HELP! Ceratogyrus darlingi sling in critical condition!

[Kat Graves]

Hi Driller,
I am very sorry for your loss, and I'm sure you did everything you thought was right at the time to save your little T. My suggestion would be for you to buy The Tarantula Keeper's Guide, and read it thoroughly before you buy any more Ts. It is a fantastic resource, full of information, and extra links for more specialized care. It is recommended by almost every professional out there. You can find it on Amazon for pretty cheap. I hope your T experiences are better in the future for yourself, and any of your animals.

 

[Driller64]

I already bought the Tarantula Keepers Guide. Agreed, it is very useful and packed with lots of care tips

 

[viper69]

Okay, I hesitated before responding to this post, but I feel that I have to speak up. I mean absolutely no disrespect, and this is in no way meant to be an attack, but perhaps you should refrain from buying any more Ts for a while. I know you mean well, and you're obviously interested in them, but you appear to be lacking the maturity to correctly tend to these animals' needs. Despite being on the boards for months, and having volumes worth of current information at your fingertips, you seem to consistently make beginner (and sometimes logic-defying) mistakes that jeopardize your animals. If I remember correctly, you have already lost at least a couple, and your biography states: “I'm just getting into the tarantula hobby... And I am already failing miserably in it “ That's very telling.

Obviously, every hobby has a learning curve, but the problem with this hobby is that when you mess up, animals can die. For example, you think your C. darlingi sling may be ill, so you blow on it, spray it, dump a prey item in with it, and finally move it...twice. The fact that your first two solutions are two things all Ts HATE shows that you lack the basic instincts needed for this hobby. And, if you think the T is near death, why on earth would you put a roach in with it? It just doesn't make sense.

Perhaps there are natural reasons for your animals dying and falling ill that have nothing to do with you. Slings can obviously be fragile, and lord knows many experienced keepers have lost some. However, when reading your posts and how you present yourself and your abilities, it's easy to imagine that these issues have been created by the quality of care. Perhaps it's just bad luck, but your reaction to your potentially sick T can make one think that it's more than that.

I do hope that your C. darlingi pulls through, and that your other Ts continue to thrive. And again, my intent isn't to attack you; I'm just making an observation. I encourage you to take it slow and stick with the ones you have for a while until things come more naturally. Raise the ones you have to adulthood before picking up any more, and in the meantime, keep reading up. The hobby isn't going anywhere.

I couldn't agree more with this post, about time someone told him this on behalf of the Ts that continually die in this owner's hands or have problems.

 

[awiec]

Now that you do have the TKG, read that thing until it is worn out, dog ear pages if you need to. Keep whatever you have left alive for the next 8-12 months then sit and think really hard about if you can handle a new spider. Since you just had what I would consider a T that is pretty hard to mess up care wise, you should go for juviniles or slings that are 1.5 inch + as you have not gained the experience to care for something more small and fragile. Phormictopus, Grammostola and Aphonopelma are all T genus that are pretty hard to kill with Phormictopus being the fastest growing but can be defensive. I base my potential T purchase on 3 main things which you should do as well given your record.

1. The most important thing: Can I provide it with the proper care? As much as I would like an H.mac I don't feel comfortable enough having one just yet, perhaps when I've raised my pokies up some more, I may feel more ready. There is kind of a graduation of T levels like if you want a pokie you start with an avic then move to psalmos and taps, and then a more "chill" OW or more "chill" pokie. Also if the required temp and humidity levels can be met, some T's thrive better at lower temps than others, as my room is all one temp, I wouldn't be able to meet those species needs. Research is the most important thing, I do searches on this board as the oldest threads are usually the best or I will PM someone who seems to be good at raising/breeding a species I am interested in.

2. Can I afford it? Most T's are not that pricey, my bf does have a P.metallica but I intend on breeding a few of my T's to help pay for its initial cost. And where the heck will I get it? I prefer to get stuff locally, of course there are things that I can't get at my local show so then it goes into how many T's do I have to order to make it worth my while to order online.

3. Is it interesting/ fill a void in my collection? Lets face it, if you don't find a pet interesting you are less likely to provide optimal care, all of my T's have their own look and personalities and growth rate so I am never bored. I also try to get a species of a different genus I have never had before, pamphs and phormics are somewhat similar but are different enough to be very interesting to me.

Perhaps this method won't work for you but it has seemed to work for me, as all of my T's eat normally, molt well and will indulge me a bit with popping out of their hides once a week.

 

[Keith B]

Following Tomoran's advice, I will try to refrain from buying any more tarantulas for a while. The most I will buy is maybe another Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens to have a breeding pair.

That would be beating unbelievable odds to have an unsexed sling, buy another unsexed sling, and wind up with a properly aged male and female. You are far from the experience needed to be breeding tarantulas at this time. You have lost 4 out of 9 slings. How are you going to handle 250 C. cyaneopubescen slings? Please think responsibly before making any more brash decisions. I've seen you shopping around for tarantula after tarantula without being able to handle the ones you currently have. You need to take your time and get experience consistently raising slings successfully to adults, before even considering more advanced objectives. It seems you are generalizing care for all of them when they have individual needs, and making very basic mistakes that TKG should have taught you not to make. That is my added observation to the ones already mentioned. Learn your lesson and slow down. Look into specific care for the tarantulas you already have.

EDIT: Since someone mentioned your profile, I couldn't help but notice your interests. Please don't "scare people with tarantulas" either. We want people to enjoy spiders, not fear them.

 

[cold blood]

EDIT: Since someone mentioned your profile, I couldn't help but notice your interests. Please don't "scare people with tarantulas" either. We want people to enjoy spiders, not fear them.

This scaring people with a live animal bit is what pushed me into the hobby. I had only recently been educated a bit about t's and was still at the tail end of my phobia when a college kid who lived next door came over with a mature female G. rosea. He went on to brag about how he was going to throw it at his roommate to "scare the hell out of him", all the while thinking he had a magnificent idea. Until I refused to give it back and scolded him about his irresponsible and selfish behavior...then asked him to leave...without the t. I set up an empty aquarium and have had her ever since, 14 years now. Had I not been home that day, it would have been her last.

You are mature enough to have t's when you are able to not only respect and care for them yourself properly, but also have the courage/knowledge to educate and reduce the fear factor in others around you, as apposed to enjoying or encouraging it.

You're young, in what will seem like no time at all it will be a year later and you can re-evaluate your t situation again. Right now I agree, you should concentrate on keeping the ones you have in the best conditions possible, and helping them flourish. IMO you started very fast, I'd pull back on the reins and enjoy the hobby (especially the little things), in 10 years you may be giving the same advice you are getting if you are still as into it as you are now. Good luck man.

 

[Driller64]

 

[awiec]

This is indicative that you do care about your T's but just didn't have the proper knowledge in how to take care of them. I feel that you will do well in the hobby if you just take it slow, and make sure you have a basic knowledge of what care is needed for any new/current species you will get/have.

 

[Driller64]

BTW, this is the first of my T's I have laid to rest in this fashion. The other ones I had to throw out because my Mom didn't want tarantulas buried in the yard. However since Speedy was small, I figured she would let it go this time.

P.S: I did confirm it was dead before laying it to rest, as mold was beginning to grow on its body

 

[tarantulagirl10]

I am sorry for your loss. It's obvious that you cared about Speedy.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

I am sorry for your loss. It's obvious that you cared about Speedy.

Do I detect hint of sarcasm?

 

[Driller64]

Do I detect hint of sarcasm?

I don't

 

[tarantulagirl10]

Do I detect hint of sarcasm?

No, not at all.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

No, not at all.

I am still detecting it lol. Curse my suspicious nature.

 

[cold blood]

I am still detecting it lol. Curse my suspicious nature.

Ever see the Simpsons where Professor Frink invents the sarcasm detector. When comic book guy speaks it goes crazy with Frink exclaiming "whoa, this baby is off the charts" right before it blows up due to sarcasm overload.....lol. Sorry, all this sarcasm speak just kept that scene repeating in my head. teehee

 

[Driller64]

As you may have noticed, I have been on the site less frequently than usual. This is because I have decided to completely abstain from tarantula buying for a while after this recent tragedy and focus on keeping the ones I have alive. Thus, I really do not have any reason to be on the site. Anyway, being on the site will tempt me to buy more T's . I have been focusing on other hobbies of mine, such as plants. I am going to be not buying T's for possibly the whole year, so don't expect me to be on the site often f a long time.

EDIT: Even being on the site to post this has brought back the T itch. MUST.... RESIST....

EDIT OF EDIT: My attempts to suppress the itch are not working. I'm already on Swifts Inverts, seeing what's available. It's just window shopping, okay?

 

[pyro fiend]

EDIT: Even being on the site to post this has brought back the T itch. MUST.... RESIST....

EDIT OF EDIT: My attempts to suppress the itch are not working. I'm already on Swifts Inverts, seeing what's available. It's just window shopping, okay?

Are you TRYING to get everyone riled up? Now im not trying to be a total ay hole.. but CMON man... im new to T's too. But cmon.. do ur research... dont just impulse buy.. infact i wouldnt buy at all in your shoes..

Ill admit iv had my noobie moments.. tbh i studdied many species over a yr. and decided a too 10 list of what i think i can start with.. picked out 3 and then after i payed i started 2nd guessing myself (as im sure some remember) ... and then after a short time my a.avic being a verry grounded arboreal made me go into a panic too (noone ik kept aboreals) and i got over it moved on down my list after basic care for a few months.. now ill soon have 8/10 and my peraonal goal now... keep them till adults befor advancing...

tbh i think this is how you should go as well.. i come here for knowledge.. insight and to learn and see how others are fairing.. heck half the time when poec comments.. i gota get out a pen and pad and take notes so i know if/when something comes up how to go about it..and not risk my T's.if you cant control yourself just by updating... does it realy seem like your interested in the well being of the animals..


Sorry man im not saying to give up and sell your T's.. im not saying you should never own an animal.. but man to man, keeper to keeper. I think you need to slow down and mature a little more befor advancing with any animals...

Sent from my SCH-R530C using Tapatalk

 

[Fossa]

A good interest in the hobby is great, it's the basis for any hobby really...but remember your dealing with living creatures here...if you take up guitar (for example) you can put a guitar up in the loft for ten years after two months of wanting to play and the guitar will still be there just as it was....not the case with Ts. What you're doing is harming another living thing with you're own immaturity. I'm not trying to be harsh here or simply putting you down as we were all new to the hobby once...(I've worked with exotics and kept exotics for over ten years and still consider myself new compared to some people I've met) and as a couple of people have said we are all learning constantly from each other so log on and read everything you can, staying away from the site in case you feel the urge to buy something is the wrong thing to do as when you do buy something you will be in the same boat as before. Read up on a species and when you feel ready to buy one come on here and show everyone pictures of your setup for comments/care guides etc BEFORE you buy your T. The hobby is so much more enjoyable when you aren't worried everyday about the health of your T and you can sit back and watch them grow and flourish. Above all remember we don't have T's because they are like ordinary pets...Ts don't want interaction like a dog or cat and any interaction is likely to be stressful to them if you don't do it correctly and on their terms. Let's not forget that to most people in the outside world we in the hobby keep 8 legged giant killing machines that will eat your grandparents...the last thing we need is keepers out of their depth and news reports of someone having an OW escape and biting someone....the laws surrounding reptiles are only the way they are because of keepers....we don't want spiders going the same way!

IMO these animals (and all animals) have more right to be on this earth than any human ever has or will and if we choose to keep them then we should show them the respect they deserve....okay my hippie rant is over... I hope you stick with the hobby and take peoples advice on here....research research research and take things slow!! Never forget people here are here to help....this isn't like the rest of the internet!

 

[Smokehound714]

The best option above all when it comes to arachnids in general is just to leave them alone. (well, usually, exceptions being an injury or obvious leaking of hemolymph)

During a molt, it will take some time for a tarantula to begin acting normal. They will act oddly, often seemingly injured or sick. Some will take a week or longer to stop stretching.


One thing about stress- sometimes stress will overload a tarantula's brain, causing it to simply shut down. Animals (including humans) can be killed by stress alone. The feeling of warm breath on a tarantula simulates a large predator sniffing at it, this is EXTREMELY bad for all spiders. During a molt, the organs have been enlarged, and are still recovering, stress at this time can be especially deadly.

 

[Keith B]

By all means resist getting more T's, but you need to visit the forums. Visiting the forums will be a good practice in self-control for you, since you couldn't resist over-intervening with your tarantulas in the past. Resisting buying more is a similar itch, so you have two temptations to overcome. Also, you need to dig into all of the old threads with the search tools to make sure you're not making any mistakes with your current T's. There's lots of knowledge about the tarantulas you have on here you have access to. Also re-read the Tarantula Keepers Guide cover to cover until you've practically memorized it. You've made mistakes that are covered in the book, so fully understanding the book will have a profound impact on your future success. Best of luck Driller.