GBB Sling Refusing Food, Shrinking Abdomen

[betademascenone]

I've raised my 1 inch female Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens sling to a 6 inch mature adult.

This is all I did and she is very healthy. At sling stage I had not just a waterdish but moisten one corner of the enclosure. Around sub-adult stage give or take I used dry coco fiber. I bought loose dry coco fiber in the bag think it was Eco Earth. Waterdish always full. Once maybe every third week I would/still do overflow the waterdish in the corner.

I never hydrated cocofiber bricks then try to dry out then use. Always bagged dry cocofiber straight in the enclosure.

Temps do not need to be high. Kept mine at 72/73F year round. Winter I only allowed temps to rise to 77F temporary like in 3-5 hour spikes in a day then return to 72 - 73F. All my T's are healthy with my mature males living on for 2+ years and remaining still living.

If there truly is an issue with yours then sucking stomach makes sense. Follow the member's advice.

My only suggestion is fix your setup and do not mess with it outside of maintenance and feeding.

Thanks! I have been misting and that seems to be encouraging him to drink so I will continue to do that.
Is there anything specific you suggest I change in the current enclosure? He pretty much hangs out on top of the cork most of the day. The hide itself may not be necessary but he does like being on top of it.

 

[TheraMygale]

If all the substrate is wet, or too moist, it will avoid it. Until it drys a bit. There is no issue with a tiny mist on the wall for water droplets, but a pipette also works.

what you want to avoid is, with misting, alot of water comes out and can go in the soil. But if you master the art of just a light might in one spot, especialy where ventilation is plenty, then it will regulate itself.

one day it will web, if its not a sucking stomach issue.

you could also try mashing up a bunch of mealworms and crickets, to make a purée, and put that in a lid that the carapace fits in. Maybe it can get nourishement by letting the liquid food move inside it. Its worth a try.

there is a member on this board who successfuly rehabed a wild tarantula that was paralyzed. By dropping liquid food in its mouth. Yours in not paralyzed. It might just need extra help accessing soft food.

at this point, what else can you do?! Thats what i would try.

Rehabbing paralyzed Tarantula

Preface: this is my first post, so please be kind... And to anyone reading this for future reference on rehabbing a tarantula paralyzed by a Tarantula Hawk wasp, note that I'm no expert in this area so you shouldn't take my experience as a guide. I'm probably doing a number of things wrong, but...

arachnoboards.com

I encourage you to read it. You might learn a helpful thing or two. Beats sitting around waiting and not knowing what to do.

 

[betademascenone]

If all the substrate is wet, or too moist, it will avoid it. Until it drys a bit. There is no issue with a tiny mist on the wall for water droplets, but a pipette also works.

what you want to avoid is, with misting, alot of water comes out and can go in the soil. But if you master the art of just a light might in one spot, especialy where ventilation is plenty, then it will regulate itself.

one day it will web, if its not a sucking stomach issue.

you could also try mashing up a bunch of mealworms and crickets, to make a purée, and put that in a lid that the carapace fits in. Maybe it can get nourishement by letting the liquid food move inside it. Its worth a try.

there is a member on this board who successfuly rehabed a wild tarantula that was paralyzed. By dropping liquid food in its mouth. Yours in not paralyzed. It might just need extra help accessing soft food.

at this point, what else can you do?! Thats what i would try.

Rehabbing paralyzed Tarantula

Preface: this is my first post, so please be kind... And to anyone reading this for future reference on rehabbing a tarantula paralyzed by a Tarantula Hawk wasp, note that I'm no expert in this area so you shouldn't take my experience as a guide. I'm probably doing a number of things wrong, but...

arachnoboards.com

I encourage you to read it. You might learn a helpful thing or two. Beats sitting around waiting and not knowing what to do.

Thank you so much!! I’ll take a look at this and give it a try!!
I misted one small wall of the enclosure today and again he went straight into the moisture and had his fangs sitting in the condensation. When that dried up he went to the water bowl and has been sitting there since this afternoon. Fingers crossed we can get him hydrated and hopefully that helps him eat. If he stops responding positively to the misting, I’ll stop misting.

 

[TheraMygale]

Thank you so much!! I’ll take a look at this and give it a try!!
I misted one small wall of the enclosure today and again he went straight into the moisture and had his fangs sitting in the condensation. When that dried up he went to the water bowl and has been sitting there since this afternoon. Fingers crossed we can get him hydrated and hopefully that helps him eat. If he stops responding positively to the misting, I’ll stop misting.

that fact that its litteraly shadowing the water bowl is a sign of something. Something is off. It could just be dehydrated, but like we all keep pointing to: internal issues.

nothing else in the enclosure. If it was the just moisture in the sub it would be climbing more. What we are seeing is a tarantula desperately in need of some kind of moisture. Not running away from it.

if you have a low flat small peice of cork, you can also put that on the ground. That way, he’ll have another “stable dry” spot to chill. I do that for all my super dry sub liking species when i rehome them. That way, they have a place to go until they get used to the sub and climb less. It becomes a safe platform and creates less stress because of the new surroundings and fluffy sub.

 

[Matt Man]

the peninsula where GBBs live is arid. So keep them far drier (you have already responded to this) Perhaps it is unwell due to the humidity levels. Let it dry out and offer food, it doesn't look emaciated so don't panic

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Thanks! I have been misting and that seems to be encouraging him to drink so I will continue to do that.
Is there anything specific you suggest I change in the current enclosure? He pretty much hangs out on top of the cork most of the day. The hide itself may not be necessary but he does like being on top of it.

Stop misting as other members have already stated. As it's true desiccation will kill T's it will take alot more to kill a gbb. Misting will cause more issues with it, simply not needed.

Full waterdish and once a month moisten a corner but do not oversaturate the substrate. Looking at the sub in your enclosure it looks too hydrated should be alot dryer. Is that wood chips in there? Do not need wood chips if that's what that is.

Set your enclosure up as a terrestrial. Remove that huge cork mountain. Use a smaller cork bark for the hide. Set some things up for anchor points.

Best wishes and hope it's not the sucking stomach.

Here is one link on gbb's you can read through. Also use the search feature here on the banner to look up info

GBB setup!

i'm gonna start planning out my GBB setup in a 20g tank that i bought ( i know it might be big but it was 5 bucks so thats what i'm using) and i was wondering if anyone would like to show some of theres or suggest materials, plants, substraits, ect. that you've used. any help would be great i...

arachnoboards.com

 

[betademascenone]

that fact that its litteraly shadowing the water bowl is a sign of something. Something is off. It could just be dehydrated, but like we all keep pointing to: internal issues.

nothing else in the enclosure. If it was the just moisture in the sub it would be climbing more. What we are seeing is a tarantula desperately in need of some kind of moisture. Not running away from it.

if you have a low flat small peice of cork, you can also put that on the ground. That way, he’ll have another “stable dry” spot to chill. I do that for all my super dry sub liking species when i rehome them. That way, they have a place to go until they get used to the sub and climb less. It becomes a safe platform and creates less stress because of the new surroundings and fluffy sub.

Thanks! I’m really hoping it isn’t internal issues so it’s unfortunate it’s looking that wayHe does have a climby piece of cork that has remained dry that he’s usually hanging out on.

Stop misting as other members have already stated. As it's true desiccation will kill T's it will take alot more to kill a gbb. Misting will cause more issues with it, simply not needed.

Full waterdish and once a month moisten a corner but do not oversaturate the substrate. Looking at the sub in your enclosure it looks too hydrated should be alot dryer. Is that wood chips in there? Do not need wood chips if that's what that is.

Set your enclosure up as a terrestrial. Remove that huge cork mountain. Use a smaller cork bark for the hide. Set some things up for anchor points.

Best wishes and hope it's not the sucking stomach.

Here is one link on gbb's you can read through. Also use the search feature here on the banner to look up info

GBB setup!

i'm gonna start planning out my GBB setup in a 20g tank that i bought ( i know it might be big but it was 5 bucks so thats what i'm using) and i was wondering if anyone would like to show some of theres or suggest materials, plants, substraits, ect. that you've used. any help would be great i...

arachnoboards.com

hi,

no wood chips. He is on reptisoil. As previously stated, prior to this week he was NOT in a humid enclosure. I started misting one wall of the enclosure and saturated one side near the water bowl because I read in this forum that sometimes dehydrated T’s will not eat. Since I started doing that, he is moving TOWARD the water not away from it. I understand that they are from an arid climate. He was on dry substrate prior to now and the rest of it is still dry. If he is drinking the water from the wall and his bowl, I’m not going to stop doing it as he needs it for one reason or another. Whether he’s been dehydrated since before we bought him or it was my fault, who knows.

Also, I added the hide after we brought him home because he seemed to like to climb and since he didn’t web up, he was basically sitting on the glass all day until I added the hide and he likes to sit there. I get they are a terrestrial species, but his favorite place to sit is on top of the hide, if I remove it we are back to sitting on the glass until he decides to web up. If he even does and right now I don’t want to make any more big changes to his enclosure to see if the increased hydration helps.
If not then we start from scratch and hope it’s not a stomach suck issue.

 

[TheraMygale]

Reptisoil has been really bad lately. Its as though its oversaturated.

i am having issues with it: some of my enclosures have fructification. Litteral mushrooms.

i think your gbb was on the glass because of the moisture in the sub. Now that i know its reptisoil, i want to add this information.

it definitely does not erase its need for actual hydration, which is completely different from humidity in soil.

try the pipette approach for water drops on the enclosure walls. If you are using reptisoil like me, and its getting more and more water, i assure you it will not dry out. And fungus is coming. Once it starts, it wont stop.

Look at this! Its Last of Us horror style.

i even wrote to the company. They sent me a tiny bag for free because i told them my giant bag was full of large mushrooms. I dont even want to use the bag they gave me.

i am pissed off. I am going to stick to cocofiber because it has been easier to dry out. Reptisoil on its own is very moist. Its like a fresh out of the oven brownie.

 

[betademascenone]

Reptisoil has been really bad lately. Its as though its oversaturated.

i am having issues with it: some of my enclosure have fructification. Litteral mushrooms.

i think your gbb was on the glass because of the moisture in the sub. Now that i know its reptisoil, i want to add this information.

it definitely does not erase its need for actual hydration, which is completely different from humidity in soil.

try the pipette approach for water drops on the enclosure walls. If you are using reptisoil like me, and its getting more and more water, i assure you it will not dry out. And fungus is coming. Once it starts, it wont stop. View attachment 488756

Look at this! Its Last of Us horror style.

i even wrote to the company. They sent me a tiny bag for free because i told them my giant bag was full of large mushrooms. I dont even want to use the bag they gave me.

i am pissed off. I am going to stick to cocofiber because it has been easier to dry out. Reptisoil on its own is very moist. Its like a fresh out of the oven brownie.

Oh man that’s crazy!!! That stinks I did notice that in the bag it was super moist so I let it dry out a bit before adding it. We may need to switch to coco fiber as well and try to find the bags instead of the bricks! Thanks for sharing.

I just read through the rehabbed tarantula thread and I’m definitely going to try that! The thing I’m not sure on is how exactly to feed him. He’s still mobile and quick enough that I can’t just drop liquid into His mouth. Maybe just place a little bit in another cup in the water bowl and see if he roams to it?

 

[TheraMygale]

Oh man that’s crazy!!! That stinks I did notice that in the bag it was super moist so I let it dry out a bit before adding it. We may need to switch to coco fiber as well and try to find the bags instead of the bricks! Thanks for sharing.

I just read through the rehabbed tarantula thread and I’m definitely going to try that! The thing I’m not sure on is how exactly to feed him. He’s still mobile and quick enough that I can’t just drop liquid into His mouth. Maybe just place a little bit in another cup in the water bowl and see if he roams to it?

yep, that what was i suggested in other posts. Put the mush in a lid thats not too high but large enough for the carapace. And put it right where you drop water droplets. He already knows to go there. He will smell the mush is he crosses it.

i have been using the bricks because you can choose the level of moisture you put in it. And it hardens better, allowing for better burrow structure if its packed down.

if your gbb makes it, it might not even burrow and end up making web galleries. Its all about the enclosure.

i have two OBTs and one made a tower of web: enclosure had height. The other made a web hide that is bottom to top web. Never burrowed. They were both offered its possibility.

 

[betademascenone]

yep, that what was i suggested in other posts. Put the mush in a lid thats not to high but large enough for the carapace. And put it right where you drop water droplets. He already knows to go there. He will smell the mush is he crosses it.

Okay perfect! That I will definitely do, I don’t know why my brain didn’t make that connection lol

 

[TheraMygale]

Okay perfect! That I will definitely do, I don’t know why my brain didn’t make that connection lol

you are “stressed” because you care about your tarantula.

if it doesnt work out, i dont think its because of the misting.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Thanks! I’m really hoping it isn’t internal issues so it’s unfortunate it’s looking that wayHe does have a climby piece of cork that has remained dry that he’s usually hanging out on.

hi,

no wood chips. He is on reptisoil. As previously stated, prior to this week he was NOT in a humid enclosure. I started misting one wall of the enclosure and saturated one side near the water bowl because I read in this forum that sometimes dehydrated T’s will not eat. Since I started doing that, he is moving TOWARD the water not away from it. I understand that they are from an arid climate. He was on dry substrate prior to now and the rest of it is still dry. If he is drinking the water from the wall and his bowl, I’m not going to stop doing it as he needs it for one reason or another. Whether he’s been dehydrated since before we bought him or it was my fault, who knows.

Also, I added the hide after we brought him home because he seemed to like to climb and since he didn’t web up, he was basically sitting on the glass all day until I added the hide and he likes to sit there. I get they are a terrestrial species, but his favorite place to sit is on top of the hide, if I remove it we are back to sitting on the glass until he decides to web up. If he even does and right now I don’t want to make any more big changes to his enclosure to see if the increased hydration helps.
If not then we start from scratch and hope it’s not a stomach suck issue.

Do what you want, you've been given advice on misting.

Do more research because from what you've been writing you have not done much of any.

 

[betademascenone]

Do what you want, you've been given advice on misting.

Do more research because from what you've been writing you have not done much of any.

you are “stressed” because you care about your tarantula.

if it doesnt work out, i dont think its because of the misting.

if he continues to drink from the bowl I don’t think the misting on the wall will be necessary at all. I will see how he does tomorrow and start with the bug mash for him. Thanks for all the help and fingers crossed!

Do what you want, you've been given advice on misting.

Do more research because from what you've been writing you have not done much of any.

No reason to get poopy pants. I’m here because I’m trying to learn. Comments like yours aren’t conducive to learning or encouraging for new tarantula owners to feel comfortable enough to seek advice. I’ve explained my reasoning for adding the misting here several times already and it seems to have helped him perk up. Additionally the substrate I wet yesterday is already completely dry. He’s not been living in a humid enclosure for a month.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

No reason to get poopy pants. I’m here because I’m trying to learn. Comments like yours aren’t conducive to learning or encouraging for new tarantula owners to feel comfortable enough to seek advice. I’ve explained my reasoning for adding the misting here several times already and it seems to have helped him perk up. Additionally the substrate I wet yesterday is already completely dry. He’s not been living in a humid enclosure for a month.

I love the colorful wording I definitely was smiling and laughing.

Not trying to be mean or intentionally insult but these questions come up quite a bit on AB. Call it fatigued responses.

The concern is and always will be is for the tarantula. You might have luck with it but it does harbor a nasty side for an arid tarantula. That's all it is the concern for the T.

 

[Brewser]

Welcome,
A plethora of pertinent advice peviously provided.
Looking forward to a rewarding relationship with Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens as well.
Keep learning as we go.
Best Regards,

 

[betademascenone]

I love the colorful wording I definitely was smiling and laughing.

Not trying to be mean or intentionally insult but these questions come up quite a bit on AB. Call it fatigued responses.

The concern is and always will be is for the tarantula. You might have luck with it but it does harbor a nasty side for an arid tarantula. That's all it is the concern for the T.

Oh I totally get it. I actually went down the rabbit hole of that thread where the guy wanted "Scientific evidence" of why directly spraying a T wasn't beneficial. That was a heck of a ride LOL and I'm not being that ignorant in the slightest.

I made some bug soup for him and going to leave him be today and see how he does!

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Oh I totally get it. I actually went down the rabbit hole of that thread where the guy wanted "Scientific evidence" of why directly spraying a T wasn't beneficial. That was a heck of a ride LOL and I'm not being that ignorant in the slightest.

I made some bug soup for him and going to leave him be today and see how he does!

Best wishes for the gbb and hope it's not the sucking stomach. Keep us updated especially when it molts.

 

[betademascenone]

Best wishes for the gbb and hope it's not the sucking stomach. Keep us updated especially when it molts.

I sure will thank you all for your help!

 

[betademascenone]

Just wanted to give you guys a quick update. Still no luck on food Nugget didn't go for the bug soup yet, however he is still drinking water pretty significantly. I hope he molts sooner rather than later if it is a sucking stomach issue. He looks so skinny