Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula death question

[Chris LXXIX]

Based on the first photo, she was well fed and hydrated. Dead tarantulas lose moisture very quickly; when I find a dead tarantula, it looks "deflated", just like yours does. I honestly believe that the "shriveling" happen post-mortem and that the tarantula was in good health, dying of old age/unavoidable complications.

I completely agree with you. Saw a MM Chilobrachys fimbriatus of mine years ago (died of old age) became shrunken fast after his death.

 

[michele]

He stopped moving the night before..on the 9th day but I wanted to be certain. The pics were taken after work the next day when i was certain he had passed. I buried him that day.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I buried him that day.

That's a very nice thing you did, man :cry: Seriously. There's people who throw them in the trash.

 

[michele]

That's awful. Even the kids' fish and hermit crabs always had burials. I just couldn't throw them away like that. The world needs more passionate people like here in this group.

 

[lalberts9310]

That 1st photo clearly shows the T was not dehydrated (OP said that photo was taken right before the attempted molt), still a plump, round abdomen. It is not small or shrivelled in that 1st photo. The last two where the abdomen is somewhat shrivelled may be because it's already dead, as Ts abdomens starts shrivelling up when they are dead.

So I also come to the conclusion that it may have died of old age.

---------- Post added 09-29-2015 at 06:17 AM ----------

The very bottom pic in the original post is exactly like you just described...to a tee. The abdomen is clearly sunken.

Maybe because it is already dead in that picture?

 

[le-thomas]

That's awful. Even the kids' fish and hermit crabs always had burials. I just couldn't throw them away like that. The world needs more passionate people like here in this group.

Many of us have tarantula collections in the double or triple digits. They're more of "specimens" than "pets" to a good number of hobbyists, although all of us respect them duly.

 

[BobGrill]

Many of us have tarantula collections in the double or triple digits. They're more of "specimens" than "pets" to a good number of hobbyists, although all of us respect them duly.

Agreed. It's hard to understand when you're new to the hobby, but considering the amount of individual tarantulas some of us own, we don't really view them as "pets" in the normal sense.

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[michele]

That's more like the way my dad viewed his community fish aquariums, so I understand. My kids add the sentiment of thinking of him as a family pet for me. They are definitely different from any other we've had.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Ops.. just realized now. Comment N°23, i called you "man" (didn't know you were a Lady back then) instead of Lady. Sorry

 

[michele]

Awe I'm sure I just thought it was an expression. Thanks again for being helpful. I've been reading and learning.

---------- Post added 10-01-2015 at 08:11 PM ----------

I just realized you're from Italy and I believe my name with my spelling is a man's name over there. My parents are to blame lol.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Awe I'm sure I just thought it was an expression. Thanks again for being helpful. I've been reading and learning.

---------- Post added 10-01-2015 at 08:11 PM ----------

I just realized you're from Italy and I believe my name with my spelling is a man's name over there. My parents are to blame lol.

True Michele is a man name here, like Michael in USA etc i even tought prior that i was talking to an Italian/American

 

[Ellenantula]

That 1st photo clearly shows the T was not dehydrated (OP said that photo was taken right before the attempted molt), still a plump, round abdomen. It is not small or shrivelled in that 1st photo. The last two where the abdomen is somewhat shrivelled may be because it's already dead, as Ts abdomens starts shrivelling up when they are dead.

So I also come to the conclusion that it may have died of old age.

+1 Agreed. Old age or bad moult -- OP already indicated water was available. No reason to try to make someone feel bad or to blame -- tarantulas can die of natural causes as this one appears to have.

OP -- so sorry for the loss.

 

[michele]

+1 Agreed. Old age or bad moult -- OP already indicated water was available. No reason to try to make someone feel bad or to blame -- tarantulas can die of natural causes as this one appears to have.

OP -- so sorry for the loss.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm relieved that it wasn't something we'd been doing the wrong way. There's so much information on this site that I didn't have before.

 

[lalberts9310]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm relieved that it wasn't something we'd been doing the wrong way. There's so much information on this site that I didn't have before.

Arachnoboards is a goldmine when it comes to invert keeping. Believe me, you'll learn a lot on these forums also, if you're considering a next T, great genera to look into are Brachypelma, Aphonopelma, Pterinopelma, Eupalaestrus, Grammostola and the wonderful Euathlus and chromatopelma cyanopubesence (GBB) great genera with beautiful species.

 

[michele]

Arachnoboards is a goldmine when it comes to invert keeping. Believe me, you'll learn a lot on these forums also, if you're considering a next T, great genera to look into are Brachypelma, Aphonopelma, Pterinopelma, Eupalaestrus, Grammostola and the wonderful Euathlus and chromatopelma cyanopubesence (GBB) great genera with beautiful species.

I think I'd like to try again. I'm glad you posted some tthat would be good choices
I'll research them. Ours was a bit of a pet rock as far as activity level but I loved watching him. He did do one thing that was really cute and I haven't heard anyone talk about it in the forums yet. He would roll up little balls of substrate and stack them in a corner. He only had bark chips his whole life so I am thankful he had good substrate his last 2 years with me so he could do that.

 

[BobGrill]

Every rose hair is a pet rock

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[michele]

Every rose hair is a pet rock

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Ha~maybe that's what I'll get again then, since I never could bring myself to hold him. He was so docile that I kept thinking "today is the day", but that day didn't come. The teacher even let his students hold him, so he probably wouldn't have bitten me.

 

[cold blood]

Ha~maybe that's what I'll get again then, since I never could bring myself to hold him. He was so docile that I kept thinking "today is the day", but that day didn't come. The teacher even let his students hold him, so he probably wouldn't have bitten me.

Rosehairs aren't always that docile, in fact they're known to be temperamental and go through mood changes as they molt very often. Eauthalus sp. red/yellow are excellent (the whole Eauthalus genus is known for being typically very docile, yet active), G. pulchra and even pulchripes are also superb choices as are most Brachypelma species. If holding isn't a concern clap N. chromatus, the GBB, or even A. geniculata are exceptionally beautiful choices that eat like pigs and grow much faster than the others mentioned.

B. albo, G. pulchripes and N. chromatus are cheaper choices, all easily available. The advantage of the faster growers is that you can spend less and watch growth and color changes rather quickly, while a Eauthalus or most brachys (vagans and albo are the exceptions as they do grow a little faster) and Grammys will take significant time to grow, so a juvenile or adult would be better choices....still not terribly expensive choices even at larger sizes.

G. pulchra is a splendid choice, but more expensive...but worth it as a good feeding jet black t is pretty cool...GBB is also a little more expensive as well, but again, with their colors and feeding response and webbing abilities, also worth the extra $.

Good luck searching, glad to hear you may get another. Feel free to PM me if you ever have any quick questions:smile:

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Pet rocks are great as well Lazy T's are cute. Some Grammostola rosea can be a "psycho", seriously, like the sling i raise now for my cousin (took forever to grow, and probably i would end with another T, lol) the little thing have attitude.

I suggest Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens as a good beginner Theraphosidae. Great eaters, every molt if raised from slings to adults you have a "new" spider, very easy to care (bone dry + water dish, except slings, for those a bit moist substrate is needed, they are more delicate than adults), they are architects, always busy doing something.

A lot of people will disagree but they aren't defensive at all. Just a bit fast (they are slow for my standards, i spent two decades with NW intermediate T's like Ephebopus sp. Phormictopus sp. etc) plus it's not a case that here there's MORE "Grammos" bite rather than GBB

 

[BobGrill]

Brachypelma are much better beginners species than rose hairs. As has been pointed out, rosies aren't always that docile and can be defensive/moody. Brachys are more colorful, MUCH better eaters, and are generally more docile (except maybe vagans). I don't get why someone would limit themselves to one species, let alone a rose hair.

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