HELP!!!! I think my pink toe has died :(

[CitizenNumber9]

I recently bought my first tarantula, a female pink toe, after seeing one at the reptile show and falling in love with the species! I got her the Sunday before, about a week ago. The guy told me to keep her between 65 and 75 degrees and to spray her tank once or twice a week. He also told me that he feeds his tarantulas once every two weeks and that she'd eaten that past Thursday. When I first got her she was lively and perfect in every way!

Now last night she started acting really slow and sluggish so I made sure her substrate was nice and damp and I added a little water dish (I freaked out and looked up a bunch of stuff and that's how I found out she needed one). This morning when I woke up she was curled up, but still alive I think. I put her back into the tiny container I got her in and made sure it was nice and damp before leaving for a few hours. When I got back she was still curled up and had stiffened her legs a lot.
Thanks for any advice or help anyone can offer once I figure out how I will post some before and after pics...

 

[cantthinkofone]

Doesn't sound very good. Sorry if she does take a turn for the worst maybe try keeping a terrestrial. Arboreals can be hard sometimes. Sorry for your loss...

 

[Poec54]

You need to do some research before you buy a tarantula. It may have had problems before you bought it. Keeping it cool and damp finished it off. Avics live in rain forests and appreciate warmer temps, they can take it cool, but that's not their preference. They need fairly dry substrate and ample ventilation, humidity comes from a water bowl. They live in trees and are used to regular air movement and can't take stuffy, wet conditions, which you kept doing. Avics are not as tolerent of various cage conditions as terrestrial species, and are not good T's to start with, especially if you don't do any research first. It can take a while to get a feel of understanding their needs. You should know how to keep it, before you buy it. Go prepared. It's not fair to the spider to buy it on impulse and blindly follow the advice of a guy at a reptile show.

Before you get another spider, you need to get Stan Schultz's book 'the tarantula keeper's guide' and read it. That'll get you up to speed.

 

[NGLepine]

Poec is totally correct!!!!

My hand at Avics is ¥¥¥¥### TERRIBLE!!!! Happy healthy Pokies, but I can kill off an Avic by looking at it!!!!

Sorry for your loss, please research for future reference!!!

Maybe a hardy terrestrial to start your collection!!!!

 

[PhiGamTeacher]

Don't let it get too damp in there! Avics like their ventilation. Also, I would try keeping her more towards the 75 or up range, feeding her once a week (depending on food size). I hope she gets better! Also, a pic will be better able to explain if she is trying to molt, which you shouldn't be touching her if she is, or if she really is sick. I wish you, and her, the best!

Edit: Had this tab open a little too long. Poec's reply sums it about up. I would still try and post a pic. And move her out of the deathtrap as soon as you can :x

 

[Poec54]

My hand at Avics is ¥¥¥¥### TERRIBLE!!!! Happy healthy Pokies, but I can kill off an Avic by looking at it!!!!

Maybe a hardy terrestrial to start your collection!!!!

+1. Conditions that are fine for terrestrials, or even most arboreals, can kill Avics. They're just not good ones to start with. A hardy terrestrial is SO much easier.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

You need to do some research before you buy a tarantula. It may have had problems before you bought it. Keeping it cool and damp finished it off. Avics live in rain forests and appreciate warmer temps, they can take it cool, but that's not their preference. They need fairly dry substrate and ample ventilation, humidity comes from a water bowl. They live in trees and are used to regular air movement and can't take stuffy, wet conditions, which you kept doing. Avics are not as tolerent of various cage conditions as terrestrial species, and are not good T's to start with, especially if you don't do any research first. It can take a while to get a feel of understanding their needs. You should know how to keep it, before you buy it. Go prepared. It's not fair to the spider to buy it on impulse and blindly follow the advice of a guy at a reptile show.

Before you get another spider, you need to get Stan Schultz's book 'the tarantula keeper's guide' and read it. That'll get you up to speed.

I will definely do more research before getting another and set up the terrerium FIRST. The person I bought it from wasn't the guy from the show though, that's just how I heard about the species. Also I didn't have the substrate wet until she started acting funny, and even then I put her tank on a heater so it would be closer to 80 degress in her tank
Is it possible she got dehydrated the few days I hadn't sprayed?

 

[PhiGamTeacher]

I highly doubt she got dehydrated from not spraying a few days. Putting her on the heater could have done the job, though.

 

[Poec54]

I will definely do more research before getting another and set up the terrerium FIRST. The person I bought it from wasn't the guy from the show though, that's just how I heard about the species. Also I didn't have the substrate wet until she started acting funny, and even then I put her tank on a heater so it would be closer to 80 degress in her tank
Is it possible she got dehydrated the few days I hadn't sprayed?

Avic cages should have water bowls, sometimes they use them, sometimes they don't. That's one of the problems in keeping Avics. They're somewhat sedentary and used to regular rainfall arriving on their silk sheets and tubes, and may not go looking for it. That's where most other T's are easy. If there's a water bowl, they'll find it and drink from it. There's an acceptable range of light mistings for Avics for drinking. It's easy to do too many or not enough. Ideally, Avics will do some spinning, and that's what you mist. You don't want to hose down the whole cage. But if they don't spin, you have to monitor things closer.

If it's thirtsy and dehydrated, it needs a real drink. If it's kept on moist substrate or papertowels, it can't really drink well from that, and if there's not good ventilation, that will soon create new problems. Avics are neat spiders, but please, you're much better off getting a terrestrial and getting experience with that.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

This is the only picture I could upload of her (the others were too big) this is when she was acting healthy

 

[CitizenNumber9]

Avic cages should have water bowls, sometimes they use them, sometimes they don't. That's one of the problems in keeping Avics. They're somewhat sedentary and used to regular rainfall arriving on their silk sheets and tubes, and may not go looking for it. That's where most other T's are easy. If there's a water bowl, they'll find it and drink from it. There's an acceptable range of light mistings for Avics for drinking. It's easy to do too many or not enough. Ideally, Avics will do some spinning, and that's what you mist. You don't want to hose down the whole cage. But if they don't spin, you have to monitor things closer.

If it's thirtsy and dehydrated, it needs a real drink. If it's kept on moist substrate or papertowels, it can't really drink well from that, and if there's not good ventilation, that will soon create new problems. Avics are neat spiders, but please, you're much better off getting a terrestrial and getting experience with that.

I guess I'll have to take your advice, though I do love the pink toes ever since I saw and held one :/ what would be the ideal species would you think? I've heard blondies are really good and also rose hairs, but I want something different.

 

[Poec54]

I guess I'll have to take your advice, though I do love the pink toes ever since I saw and held one :/ what would be the ideal species would you think? I've heard blondies are really good and also rose hairs, but I want something different.

You don't mean Theraphosa blondi, do you? They're an advanced species, and most long term collectors aren't up to dealing with them. Definitely a poor choice for a beginner. They're another one that has to have specific conditions or they die easily.

Roseas are popular soley because the adults are wild caught and cheap. They also frustrate many people as they go months without eating. You're much better off with something like a Grammostola pulchripes, Lasiodora parahybana, or Brachypelma albopilosum or vagans. They're all hardy and great eaters. They thrive in most cage conditions.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

Don't let it get too damp in there! Avics like their ventilation. Also, I would try keeping her more towards the 75 or up range, feeding her once a week (depending on food size). I hope she gets better! Also, a pic will be better able to explain if she is trying to molt, which you shouldn't be touching her if she is, or if she really is sick. I wish you, and her, the best!

Edit: Had this tab open a little too long. Poec's reply sums it about up. I would still try and post a pic. And move her out of the deathtrap as soon as you can :x

Here are some pics of her healthy:

And of her all curled up:

---------- Post added 11-26-2013 at 12:09 AM ----------

You don't mean Theraphosa blondi, do you? They're an advanced species, and most long term collectors aren't up to dealing with them. Definitely a poor choice for a beginner. They're another one that has to have specific conditions or they die easily.

Roseas are popular soley because the adults are wild caught and cheap. They also frustrate many people as they go months without eating. You're much better off with something like a Grammostola pulchripes, Lasiodora parahybana, or Brachypelma albopilosum or vagans. They're all hardy and great eaters. They thrive in most cage conditions.

I really like that first one, that's a gold knee isn't it? How much are they usually and where do you think I could find a reputable breeder?

Edit** Also would you recommend buying a sling?

 

[telepatella]

Avail yourself to The Tarantula Keeper's Guide.


It tells you all about keeping tarantulas.


It's an enjoyable read.


Read the book, then decide.


Tarantulas aren't going anywhere.

 

[Kroogur]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Tarantula...=1385460564&sr=8-1&keywords=tarantula+keepers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8GTjO7TKe0

Slings are a good way to go, prices are more reasonable and you get the benefit of watching them grow!

As for breeders you can check the reviews section of the forums here.

 

[Poec54]

I really like that first one, that's a gold knee isn't it? How much are they usually and where do you think I could find a reputable breeder?

Edit** Also would you recommend buying a sling?

Yes, Chaco Golden Knee. Great spiders! Big, beautiful, hardy, calm, and eat like there's no tomorrow. Very easy to keep. Newly hatched slings are tiny (like 1/4") so you probably want to get one an inch or bigger. They produce a lot of eggs in a sac, and are available from a number of sources. Can't go wrong with one of these.

 

[vespers]

Here are some pics of her healthy:

Why is there a pine cone in the enclosure???

 

[Poec54]

Why is there a pine cone in the enclosure???

Oops. How did that get in there?

 

[CitizenNumber9]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Tarantula...=1385460564&sr=8-1&keywords=tarantula+keepers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8GTjO7TKe0

Slings are a good way to go, prices are more reasonable and you get the benefit of watching them grow!

As for breeders you can check the reviews section of the forums here.

Thank you for the advice though I don't think I'll buy the book, just because I can look up species-specific information on my pho.e or computer whenever I like (I've already saved a huge care sheet for a gold knee )

I'll definitely be browsing for breeders, though!

 

[Hydrazine]

One of the first things one learns on AB is that you can pretty much toss caresheets out of window.