A couple of questions...

[Jauly]

One, my tarantula has had this bald spot for awhile now and has eaten one of her legs. I have a source of water at all times for her, fed 3x per week. I've had her now going on 3 years and am unsure of what is going on. She will ignore her food here and there, yet chose to eat her own leg, I'm baffled. I've mixed up her food so she's not always eating the same thing so I'm trying here. Or could something else have happened to her leg? And now, what about the balding area? The first 3 are current images.
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• Jauly
• Aug 19, 2017

^6DB42E0CFCFD76D8EEA447705420B8C3F9F49783C13A3EF0A1^pimgpsh_thumbnail_win_distr

• Jauly
• Aug 19, 2017

 

[EulersK]

I just saw your pictures in the recent gallery.

Wood chips are a terrible substrate for tarantulas, but that's a different discussion. There is nothing wrong with a bald spot at all, but the spider is fairly skinny to be denying meals. Just judging by how rough it looks, I'd guess that it's a mature male. Can you get a good picture of the pedipalps?

Heads up. If it's a mature male and hasn't molted in 3 years, then it's on nothing but borrowed time at this point. A male living for 2 years after maturity is considered a rarity.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

To me seems a G.pulchripes mature male but I can't be sure due to the mix of pics quality and my eyes at this hour

The bald spot isn't an issue at all... can happen with NW T's.

As far as the leg, maybe your spider decided to amputate that due to something that may happened... again, while sucks, no big deal because, in general, after a couple of molts that's fixed.

Thing is, yours seems a MM to me.

 

[Venom1080]

I just saw your pictures in the recent gallery.

Wood chips are a terrible substrate for tarantulas, but that's a different discussion. There is nothing wrong with a bald spot at all, but the spider is fairly skinny to be denying meals. Just judging by how rough it looks, I'd guess that it's a mature male. Can you get a good picture of the pedipalps?

Heads up. If it's a mature male and hasn't molted in 3 years, then it's on nothing but borrowed time at this point. A male living for 2 years after maturity is considered a rarity.

Why would wood chips be bad for an arid tarantula?

 

[EulersK]

Why would wood chips be bad for an arid tarantula?

Drag injuries, molting issues, fall injuries... you're trolling, yeah?

 

[Venom1080]

Drag injuries, molting issues, fall injuries... you're trolling, yeah?

No.
I was thinking of wood shavings. I agree on the chips, my bad

 

[Jauly]

I just saw your pictures in the recent gallery.

Wood chips are a terrible substrate for tarantulas, but that's a different discussion. There is nothing wrong with a bald spot at all, but the spider is fairly skinny to be denying meals. Just judging by how rough it looks, I'd guess that it's a mature male. Can you get a good picture of the pedipalps?

Heads up. If it's a mature male and hasn't molted in 3 years, then it's on nothing but borrowed time at this point. A male living for 2 years after maturity is considered a rarity.

The wood chips were recommended by someone who breeds and raises them. I used to have sand in there but my tarantula never went off his log when I have the sand. And I looked back at my purchase history and I've actually have had this one going on 4 years now. It's last molt was about a year ago or longer...honestly it's probably been awhile since I know it's bad, but I can't remember the actual year. And when I brought him/her in last year they sexed it as a female. These are the photos I took at the beginning of last year when I was asking for opinions on here for the sex. If these won't do, in the morning when I harass it with food again I'll see if I can gently raise it for a better photo...sometime he/she isn't so willing to be posed. and if you've a better suggestion over wood chips...I'm one who would gladly change it up if it's for the better...Last thing I would ever want is to have anything around that isn't the best option.

IMG_20160209_225344

• Jauly
• Feb 10, 2016
• 3
• epiandrous fusillae sex me

IMG_20160209_225236

• Jauly
• Feb 10, 2016
• grammostola pulchripes

 

[Venom1080]

Not a very good breeder then.

Sand is also a bad choice in most cases.

And yeah thats 100% a mature male.

Screen lid is a also a bad choice for terrestrials.

There's not enough sub in there either.

 

[Jauly]

Not a very good breeder then.

Sand is also a bad choice in most cases.

And yeah thats 100% a mature male.

Screen lid is a also a bad choice for terrestrials.

There's not enough sub in there either.

The sand was used when I had a much shorter but long enclosure. What bedding would be best? Over the years I've tried several things for Thumpers. And if he's a male, since I've had him for 4yrs pretty much, is his time pretty much up and could this be why the tarantula is denying food?
And since I've taken on the role of being the only caregiver I've changed his home...he's now in a wide low, with vents and an open front. I don't have a mesh top due to me being worried about him climbing up there and getting stuck and or falling. I have and open top that I modified to hold the light I use also a slider so he can't climb up to the light. The photos that in the last post was taken over a year ago.

 

[Venom1080]

The sand was used when I had a much shorter but long enclosure. What bedding would be best? Over the years I've tried several things for Thumpers. And if he's a male, since I've had him for 4yrs pretty much, is his time pretty much up and could this be why the tarantula is denying food?
And since I've taken on the role of being the only caregiver I've changed his home...he's now in a wide low, with vents and an open front. I don't have a mesh top due to me being worried about him climbing up there and getting stuck and or falling. I have and open top that I modified to hold the light I use also a slider so he can't climb up to the light. The photos that in the last post was taken over a year ago.

Peat moss, topsoil, eco earth.
Yes, he's probably winding down. I wouldn't expect him to live much longer.

I have no idea what you're talking about with the lid.

 

[Jauly]

Peat moss, topsoil, eco earth.
Yes, he's probably winding down. I wouldn't expect him to live much longer.

I have no idea what you're talking about with the lid.

It's just a slide-in top that I've cut a bit and taped off the edges so my light could fit as well as placed packaging tape 2inche below, oddly enough he stopped venturing where the tape began. And okay, even if he may not have much time left I'll be switching to peat moss...and I'll still hope for the best and cross my fingers for tomorrows attempt to feeding. Thank you so much for the advice and will take notes down for the future.

 

[PidderPeets]

It's just a slide-in top that I've cut a bit and taped off the edges so my light could fit as well as placed packaging tape 2inche below, oddly enough he stopped venturing where the tape began. And okay, even if he may not have much time left I'll be switching to peat moss...and I'll still hope for the best and cross my fingers for tomorrows attempt to feeding. Thank you so much for the advice and will take notes down for the future.

You're not talking about a heat lamp, right? Cuz those are bad

 

[Jauly]

You're not talking about a heat lamp, right? Cuz those are bad

It's a tube light.

 

[EulersK]

It's a tube light.

Well, tube lights aren't necessarily bad... but I'd still advise against them. Tarantulas are nocturnal creatures. No need to obsess over it, but the less light they get the better. Red lights and heat lamps are particularly harmful because they both dry out an enclosure. Tube lights mostly just provide light, but tarantulas specifically don't want light.

Just lose it, natural room light works perfectly fine.