GBB (Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens) refusing food, what should I do?

tzpnm

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 2, 2014
Messages
22
My GBB has been on a hunger strike for the past two and a halfish weeks. I rehomed it a couple days ago, and it still drinks from the water dish every now and then, and it also built a big web/burrow complex, but it’s been refusing both roaches and mealworms even before the rehome. The abdomen is still quite fat so I’m not too worried about it starving to death at this point, but it’s still a sub-adult.
I keep it at 72-75 degrees or so, very low humidity with just a water dish. Even going into molt I’ve never had it refuse food before. Is this just part of that process or should I be concerned?
 

HooahArmy

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jul 12, 2022
Messages
267
If your pal is looking fat, he or she can be getting ready to molt. I had a 4" GBB myself who went on a 2 month hunger strike before molting into a gorgeous cobalt 5" inch beautiful lady! As long as your buddy has access to water, they should be fine and soon enough will hopefully reward you with an exciting molt.
Additionally, since you also recently rehomed your buddy, he or she is going to need time to adapt and get used to their their home. Most of my Ts won't eat for a week to a month after rehousing, so this is normal.
Best of luck!
 

BoyFromLA

Spoon feeder
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Oct 26, 2017
Messages
2,602
Normally, feeding can just simply be four steps procedure:
  1. Open (the enclosure)
  2. Drop (the feeder)
  3. Watch (the feeding)
  4. Close (the enclosure)
But in truth, it’s way more than that. This requires observant skills to ask yourself some questions when it comes to feeding your tarantula.
  1. When was it’s last molt date?
  2. How active it was lately?
  3. When did it eat last time?
    1. Did it finish eating all?
  4. How large is it’s abdomen currently?
  5. Any signs?
    1. of pre-molt?
    2. of dehydration?
    3. of alive previously dropped feeders in the enclosure?
With this much of informations gathered, you will have less stress / worry / complication when it comes to feeding.
 

Smotzer

ArachnoGod-Mod
Staff member
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
5,546
but it’s been refusing both roaches and mealworms even before the rehome. The abdomen is still quite fat so I’m not too worried about it starving to death at this point, but it’s still a sub-adult.
This is your answer…it’s abdomen is quite fat so it doesn’t need or want any more food.
 

IntermittentSygnal

Arachnotic
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Aug 7, 2022
Messages
1,197
I rehoused my juvenile GBB, after which it refused food for a month (actually threat posed the feeder), then molted about a week ago. 2.5 weeks is not a long time. :-}
 
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