sp1derwife
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2024
- Messages
- 2
I want to begin with saying I am very open to criticism because I desperately need help. I've had my GBB sling since around January. He was always a great eater, very big on webbing. I moved him into an 8x4x4 when he was 1.5 inches and he still ate well. he had a log that he burrowed under and webbed immensely. One night, someone I live with went to check on him without my permission and left his cage slightly ajar. This was enough for him to escape and I did not find him until 24 hours later, he was so well hidden. I do not spray pesticides around my house and he literally was only a foot away from his enclosure hiding so I know he didn't get into anything - chemically at least - that could hurt him (could not find this guy but he was in practically plain sight). Anyway, I put him back in his little enclosure. for the next week he almost seemed confused and would not go back in his burrow. Very strange. Only stayed on top of the log and was extremely close to the top of his enclosure, this made him even more skittish because he had "no place to hide". This picture is the only one I have of him pre-escape attempt. As you can see his really liked his log.
Continuing, I decided to give him some hides and take out his log since he no longer liked hiding under it post-escape attempt. He escaped 2/14. Last feed 2/11. He molted on 2/12. That's important because everyone keeps saying "pre-molt" but he has not ate since his last molt. At least not in front of me. Back to what I was saying, I wanted to give him some hides so I put in a skull, since my previous spiders similar to him LOVED the random holes in it for webbing, and I also put a rock. Had to do something since he hated his old log. I had him in this since March. He wouldn't accept live food but would pick up prekilled food and put it in his web. Not entirely sure if he actually ate. He seemed like he wanted more vertical space though, and frequently would chill at the top of the enclosure. it was only 4" H, so I definitely wanted to move him into something taller to see if that helped. Also he had a water dish that he would actively drink from in this enclosure so he is def not dehydrated. Pictures here. His abdomen looks a bit small for my liking. These pictures were taken 3/31.
So to present day, I moved him into a new enclosure two days ago. I am going to see if the increased vertical space helps. It is a 9 L x 6 x 6.5". More than half substrate and during all of these processes I never misted him. I only ever gave him a water dish. Humidity levels are fine. He just won't eat. Here is his current set up. His abdomen looks slightly longer/larger so he may be snacking and I don't know. But he definitely won't take live food and I frequently see food left behind. He is not lethargic at all, he still likes to web, and he is not dehydrated. Just refusing food. I know T's go on hunger strikes but I've never had a juvi do it. Let me know your advice, please he is my problem child and I have raised quite a bit of tarantulas.
Continuing, I decided to give him some hides and take out his log since he no longer liked hiding under it post-escape attempt. He escaped 2/14. Last feed 2/11. He molted on 2/12. That's important because everyone keeps saying "pre-molt" but he has not ate since his last molt. At least not in front of me. Back to what I was saying, I wanted to give him some hides so I put in a skull, since my previous spiders similar to him LOVED the random holes in it for webbing, and I also put a rock. Had to do something since he hated his old log. I had him in this since March. He wouldn't accept live food but would pick up prekilled food and put it in his web. Not entirely sure if he actually ate. He seemed like he wanted more vertical space though, and frequently would chill at the top of the enclosure. it was only 4" H, so I definitely wanted to move him into something taller to see if that helped. Also he had a water dish that he would actively drink from in this enclosure so he is def not dehydrated. Pictures here. His abdomen looks a bit small for my liking. These pictures were taken 3/31.
So to present day, I moved him into a new enclosure two days ago. I am going to see if the increased vertical space helps. It is a 9 L x 6 x 6.5". More than half substrate and during all of these processes I never misted him. I only ever gave him a water dish. Humidity levels are fine. He just won't eat. Here is his current set up. His abdomen looks slightly longer/larger so he may be snacking and I don't know. But he definitely won't take live food and I frequently see food left behind. He is not lethargic at all, he still likes to web, and he is not dehydrated. Just refusing food. I know T's go on hunger strikes but I've never had a juvi do it. Let me know your advice, please he is my problem child and I have raised quite a bit of tarantulas.
I say that with exactly one thing in mind... The mechanism of some insecticides is to prevent a successful molt, and you may not see symptoms before that.
