Brachypelma smithi stopped eating

[Nerevar]

I have a juvenile Brachypelma smithi that has been acting weird for a few months now, she has been taking food, dropping it and then eating it later but she has become less and less interested in food and now stopped eating completely. She has not molted in a long time and has been losing weight . My temps are good but i tried moving her closer to the heat anyways and it hasnt changed anything. She always has access to water and i just cleaned out the enclosure and replaced the substrate. Im not quite sure what to do next or whats wrong with her. Any suggestions would be great <3

 

[goofyGoober99]

She looks like a healthy weight to me from your pics. A Brachypelma going on a hunger strike isn't very uncommon.
What's the temperature where you have her?
Is there any other concerning/abnormal behaviour you're seeing? If not, likely not much to worry about. Best to just keep her water bowl full and see if she's hungry every couple weeks or so.

 

[Nerevar]

Ok, thanks. I hope you're right. The temperature stays around 75°

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I have a juvenile Brachypelma smithi that has been acting weird for a few months now, she has been taking food, dropping it and then eating it later but she has become less and less interested in food and now stopped eating completely. She has not molted in a long time and has been losing weight . My temps are good but i tried moving her closer to the heat anyways and it hasnt changed anything. She always has access to water and i just cleaned out the enclosure and replaced the substrate. Im not quite sure what to do next or whats wrong with her. Any suggestions would be great <3 View attachment 488568 View attachment 488570

Looks healthy and not eating is normal.

How often are you offering food? If you're dropping a feeder in there frequently that's overkill for that size of tarantula.

Do not use a schedule and judge by the size of the abdomen.

 

[cold blood]

- Nothing you described is at all weird

- the ts eating habits are not abnormal

- as a t fattens, it has less and less need for food....eventually they have no need for food

- ts only lose weight AFTER molting...they don't lose weight because they stop eating

- as long as temps are 65 or better, it's just fine, this species doesn't have high temperature needs.

-substrate doesn't just go bad and doesn't ever just need to be replaced

What to do next is simply put, nothing...just be patient and try not to overthink your new pet.

 

[Charliemum]

Alot of t's slow down the food intake over winter keep your eye on floofer and keep the dish full is all you can do for most issues unfortunately.

Has she been behaving like this since the last moult or is it a recent issue?

 

[Nerevar]

Looks healthy and not eating is normal.

How often are you offering food? If you're dropping a feeder in there frequently that's overkill for that size of tarantula.

Do not use a schedule and judge by the size of the abdomen.

I've been offering food once a week.

Alot of t's slow down the food intake over winter keep your eye on floofer and keep the dish full is all you can do for most issues unfortunately.

Has she been behaving like this since the last moult or is it a recent issue?

It started happening a few months ago, she hasnt molted in like a year.

 

[Charliemum]

It started happening a few months ago, she hasnt molted in like a year.

If that's the case I would say she's in premoult, try not to worry your girl knows what she's doing, you'll come in soon n she will be in a shiny new outfit , watch for her making her matt and her moult wont be far behind . You may even get to see it if you keep close watch

 

[Nerevar]

If that's the case I would say she's in premoult, try not to worry your girl knows what she's doing, you'll come in soon n she will be in a shiny new outfit , watch for her making her matt and her moult wont be far behind . You may even get to see it if you keep close watch

Okay, thank you ^ ^

 

[Charliemum]

Okay, thank you ^ ^

Your very welcome, if you have any more questions you know where we are

 

[viper69]

Could be healthy or not. No way to know for sure by looking. All sounds normal

 

[fcat]

While up on the wall, have you examined the mouth for any abnormalities?

 

[TheraMygale]

At first glance, its looks perfectly healthy.

they get more food in captivity then in a wild lifetime. Which is why they can stop eating.

my b emilia female has lost all interest in food. Its been months now. Everything is fine. I still put a prekilled every two weeks. But shes really not into it.

i suspect activity might change when spring comes. They are intuned to light cycles and rain.

brachypelmas and grammastolas are known to take their time.

reduce the live prey: it could annoy it more then anything. Do prekill if youre curious.

my b emilia female is very spicy. And usualy, she will dart out of her hide for food. The fact that she shows no interest is a sign for me to leave her alone.

i make sure to send water down her burrow every now and then. And shes also used the water dish in the past. But shes taken a liking to sucking the water at the bottom of her hide.

 

[cold blood]

@kingshockey what do you disagree with?

 

[kingshockey]

@kingshockey what do you disagree with?

no i dont disagree i didnt realize i hit disagree sorry man i swapped it

 

[Brewser]

I agree with The Above Me.
Let Her Be.
Best Wishes to B. smithi & Keeper.