Help Me Please ! Chaco Golden Knee Acting Very Strange

[Jake Gilbert]

Hi, i'm very new to keeping tarantulas as pets, i recently bought a G. pulchripes about and its about 2" very little thing, However when i first got hr she was fine and moving around and exploring. Climbing stuff, moving stuff etc etc. However on the 30th of June its behavior changed. She is staying under her hide , not moving, refusing food, just not moving and being a pet rock. I understand the process of the molt and she could well be in pre-molt. Just wondering f anyone could help or should i be concerned in anyway. Thank you.

 

[Rigor Mortis]

Could be premoult. But pics of the enclosure are always helpful to rule everything else out.

 

[Jake Gilbert]

Could be premoult. But pics of the enclosure are always helpful to rule everything else out.

Hi yes thanks I'll send pictures of the enclosure now.

Hi yes thanks I'll send pictures of the enclosure now.

Okay, as you can see the substrate is dry as a bone, the bark i gave her , as you can see it just hides under it and has been doing since Saturday, its strange because it was all out in the open eating fine, then it's behavior just changed to her not moving and staying under the hide not even coming out at all and refusing pinhead crickets. She does not web at all either. I'm assuming pre-molt tbh. However if there is anything wrong with the enclosure or anything please let me know. Thank you

 

[Aarantula]

The enclosure looks perfect. Don’t be concerned at all. Tarantulas behavior can change from day to day occasionally. Post a pic of the tarantula when you get a chance so we can assure you that the enclosure isn’t too large. It’s important to give them space, however not too much space when they are small to limit them having to hunt and possibly go hungry. You want to make a sling’s life as easy as possible. But yeah, the enclosure looks great.

In regards to the crickets. If you’re feeding live ones, try to crush their heads and place one or two near the burrow. It’s possible the T is intimidated by the cricket. I’ve encountered that behavior countless times with slings. But it’s nothing that can’t be fixed by prekilling the food.

 

[Jake Gilbert]

The enclosure looks perfect. Don’t be concerned at all. Tarantulas behavior can change from day to day occasionally. Post a pic of the tarantula when you get a chance so we can assure you that the enclosure isn’t too large. It’s important to give them space, however not too much space when they are small to limit them having to hunt and possibly go hungry. You want to make a sling’s life as easy as possible. But yeah, the enclosure looks great.

In regards to the crickets. If you’re feeding live ones, try to crush their heads and place one or two near the burrow. It’s possible the T is intimidated by the cricket. I’ve encountered that behavior countless times with slings. But it’s nothing that can’t be fixed by prekilling the food.

Hi thank you for your help, there is the golden knee as you can see quite small and tiny , I noticed the thing on her back , WHAT THE HELL IS THAT !! I’m really worried , I had to move her hide to take that photo and she didn’t even move, only moved one leg. Also is the enclosure still fine or to big if so I have a small deli cup to place her in. Like I say I assume premolt but anyway thank you.

 

[Aarantula]

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Hi thank you for your help, there is the golden knee as you can see quite small and tiny , I noticed the thing on her back , WHAT THE HELL IS THAT !! I’m really worried , I had to move her hide to take that photo and she didn’t even move, only moved one leg. Also is the enclosure still fine or to big if so I have a small deli cup to place her in. Like I say I assume premolt but anyway thank you.

That enclosure doesn’t really look to large at all. Your tarantula is definitely large enough to fend for itself and not need dead feeders. That golden patch on the top of the abdomen is nothing to be concerned about. That’s just one of the more attractive features of the species. As stated earlier, your enclosure is great and your T looks healthy. Just replace that cork bark and let your tarantula be a tarantula.

 

[Jake Gilbert]

That enclosure doesn’t really look to large at all. Your tarantula is definitely large enough to fend for itself and not need dead feeders. That golden patch on the top of the abdomen is nothing to be concerned about. That’s just one of the more attractive features of the species. As stated earlier, your enclosure is great and your T looks healthy. Just replace that cork bark and let your tarantula be a tarantula.

Hi , yes thank you she’s just come out and Chilled on her hide, very strange but ya well I’ll keep an eye on it thank you I’ll let you know if anything goes bad or wrong cheers I’ll replace the bark.

 

[Aarantula]

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Hi , yes thank you she’s just come out and Chilled on her hide, very strange but ya well I’ll keep an eye on it thank you I’ll let you know if anything goes bad or wrong cheers I’ll replace the bark.

Happy to help! That’s a beautiful species that is quite docile. That’s why you didn’t get any running/ threat postures when you removed the bark. Just let her/ him chill out and do as they will. The only maintenance you need to keep up on is removing food waste from time to time, keep her fed and a clean water supply. Hopefully you have a female! I used to have one of the same species that got quite large. Good luck!

 

[Jake Gilbert]

Happy to help! That’s a beautiful species that is quite docile. That’s why you didn’t get any running/ threat postures when you removed the bark. Just let her/ him chill out and do as they will. The only maintenance you need to keep up on is removing food waste from time to time, keep her fed and a clean water supply. Hopefully you have a female! I used to have one of the same species that got quite large. Good luck!

Woooow also she has just eaten a cricket amazing take down to say it’s so little , anyway thank you , also do you have any recommendations on new tarantulas , maybe just past beginner but but to advanced and violent.

 

[Aarantula]

Woooow also she has just eaten a cricket amazing take down to say it’s so little , anyway thank you , also do you have any recommendations on new tarantulas , maybe just past beginner but but to advanced and violent.

Good to hear! If you’re looking for a second T, I recommend you pick up a Brachypelma Hamorii (Mexican Red Knee). It’s another absolutely beautiful species with bright orange/ red knees. They’re growth rate is very similar to the Chaco you already have and they have an extremely docile temperament which makes them an excellent beginner species. The B. Hamorii is also a terrestrial (ground dwelling) species so a set up similar to your Chaco would suit one well. They tend to be a bit on the pricey side if you shop for a juvenile so maybe try your hand at a younger sling and watch it blossom.

 

[Bluebird5591]

Hi, i'm very new to keeping tarantulas as pets, i recently bought a G. pulchripes about and its about 2" very little thing, However when i first got hr she was fine and moving around and exploring. Climbing stuff, moving stuff etc etc. However on the 30th of June its behavior changed. She is staying under her hide , not moving, refusing food, just not moving and being a pet rock. I understand the process of the molt and she could well be in pre-molt. Just wondering f anyone could help or should i be concerned in anyway. Thank you.

You don't say exactly how long you've had it but the climbing and over activity was probably a result of the new enclosure, and now it's settling in. What you're describing now is completely normal behavior, they are indeed pet rocks. If they are moving around and climbing a lot its usally a result of a recent rehouse or something on the ground they're unhappy with. In other words the fact that she's calming down is a good thing.

 

[Goopyguy56]

Mine always sits in the same spot regardless if it is in premolt

 

[The Grym Reaper]

noticed the thing on her back , WHAT THE HELL IS THAT !!

It's called a mirror patch, it's basically just an iridescent patch of urticating hairs.

 

[Jake Gilbert]

Hi Thanks so much for all your help, also for my second T i was looking at a Mexican fire leg also known as Mexican beauty (Brachypelma boehmei), They look so amazing!!!! my other choices are The Arizona Blonde (Aphonopelma chalcodes). Or a pumpkin patch (Hapolopus sp. (Columbia). I just dont know which haha but im really drawn to the pumpkin patch and the mexican fire leg.