Help, new to caring for a tarantula.

[Zemlo23]

I got this pink toe a while back, maybe a few months ago. She used to eat regularly, once every two weeks, and was very active.
Lately, she has stopped eating and her butt fur has looked weird. I thought she was molting but I don't think she is. She also hasn't webbed at all since I got her.
I wanna make sure she is comfortable in the environment she is in.
Any advice anyone has?
I do not touch her at all or open her enclosure often. I leave her alone all the time.

For temp, it's 73 degrees at all times, and the humidity is pretty high.
I do have a water bowl in her cage. She does have some real plants.
I am gonna get her some better anchoring points to see if that will help webbing.

 

[BoyFromLA]

Any advice anyone has?

Stop worrying, opening and closing the enclosure every few hours, taking it out on a stroll. Instead, keep watching, monitoring, observing, learn from it’s behaviors as it goes through all stages of pre molt, molt, post molt.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I got this pink toe a while back, maybe a few months ago. She used to eat regularly, once every two weeks, and was very active.
Lately, she has stopped eating and her butt fur has looked weird. I thought she was molting but I don't think she is. She also hasn't webbed at all since I got her.
I wanna make sure she is comfortable in the environment she is in.
Any advice anyone has?

For temp, it's 73 degrees at all times, and the humidity is pretty high.
I do have a water bowl in her cage. She does have some real plants.
I am gonna get her some better anchoring points to see if that will help webbing.

Sooo, don't be taking it out strolls like that for a start. Pics aren't the best but it looks to have quite bulbous pedipalps could be a mature male which would explain some of the behaviour. When you say high humidity how are you measuring it? They don't need high humidity they do need water and cross ventilation though something that can't be achieved in that enclosure as it's only top opening.

 

[Zemlo23]

Stop worrying, opening and closing the enclosure every few hours, taking it out on a stroll. Instead, keep watching, monitoring, observing, learn from it’s behaviors as it goes through all stages of pre molt, molt, post molt.

I don't take it out for strolls often at all. I took it out once to re-organize its cage because some sticks fell. but ill keep that in mind.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I don't take it out for strolls often at all. I took it out once to re-organize its cage because some sticks fell. but ill keep that in mind.

You have only answered about the strolls.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

If this is your first T, I’d take out the live plant. They have separate needs and need to be managed separately first before combining them. I would add fake leaves to the upper third for your T to create web tunnels in. Also ensure whatever you’ve put in your T’s enclosure is from a place that is not contaminated (are not sprayed for bugs, fertilizer, etc) if you collected it yourself. Cork preferred as it doesn’t mold.

Pics aren't the best but it looks to have quite bulbous pedipalps could be a mature male

Still has pink toes on the palps.

 

[Hardus nameous]

Since it's an Avic have you seen these yet?

Avicularia Husbandry?

Hi! I'm new to the forum and am unsure if this is the right place for this, but I was wondering if there's anything I should know in advance before purchasing an Avicularia genus? (specifically, I have my eye on some a. metallica slings) I've done some reading, but being that I've only ever had...

arachnoboards.com

Avicularia care

this thread will go over what beginners and vets alike should be providing their Avicularia. i find it quite sad that so many Avics are subject to low vent cages and doomed to die. even experienced keepers can have difficulty with them. anyway, there are a few main concepts to keeping Avics that...

arachnoboards.com

Mine refused to drink from the water dish; instead I'd squirt a few drops next to the spider (usually on the glass) and it'd drink from that.
Also more top cover in the enclosure.

 

[cold blood]

FWIW, you say the humidity is pretty high...this is how you kill an Avic.

 

[Arachnopets]

FWIW, you say the humidity is pretty high...this is how you kill an Avic.

Especially with a lack of cross ventilation.

 

[TheraMygale]

does your enclosure have true cross ventilation: holes below where the door opens, and on top. Depending on enclosures, some add side ventilation.

with eurostyle crossventilation, top and near sub area, usualy does the trick.

but if youve been misting everyday, it can add up

more photos of pedipalps ans forelegs would be helpful.

high humidity is enemy of avics as they live in trees with high wind; even humidity is high in their wild habitat, the air flow is even higher. There is less build up of stagnant air and water.

imagine standing face to face with a beach. Bet its high humidity, but the winds are blowings. So it feels almost dry to human, minus the dry nose.

this is what they live in.

if your enclosure promots the feeling of a dutch oven, then yeah, that could hurt it.

even if i am no expert on avics, it has a small abdomen ratio to carapace. Its not overweight.

webbing can take time to occur. And your “decorations” dont provide top hiding material. You already seem to be aware of this.

a long cork that goes from sub to ceiling, with added fake foliage at ceiling level, is all that is required. Its really not that much. The cork being the more expensive. But at the size of your enclosure, youd need one piece for life. Thats what, 20-30$ depending on local?

there should be no misting that looks like monsoon. Only “droplets” near tarantula, provided as a drinking source. Even if you have a water bowl.

everything else pools together, goes down in the sub, and oversaturates sub.

If you witness enclosure condensation during more then hours, you have a humidity problem.

 

[fcat]

If sticks are falling they aren't properly secured. I would take some of them out. In the center I see three in close proximity...these are too close for the T to pass through so that's another potential issue. Anchors need to be anchored. Everything in the tank should be so she doesn't get hurt. If her weight is enough to knock them over, she won't use them. I'm guessing it already happened though...if you had to pull her out to adjust it then it fell with her inside.

If you took a Christmas tree and turned it upside down, it would be fullest at the top. Your T is going to set up shop where it feels safe, where there is cover and anchors. A happy avic is not on the ground. Invert the anchors so the top is more sheltered.

Get a larger pice of cork bark, that one only leaves space for ground dwelling. Cork bark is light and resistant to mold.

Since you took the time to advertise the handling, I really hope you take the time to address the concerns others have pointed out.

 

[Zemlo23]

does your enclosure have true cross ventilation: holes below where the door opens, and on top. Depending on enclosures, some add side ventilation.

with eurostyle crossventilation, top and near sub area, usualy does the trick.

but if youve been misting everyday, it can add up

more photos of pedipalps ans forelegs would be helpful.

high humidity is enemy of avics as they live in trees with high wind; even humidity is high in their wild habitat, the air flow is even higher. There is less build up of stagnant air and water.

imagine standing face to face with a beach. Bet its high humidity, but the winds are blowings. So it feels almost dry to human, minus the dry nose.

this is what they live in.

if your enclosure promots the feeling of a dutch oven, then yeah, that could hurt it.

even if i am no expert on avics, it has a small abdomen ratio to carapace. Its not overweight.

webbing can take time to occur. And your “decorations” dont provide top hiding material. You already seem to be aware of this.

a long cork that goes from sub to ceiling, with added fake foliage at ceiling level, is all that is required. Its really not that much. The cork being the more expensive. But at the size of your enclosure, youd need one piece for life. Thats what, 20-30$ depending on local?

there should be no misting that looks like monsoon. Only “droplets” near tarantula, provided as a drinking source. Even if you have a water bowl.

everything else pools together, goes down in the sub, and oversaturates sub.

If you witness enclosure condensation during more then hours, you have a humidity problem.

It has ventilation all over the top, on the back, and on the lower sides. I don't mist it every day. What I meant by high humidity is, that I have tropical plants outside the change in my room and have a humidifier running near the cage at all times, so the room is usually damp and humid. her cage is usually left alone and I spray it occasionally, only giving her a droplet or two here and there when she needs to drink. I am getting her more cork pieces this week and some ceiling pieces, since I know of that problem.
the dirt on the bottom of her cage is usually always dry, and so is the sphagnum moss which shows that im not over-watering or anything like that, I was just talking about the humidity in the air. But thank you so much for the advice and i'll make sure to make changes to her cage as you guys have said so.

I haven't gotten any new pics of her recently and don't wanna mess with her, but if im able to see her pedipalps any time soon ill send a picture on over here when I can!!!

If sticks are falling they aren't properly secured. I would take some of them out. In the center I see three in close proximity...these are too close for the T to pass through so that's another potential issue. Anchors need to be anchored. Everything in the tank should be so she doesn't get hurt. If her weight is enough to knock them over, she won't use them. I'm guessing it already happened though...if you had to pull her out to adjust it then it fell with her inside.

If you took a Christmas tree and turned it upside down, it would be fullest at the top. Your T is going to set up shop where it feels safe, where there is cover and anchors. A happy avic is not on the ground. Invert the anchors so the top is more sheltered.

Get a larger pice of cork bark, that one only leaves space for ground dwelling. Cork bark is light and resistant to mold.

Since you took the time to advertise the handling, I really hope you take the time to address the concerns others have pointed out.

I definitely will, i'm going out this weekend to get some more anchoring points for her this weekend, and I'll take some of the front sticks out and set some higher advantage points. I do want the best care for her. I'm thinking of getting some round cork and a bunch more slanted bark, so she feels more hidden in the back and some more fake plants on the top to be able to give her more advantage points to be able to anchor. and take out one of the real plants. Im thinking of turning down my humidifier that's running outside her tank all the time just to make sure it's not too hot or moist in the air for her.

FWIW, you say the humidity is pretty high...this is how you kill an Avic.

thanks, i'll make sure to keep it down.
I don't wanna kill them.

 

[Matt Man]

the best adage is "When you don't know what to do, do nothing" Get an arboreal container with good ventilation. ExoTerra 8x8x12 or 12x12x18 work great. Have a piece of bark about 4" wide and 2-3" lower than the lid. Stabilized the bark with 2-3" of substrate (just below door) add some fake foliage near the top of the bark so they can build a hammock. Add a water dish, done.

 

[Zemlo23]

It has ventilation all over the top, on the back, and on the lower sides. I don't mist it every day. What I meant by high humidity is, that I have tropical plants outside the change in my room and have a humidifier running near the cage at all times, so the room is usually damp and humid. her cage is usually left alone and I spray it occasionally, only giving her a droplet or two here and there when she needs to drink. I am getting her more cork pieces this week and some ceiling pieces, since I know of that problem.
the dirt on the bottom of her cage is usually always dry, and so is the sphagnum moss which shows that im not over-watering or anything like that, I was just talking about the humidity in the air. But thank you so much for the advice and i'll make sure to make changes to her cage as you guys have said so.

I haven't gotten any new pics of her recently and don't wanna mess with her, but if im able to see her pedipalps any time soon ill send a picture on over here when I can!!!

I got better bark and round stuff today, and rest her in closure, she took a liking to it and even ate some food, she’s currently hiding out on the inside of the round bark.

 

[Nitroxide]

I got better bark and round stuff today, and rest her in closure, she took a liking to it and even ate some food, she’s currently hiding out on the inside of the round bark.

Looks much better! She will definitely feel safer in there. Just wanted to say you're doing an awesome job listening to the advice, it's refreshing to see when people take initiative.

 

[Zemlo23]

Looks much better! She will definitely feel safer in there. Just wanted to say you're doing an awesome job listening to the advice, it's refreshing to see when people take initiative.

I just wanna say thank you to everyone who gave advice on here. I don’t have much pictures of her and what she’s been up too. However she’s been eating more regularly and I got to see her drink water and clean herself!!!
she also has created a little spot to web in and she hides most of her days in. I’ve seen multiple spits where she’s tried to anchor which was progress but I’m glad to know she finally feels safe and happy enough to create basically a forever home!!!!