 13, 2011

yeah, i checked, and there were no hooks. i didn't think the woman had any idea lol.

as for the pictures, maybe tomorow.. >_< gah i hate this place, where all technology DIES! there's fucking no one around here who hass a damn camera that you don't take to walmart to get developed...

but i think i have someone who can help, and she's hopefully visiting tomorrow.

Oh, and thnx to musicwolf. the woman was telling me she'd ignore the food if she didn't want it, and she always ate prety greedily, i thought i was doing something wrong...

;

One more question, BTW... as i'm new to all of this, i havn't quite aquired my "spidey-senses" just yet, how do i know if she's about to molt?

astraldisaster · May 14, 2011

DrCharoletteMD said:
One more question, BTW... as i'm new to all of this, i havn't quite aquired my "spidey-senses" just yet, how do i know if she's about to molt?

Check this out, specifically the third question.

DrCharoletteMD · May 14, 2011

That was really helpful actually, i thought maybe she was about to molt, and that's why she was acting wonky, but i guess not... damn that anticipation...

Help- Strange behavior from my Rose Hair

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