How long is my Rosea going to hold out from eating?

[Kodi]

I got him about 2 weeks ago and have tried feeding him 2 or 3 times starting after a week I got him. I know they tend to hold off on eating for a long time, but how long? I just want to know how long until I should be worried (If ever).

Thanks ^^

 

[toxic667]

My tarantula went on a 5 month long fast. She finally ate yesterday lol. I wouldn't be worried yet. Just keep offering food and taking it out if she doesn't eat it.

 

[donniedark0]

my rosie went about 6 months without eating. Molted, and then became a ferocious eater that never refused food.

 

[coldvaper]

Don't take it out too fast, I notice that if I leave the food in for a week she will ten to eat more often.

 

[Kodi]

That doesnt work to well with meal worms or butter worms... They just dig deep into the substrate.

 

[toxic667]

Don't take it out too fast, I notice that if I leave the food in for a week she will ten to eat more often.

Do not leave food in there for a week, that is excessive. 3 days at most. Definitely do not want rotting crickets to attract mites in there.

 

[Storm76]

Leave her be for 2 weeks, try again then. She might need more time to adjust or is plain simply not interested in food. Nothing to worry...just a T being a T

 

[SuzukiSwift]

It could be just because of the lighting but she looks like she might be close to moulting. That could be the reason she's not eating, but I'm no expert so could be wrong lol In either case, Rosies go without eating for long periods, sometimes for months for no reason (as in no reason that we can discern =P)

 

[Stan Schultz]

I got him about 2 weeks ago and have tried feeding him 2 or 3 times starting after a week I got him. I know they tend to hold off on eating for a long time, but how long? I just want to know how long until I should be worried (If ever). ...

KODI! YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR HOMEWORK! Didn't I give you the standard newbie introduction? Haven't you seen it on someone else's thread?

[size=+2]OH, NO![/SIZE]
I just went through all your posts and it appears I missed you, buddy! So sorry! So, to make up for it, here goes (you lucky dog, you!):
(And, you'd better read the whole !@#$%! thing for making me do this!)

[SIZE=+1]BINGO! YOU SAID THE MAGIC WORDS![/size]​

I get the sense that this may be your first tarantula, or that you haven't had tarantulas for very long, that you may be a "newbie." In any case, to make sure that you're starting out on the right foot and have been introduced to all the basic issues, I'm going to begin with my soon-to-be-world-notorious NEWBIE INTRODUCTION.

If I'm mistaken, I apologize. But, even if you aren't a newbie I suggest that you read through it for review. (I just LUVS doing this!) Please stand by while I load the canned message.

[size=+1]HEY PEOPLE! WE'VE GOT ANOTHER NEWBIE HERE![/SIZE]​

Cue the mariachis, the confetti, and the clowns. Let's start the party!

Kodi, please don't be offended! I've been messing with tarantulas longer than most people on this forum have been alive, and I still consider myself a newbie. I'm just having a little fun with you.

:biggrin:


Okay, let's get down to business. First, the pleasantries:

[SIZE=+1]"Welcome to the hobby!"

"Welcome to these forums!"[/size]


Now, to get you started on the right foot I urge you to read the following webpages.

Stan's Rant - A little initial boost in the right direction.
BE SURE TO READ AND HEED THE WARNINGS! They'll save you a bundle of cash and maybe a few dead tarantulas!
BE SURE TO READ THE BOOKS! The books will not only answer all your questions, but will also answer all the questions you hadn't thought to ask!

Myths, Misconceptions, and Mistakes Perpetuated by Tarantula Enthusiasts - A growing list of bad information in the hobby. Be sure to explore all the links.

And since you already have a Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea) you definitely should also read Care and Husbandry of the Chilean Rose Tarantula - How NOT to let your Chilean rose tarantula drive you to the funny farm!

Lastly, you should read Substrate to get to the down and dirty of the situation.

Additional Thoughts:

Good Starting Philosophy:
Most newbies start out trying to make tarantula care as complicated as possible, fretting over all sorts of silly things. For the beginner at least, and for most of us experienced aficionados as well, the best philosophy is, SIMPLE IS BETTER! As long as it supplies the basic necessities, the simpler your tarantula's cage is, the less there is to go wrong.

The Search Function:
Don't take this as a criticism, but if you don't already know about it, please learn to use the Search function at the top of the page. It'll save us all a lot of time and effort. Most novices and even many seasoned enthusiasts fail to appreciate that 95+% of all tarantula issues have already been addressed, sometimes ad nauseam, on these forums. All you need do is look for the discussions.

A Basic Operating Principle:
If you can't find an answer to your concern using the Search function (after all, search engines are far from perfect), by all means ask us. Remember,

"The only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask."
"And, dumb questions are always easier to deal with than dumb mistakes!"


Fire away! "We aims to please."


Also, has no one told you?

[size=+2]THE TARANTULA KEEPER'S LAMENT

Like those potato chips,

you can't have just one!


You've been warned![/size]

(And, we offer a tip of the ol' hat and our profound thanks to the Frito-Lay Company for institutionalizing the progenitor of this little joke.)​

Visit the webpages. Read the warnings. Read the books. Watch these forums. Do the searches.

DON'T DO ANYTHING ANYBODY TELLS YOU UNLESS ITS CONFIRMED IN ONE OF THOSE BOOKS, OR WE CONFIRM IT HERE!

IGNORE THE !@#$%! CARE SHEETS!

Then, get back to us with any concerns you may have. We're here to help.

Again, you need to read, READ, READ!

Lastly, it would help a lot if you would post several photos of your tarantula from several different angles, and several photos of its cage from several different angles. A few cell phones work okay, but most can't focus well enough, and proper focus is very important. If at all possible use a better camera. Maybe borrow one from a family member or friend? A picture is worth 1000 words! Besides, "We LUVS pichers!"


End Canned Message

Is that wet substrate I see?

We need to see what the front of the tarantula looks like, not its back. Can you supply several photos of the tarantula from several different angles? Also, several photos of its cage from several different angles, please?

Where did you get it?

1) If you got it from a pet shop they probably won't be able to give you any believable information about it. (Where tarantulas are concerned, most pet shop people can't find their own behinds with both hands, a flashlight, and a road map!)

2) If you got it from a dealer over the Internet, you might give them a call and ask how long they'd had it before sending it to you.

To answer your question directly, once they start their "Hemisphere Shift" they may go 2 years or more before they begin to eat again. The record is a few weeks over 3 years.

If you got it from a pet shop, it probably hasn't been out of the desert more than 4 to 8 weeks, and hasn't had a chance to start the Shift. It should have started eating by now, at least temporarily. If that's the case, we are going to need more information, starting with the photos I requested, to figure out what's wrong.

If you got it from a dealer, there's a chance that they have had it for several months, in which case it's beginning the Shift and may not eat again for months.

There! I've done enough damage.

YOU NEEDS TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
Your little 8-legged buddies are going to be giving you spot quizzes daily!

:laugh:

 

[jen650s]

Almost two years

I had a MF Rosie who went almost two years without eating about 8 years ago. I'd offer about once a month, wait a couple of days take it out. She finally molted after which she ate like a demon (everything she was offered for a month before I put her back on an every 10 days schedule). A year later I donated her to an educational program where she is still going strong at more than 17 years old.

Don't worry to much about it as long as it has fresh water and continues to behave in a Rosie like manner.:wink:

 

[Kodi]

Ohhh boy. :biggrin: I have read your rant, the entire Care and Husbandry of the Chilean Rose Tarantula and your newbie intro atleast three times since joining this forum.

I think it was you, but Im not sure... We talked about the damp substrate and you told me to empty it out and put dry substrate in. I told you he has webbed up the ground and never hangs on the sides or chills out near the lid, but usually stays inside the pot I have in there for him.

Yes... I did buy him from a pet shop. Probably worst of all Petco. The guy pulled him out and said "Have you had a tarantula before?". I said "Ya I have one right now". He asked "What kind?". I replied "Versicolor" knowing he never even heard of it. Then he boxed him up and wrote a receipt. Wonderful knowledge base they have there at good 'ol Petco.

He is about 3.5 inches DLS. I just took all of these pictures no more than half an hour ago. Except the ventral.
Ventilation.


His home.


Webbing.


Front view.


Back/side view.


If you think the sub is much to moist and hes just not showing how uncomfortable he is by climbing the walls I will take it out and dry it.

 

[Kodi]

Ventral male? I have compared and compared, but just cannot tell. Best guess is male especially since it came from a pet store.

 

[Stan Schultz]

Ventral male? I have compared and compared, but just cannot tell. Best guess is male especially since it came from a pet store.
View attachment 107307

80% probability of being female!


Enjoy your little 8-legged darlin'!

 

[Kodi]

What the... what are the main indicators your going by? First I thought female, then I compared the picture to others and said male, and now back to female. Im hoping female for the life span.

 

[Warren Bautista]

How long is my Rosea going to hold out from eating?

Wait a minute.

People feed their G. rosea?

 

[grayzone]

my female stopped eating for just about a year. I started pairing her in April, and she started eating decently, but sadly she molted on 4th of july

 

[cmack91]

If you think the sub is much to moist and hes just not showing how uncomfortable he is by climbing the walls I will take it out and dry it.

If there is ANY moisture AT ALL than it is TOO moist. They like it DRY, BONE dry. So yes, your substrate is too wet (based on the pictures). Does it have anything to do with it not feeding? I have no idea, he probably just doesn't want to eat.

 

[Stan Schultz]

What the... what are the main indicators your going by? First I thought female, then I compared the picture to others and said male, and now back to female. Im hoping female for the life span.

Look carefully at the following illustration (based on your photo). Right-click (on a PC. I have no idea how to do this on a Mac, or a Linux machine) the thumbnail to get a larger image and click something (it varies with each browser) to open the image in a new tab. (If your browser doesn't support tabs, you need to upgrade!) Then click that image to see a full sized version. My marks don't show up very well. Sorry, it's the best I could do.



In frame #1, I've circled the two book lungs for reference. (Remember, that there may be several other people looking at this who might not know some of this, hence my pointing this out.)

In frame #2, I've circled the area we're interested in, including the epigynal plate. This epigynal plate is the area inside my marking AND above the horizontal white line, the epigynal furrow (also called the epigynal fold and epigastric furrow/fold). In your tarantula this is as wide as either one of the book lungs and is wider (left to right in your photo) than it is "long" (top to bottom in your photo, head-to-tail on the tarantula). This is the sign of a female. Male tarantulas almost always have a narrower epigynal plate.

Also notice that there is no obvious little spot, the so-called epiandrous bull's eye, on the epigynal plate. It would be centered left to right and usually touching the epigynal furrow, often round to oval with the long axis oriented front to back, and usually approximately 1/4 to 1/2 the length of the epigynal plate. It is either a different color or a different texture (or both) than the surrounding bristles. It possesses the epiandrous fusillae, the special, little silk spigots that the male uses in the construction of the sperm web.

Here are good examples:
Grammostola pulchra
Poecilotheria ornata
Pterinochylus murinus

Many females lack some bristles in the same area, giving the impression of a bull's eye. But, in proper lighting you can tell that it's the result of a little "baldness" rather than different bristles.

In frame #3, I've circled that part of the epigynal plate that forms the distinct little bulge or "pot belly" on the females. Males ordinarily don't have such a bulge. The absence of a bulge, however, doesn't mean much. The females of some species don't develop very obvious ones. The rule is: If there's a distinct bulge, the tarantula is almost surely a female. Without a bulge, you can't tell.

In frame #4, I've circled the epigynal furrow. Notice that it connects the two book lungs along their rear margins. The genital opening lies in the center of the epigynal furrow.

Lastly, be aware that this is largely a matter of looking for parts and making value judgements on their appearance. Because of the variability between different individuals and between different species you can never be entirely certain, it's always a "probably" associated with some percentage. Never bet the food or rent money on such a determination!

Enjoy your little 8-legged "Sex Education 101!"

 

[Kodi]

That was very informative! Now I actually know what to look for when looking at ventral pictures. Maybe Ill have another look and take another picture at a different angle. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. :idea:

 

[Kodi]

I finally found out why she wasnt eating! Just today she molted. Ive had her since August 6th. After shes finished hardening up Ill remove her exuvia and find out if shes 100% sure a female. Is it possible that shes a RCF from Petco? Shes much more of a red tinge than brown, but it could be the lighting.

[video=youtube;AC1paSz4U1s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC1paSz4U1s&feature=plcp[/video]