B. Boehmei refusing food, husbandry advice

[DingirInanna]

Hey, on May 18 2025 I purchased a B. boehmei at an expo from a local breeder. I am told she’s about three years old and that her last molt was in 2024. She has not been eating anything for me at this point. I know she’s a new acquisition but I wanted some advice still. Since May 24, I have been trying to tong feed a Dubia once a day but she always refuses, often with a threat posture. Today I tried with a cricket and same result. Should I just hold off for a week and try again? maybe I’m annoying her at this point.

also if you could give me advice on my husbandry that would be awesome!
She lives in an 11x6x7 acrylic enclosure with a screen top with air holes on the side and I use a terra aranea substrate from the bio dude but without springtails or isopods. There are 2 live plants that I bought from the bio dude and a little spagnum, dead leaves and cork, all purchased from him as well. Her hide is a cool Sabre toothed cat skull thingy that she loves to sit on but doesn’t go inside of except once when I startled her. I attached pics of her enclosure with a ruler for reference.

Thanks for any and all advice I did my research but I’m still a beginner and want her to be happy and healthy!

I also lost a Dubia in her enclosure I hope it’s nothing to worry about! I’ll dig it out if necessary but I’m worried I’m helicopter-momming her at this point!

 

[A guy]

First of all, attempting to tong feed EVERYDAY?! Stop this at once. Not only are you not leaving it alone enough for it to settle in, you're also stressing the living out of it.
Are the threat pose not enough of a sign?

Horrible hide, replace it with a corkbark.
Finally, LEAVE IT ALONE. It's fat, it doesn't need to eat.

Wherever you got the information from your research, never consult that page, person or whatever that is again.

 

[DingirInanna]

Omg!! Thank you for your kind words!! Filtering out the unnecessary insults, your advice amounts to changing out the hide and leaving her alone, therefore, I’m hardly as much as an imbecile as you say! Maybe one day I’ll even be as smart as you and can welcome newbies into the hobby in a similar way! Thank you again your kindness is much appreciated!

 

[YellowBrickRoad]

Here is an example of a proper enclosure (5.5gallon) for something like this. Dirt, pick your own organic substrate. Fill tank half way, check! Cork bark is your friend, couple pieces, one being a hide, and another piece to walk on. All the brush is excessive and is most likely the reason you lost a dubia. Crush their heads completely and place upside down as close as you can, Don't hand feed. Thats just silly. At this size, its probably not hungry, getting in a rhythm of knowing how to space out feedings will lead to less fastings. Expect them not to eat everytime.



At this size and species if kept at room temperatures will only molt once a year, if you are lucky. Space out the feeding, a lot. Once a month is okay, even. The availability of water is way more important.



While I'm at it, I would request any information or photos regarding this specific area of the Tarantula, its circled and called the metatarsus, a white or black lighting bolt pattern, visible on all legs. Occasionally it is not there, but I have a feeling you can see something.



YellowBrickRoad

 

[TheraMygale]

If repeated feedings are giving threat poses, its a sign its full.

you should try prekill. If that goes untaken, it confirms its not in need.

it can probably go on for months without eating.

no tong feeding. That might not give the results you are looking for: they are rock hunters. They wait. And wait. And wait. Unless starving.

 

[DingirInanna]

Thanks for the advice!! I will pre kill next feeding! Should I give it week?

 

[TheraMygale]

Thanks for the advice!! I will pre kill next feeding! Should I give it week?

a month or more.

no need to worry about it. Its going to be fine.

two months even.

height from sub to top of enclosure might be high. The more room the tarantula has, the harder it is to feed.

 

[DingirInanna]

Here is an example of a proper enclosure (5.5gallon) for something like this. Dirt, pick your own organic substrate. Fill tank half way, check! Cork bark is your friend, couple pieces, one being a hide, and another piece to walk on. All the brush is excessive and is most likely the reason you lost a dubia. Crush their heads completely and place upside down as close as you can, Don't hand feed. Thats just silly. At this size, its probably not hungry, getting in a rhythm of knowing how to space out feedings will lead to less fastings. Expect them not to eat everytime.



At this size and species if kept at room temperatures will only molt once a year, if you are lucky. Space out the feeding, a lot. Once a month is okay, even. The availability of water is way more important.

View attachment 497613

While I'm at it, I would request any information or photos regarding this specific area of the Tarantula, its circled and called the metatarsus, a white or black lighting bolt pattern, visible on all legs. Occasionally it is not there, but I have a feeling you can see something.

View attachment 497612

YellowBrickRoad

Thank you! That advice is very helpful! I have pics for you of that part of her legs. I am not quite sure what to look for but maybe you can make sense of it

a month or more.

no need to worry about it. Its going to be fine.

two months even.

height from sub to top of enclosure might be high. The more room the tarantula has, the harder it is to feed.

Thanks again!!

 

[fcat]

Thank you! That advice is very helpful! I have pics for you of that part of her legs. I am not quite sure what to look for but maybe you can make sense of it

@YellowBrickRoad Is trying to make sure I am seething with jealousy but I think she’s too far from a molt to see clearly…

there is another Brachypelma species, B baumgarteni, that has cream colored chevrons in the circled area, where B boehmei is black

1) B baumgarteni


2) B baumgarteni but premolt


3) B boehmei, penultimate male, days after a molt. It’s barely visible here and it may be a penult thing


4) crazy fresh B boehmei not penult

5) this fresh

 

[A guy]

Omg!! Thank you for your kind words!! Filtering out the unnecessary insults, your advice amounts to changing out the hide and leaving her alone, therefore, I’m hardly as much as an imbecile as you say! Maybe one day I’ll even be as smart as you and can welcome newbies into the hobby in a similar way! Thank you again your kindness is much appreciated!

No insults to you. All the insults are directed towards the people who give beginners bad advice.

Welcome to the tarantula keeping hobby and good luck with everything!

 

[YellowBrickRoad]

Thank you! That advice is very helpful! I have pics for you of that part of her legs. I am not quite sure what to look for but maybe you can make sense of it

Hi, so you see those feet there, in contact with the ground, thats like the foot segment, the next segment up is called the metatarsus/shin. On that shin all boehmei have an almost iridescent black lighting bolt pattern thats visible on all legs, and best seen from eye level or slightly above and rotate your view side to side. I showed a photo where it is white. Surely you see the white I had circled in my photo? Its like a birthmark or cat stripe, its there on this species and others, I just want to know what you have? Species wise. I would say it looks like a boehmei. But that flash and off angle is throwing me off. Its best observed in person, you just have to look for it.

 

[fcat]

Please get her out of that window before you do anything !

 

[YellowBrickRoad]

@YellowBrickRoad Is trying to make sure I am seething with jealousy but I think she’s too far from a molt to see clearly…

there is another Brachypelma species, B baumgarteni, that has cream colored chevrons in the circled area, where B boehmei is black

1) B baumgarteni
View attachment 497618

2) B baumgarteni but premolt
View attachment 497619

3) B boehmei, penultimate male, days after a molt. It’s barely visible here and it may be a penult thing
View attachment 497617

4) crazy fresh B boehmei not penult
View attachment 497624
5) this fresh
View attachment 497625

This is why I'm always just going to be a mediocre keeper. This info right here is exactly what I wanted to post. I lack pictures, an easier way to say what I wanted to say, and specimens involved are way more legit! Like no questions asked! One photo is a baumgarteni and the others are legit boehmei.

 

[cold blood]

Thanks for the advice!! I will pre kill next feeding! Should I give it week?

No, stop feeding, fat tarantulas dont need food....just wait till the t molts, feed a couple weeks after that....it could be a week, it could be several months, how long it takes doesnt change anything....just be patient.

 

[fcat]

This is why I'm always just going to be a mediocre keeper. This info right here is exactly what I wanted to post. I lack pictures, an easier way to say what I wanted to say, and specimens involved are way more legit! Like no questions asked! One photo is a baumgarteni and the others are legit boehmei.

I’m just REALLY passionate about this species

 

[Requiem4aSpleen]

I’m just REALLY passionate about this species

Ill trade you a baumgertini for something good lol

Omg!! Thank you for your kind words!! Filtering out the unnecessary insults, your advice amounts to changing out the hide and leaving her alone, therefore, I’m hardly as much as an imbecile as you say! Maybe one day I’ll even be as smart as you and can welcome newbies into the hobby in a similar way! Thank you again your kindness is much appreciated!

I think the experts on here will tell you that not much intelligence is required to keep tarantulas. Your T looks healthy, youre not an imbecile. Just be glad an old timer who frequents AB seems to have glossed over this post

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Hey, on May 18 2025 I purchased a B. boehmei at an expo from a local breeder. I am told she’s about three years old and that her last molt was in 2024. She has not been eating anything for me at this point. I know she’s a new acquisition but I wanted some advice still. Since May 24, I have been trying to tong feed a Dubia once a day but she always refuses, often with a threat posture. Today I tried with a cricket and same result. Should I just hold off for a week and try again? maybe I’m annoying her at this point.

also if you could give me advice on my husbandry that would be awesome!
She lives in an 11x6x7 acrylic enclosure with a screen top with air holes on the side and I use a terra aranea substrate from the bio dude but without springtails or isopods. There are 2 live plants that I bought from the bio dude and a little spagnum, dead leaves and cork, all purchased from him as well. Her hide is a cool Sabre toothed cat skull thingy that she loves to sit on but doesn’t go inside of except once when I startled her. I attached pics of her enclosure with a ruler for reference.

Thanks for any and all advice I did my research but I’m still a beginner and want her to be happy and healthy!

I also lost a Dubia in her enclosure I hope it’s nothing to worry about! I’ll dig it out if necessary but I’m worried I’m helicopter-momming her at this point!

Read this.

Admin Announcement - Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

 

[viper69]

I have been trying to tong feed a Dubia once a day but she always refuses, often with a threat posture. Today I tried with a cricket and same result. Should I just hold off for a week and try again? maybe I’m annoying her at this point.

Why are you tong feeding, who taught you this??

They are ambush predators, no one spoon feeds them in the wild!!!

Your threat posture- so you continue to feed- why aren’t you listening to your T?

Setup is too busy for me but it looks fine
Live plants usually get dug up, webber over and die. Biodude is a marketing gimmick his products aren’t necessary at all.

You did a great job with your setup and keeping the height low from sub to prevent fall death.

 

[Mustafa67]

Hey, on May 18 2025 I purchased a B. boehmei at an expo from a local breeder. I am told she’s about three years old and that her last molt was in 2024. She has not been eating anything for me at this point. I know she’s a new acquisition but I wanted some advice still. Since May 24, I have been trying to tong feed a Dubia once a day but she always refuses, often with a threat posture. Today I tried with a cricket and same result. Should I just hold off for a week and try again? maybe I’m annoying her at this point.

also if you could give me advice on my husbandry that would be awesome!
She lives in an 11x6x7 acrylic enclosure with a screen top with air holes on the side and I use a terra aranea substrate from the bio dude but without springtails or isopods. There are 2 live plants that I bought from the bio dude and a little spagnum, dead leaves and cork, all purchased from him as well. Her hide is a cool Sabre toothed cat skull thingy that she loves to sit on but doesn’t go inside of except once when I startled her. I attached pics of her enclosure with a ruler for reference.

Thanks for any and all advice I did my research but I’m still a beginner and want her to be happy and healthy!

I also lost a Dubia in her enclosure I hope it’s nothing to worry about! I’ll dig it out if necessary but I’m worried I’m helicopter-momming her at this point!

Normal, it’s a Brachypelma