Avic Avic not eating and white around mouth

[grimarachnids]

I've had my avic avic for about a year now, got it from a local who was moving and it's been eating well (only straight from tongs) this whole time until a few months ago, maybe a few months after its first molt with me. It's usually hiding in its cork bark but tonight it came fully out onto the glass and i noticed this dry white substance around its mouth?? It has come out a few times onto the bark and i've noticed the abdomen getting smaller and smaller and now this Every time i try to feed it when it's out, it just backs away when it's usually ate so well. I haven't noticed any mites on it, or in the water and it definitely doesn't look like what i've seen of nematodes online. Pics of the poor thing and also a picture of the enclosure (i took out the aloe a long time ago, not sure if it was appropriate or not but the plant did not thrive)

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

It’s alarmingly skinny I’d check its pedipalps make sure it’s not a mature male I cannot tell from the pictures. Definitely feed it more if it’s not one. Not sure how it’s finding food that cage is massive.

 

[Hardus nameous]

It doesn't look like a mature male to me; I don't see palpal bulbs in the first three pictures.

I see a water cup but have you tried putting a few drops of water on the glass near the spider? I had one that refused to use a water dish and wouldn't eat when it got dehydrated.

This enclosure has a front opening door right? I just want to be sure it's not one of those bugariums with no ventilation on the sides. Avics need that cross ventilation.

The white around the mouth could possibly be faeces or regurgitation.

 

[Mike41793]

I'd rehouse to a smaller enclosure that one is wicked large for a spider that size

 

[A guy]

That looks like a very poor set up.

 

[Brewser]

Possible Poo Poo Mouth

 

[darkness975]

Possibly dehydrated. It may not be using the substrate level water dish.

 

[Moakmeister]

I've noticed that a few of my tarantulas have a small amount of white around their mouths too. Not nearly as much as this one, but a bit of it. Do they munch on their own feces? Why would they do that?

 

[viper69]

Setup is “too large”

looks like poop

 

[TheraMygale]

I've noticed that a few of my tarantulas have a small amount of white around their mouths too. Not nearly as much as this one, but a bit of it. Do they munch on their own feces? Why would they do that?

they dont eat feces like dogs eat feces. It doesnt mean they dont regurgitate, or walk in it. it definitely needs attention of some kind.

to @grimarachnids, i think once its in proper enclosure, smaller, it will show different behavior.

you will have to monitor it of course. If you can get it in a catch cup that is see through, with a magnifieing glass, you can look at crust to see if its something else.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

How long have you had it? Was it wild caught? This oral discharge along with the small abdomen may be a red flag for parasites.

 

[grimarachnids]

How long have you had it? Was it wild caught? This oral discharge along with the small abdomen may be a red flag for parasites.

i've had it for about a year and i bought it from a local who was moving, not sure where she got it from.

 

[grimarachnids]

How long have you had it? Was it wild caught? This oral discharge along with the small abdomen may be a red flag for parasites.

i've had it for about a year and i bought it from a local who was moving, not sure where she got it from.

It’s alarmingly skinny I’d check its pedipalps make sure it’s not a mature male I cannot tell from the pictures. Definitely feed it more if it’s not one. Not sure how it’s finding food that cage is massive.

It doesn't seem to have hooks like mature male. i've tried feeding it every other week for the past maybe two months, the same way i always have with tongs but it just won't take anything

 

[grimarachnids]

That looks like a very poor set up.

what should i change besides the size?

 

[grimarachnids]

It doesn't look like a mature male to me; I don't see palpal bulbs in the first three pictures.

I see a water cup but have you tried putting a few drops of water on the glass near the spider? I had one that refused to use a water dish and wouldn't eat when it got dehydrated.

This enclosure has a front opening door right? I just want to be sure it's not one of those bugariums with no ventilation on the sides. Avics need that cross ventilation.

The white around the mouth could possibly be faeces or regurgitation.

yes it's front opening, with a mesh screen on top. is there a better viv you'd recommend for avics, also what size?

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

i've had it for about a year and i bought it from a local who was moving, not sure where she got it from.

It doesn't seem to have hooks like mature male. i've tried feeding it every other week for the past maybe two months, the same way i always have with tongs but it just won't take anything

I’d say try crickets but it probably can’t find them in a cage that huge. Definitely downsize a lot although I’ve had Ts that just stopped eating then died. So it’s not guaranteed it eats but it should be starving I don’t recommend tong feeding they can break a fang..

 

[Nitroxide]

what should i change besides the size?

Personally I would add more hideouts like cork or plants, especially closer to the top which may entice webbing and overall feeling safer in the enclosure. But also downgrading, with the stuff you have it should fill the setup better.

Best thing would be a tall container type thing with drilled holes on the side of better ventilation/circulation or they have some great arboreal tarantula enclosures usually made of acrylic with holes already drilled on the sides. Just looking up "acrylic tarantula enclosures" should give multiple searches and places to order from, just be sure it's something arboreal, obviously, and not too large. He is very, very skinny.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Has he eaten at all since the last molt? Have you seen him drink? Did you see the sucking stomach on the molt? If you still have the molt, check and see.

 

[sparticus]

Have you tried water? Several people have already said you should drip some water on the webbing or on the glass near the spider and see if it will drink. These species will commonly stop eating if they're not well hydrated and they have high hydration needs, especially when molting. Many people that keep them very dry report poop eating behavior, which I feel is likely an attempt to reclaim moisture. I keep the enclosure mostly dry with a water bowl, but also provide drinking water on their webbing or an enclosure wall a couple times a week, and they drink from it pretty frequently.