CABIV
Arachnosquire
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2014
- Messages
- 95
Hi guys,
I hesitate to post here only because there are tons of threads on these tarantulas (and I've read through a mind-numbing amount over since mid-august when I first signed up here!). I'm hoping some of you may be able to alleviate my concerns.
The short story- My Avicularia avicularia doesn't eat. Its also my first tarantula, but not my first insect or spider. I've had it for a month. How do I determine stress vs premolt? How long will it fast? Would it be likely to molt as we enter the fall and the temperatures drop?
The details-
Cage and conditions:
-It is kept in a 5 gallon fish tank, though horizontally oriented (not vertically as recommended for arboreals)
-Though initially I used a spray bottle to mist the cage, I have discontinued this practice as it seems ineffective.
-Temperature was maintained at 70+ degrees (room temp), though recently temperatures have fallen to no less than 65.
-Humidity WERE maintained at 70+, through the use of two water dishes, and damp substrate underneath dry substrate, layered 2-3 inches of coconut choir. A live plant also initially inhabited the cage.
-The top of the cage is a metal wire screen that slides in and out. Other than some tape to block holes in the screen, it is open and allows much ventilation.
- Last week large number of mites were found on a cricket that had died after only a short time in the cage. Further investigation revealed many book lice as well. These did not seem to inhabit the upper regions of the cage where the tarantula was sitting. The tarantula was clean. Still, resources such as "The Tarantula Keeper's Guide" recommended such a scenario was a bad sign.
-I have since cleared out the cage, bleached it (and rinsed it copiously!), and microwaved the wood decorations for 5 minutes on high each. The substrate was discarded.
-Currently, the cage has a small hollow log and a branch inside, with a thin layer of coconut choir (thin enough you can still see the glass underneath in most places). The two water dishes were returned, though humidity now seems to hover between 65 and 70%. As the fall approaches, the room temperature seems to be falling as well to also in the 65+ range (though it will reach the 70s at times). I am planning to move the tank to my room, which stays warmer most of the day. No more mites, book lice, or flies have been observed.
-A cardboard toilet paper tube has been added.
Tarantula Behavior
-It has a leg span of 3 inches, and the body is over 1 1/4" long. The abdomen does not appear fat, but it doesn't look slim and skinny either. Pictures are attached.
-As mentioned above, it does not seem to want to eat. If it has, I have not found the food bolus. It will not take crickets offered in front of it. Crickets have actually walked on the tarantula and it did not react.
-The tarantula has not webbed much. Small bits of webbing were found on some decorations, but nothing significant (it look more like a cob web, whispy and nearly not there!). However, in the past few days the tarantula climbed into the cardboard tube and has webbed it slightly more than the other decorations, but still not a very significant amount. It is more and more webbed every day, however.
-It appears to be somewhat active. Though in the morning it looks like it is sitting in the same place, I have watched it walk around the cage at night, though very slowly and usually not very far. Lately, it has been staying in one place for much longer periods, though even then, it appears to shift position slightly, usually turning to face a different direction.
-Many times I've found it on the bottom of the tank for a couple days, which I understand is not a happy place for an Avic.
-It allows me to touch it, and will stretch its legs out if stroked lightly. I find this interesting, since I would have expected the tarantula to move away. (at the time, it was sitting with some of its legs on a water dish that I needed to empty and change. It would not move or let go!). True to the claims, this appears to be a VERY docile tarantula!
- That said, it will not stay on my hand for any length of time (frustrating when I am trying to move it). It seems to be able to sense that my hand is not a "normal" surface and will maneuver around it. If it does sit on me, it will do so for only a moment before attempting to scoot quickly to another decoration in the cage.
-It does not appear worn out or sick. When I had the tarantula out of its tank to clean it, I inspected it with a powerful magnifying lens, and observed no signs of pests or sickness, as outlined in "The Taratula Keeper's Guide".
This is its appearance as of 9/20.
Thank you for your assistance!
Chris
I hesitate to post here only because there are tons of threads on these tarantulas (and I've read through a mind-numbing amount over since mid-august when I first signed up here!). I'm hoping some of you may be able to alleviate my concerns.
The short story- My Avicularia avicularia doesn't eat. Its also my first tarantula, but not my first insect or spider. I've had it for a month. How do I determine stress vs premolt? How long will it fast? Would it be likely to molt as we enter the fall and the temperatures drop?
The details-
Cage and conditions:
-It is kept in a 5 gallon fish tank, though horizontally oriented (not vertically as recommended for arboreals)
-Though initially I used a spray bottle to mist the cage, I have discontinued this practice as it seems ineffective.
-Temperature was maintained at 70+ degrees (room temp), though recently temperatures have fallen to no less than 65.
-Humidity WERE maintained at 70+, through the use of two water dishes, and damp substrate underneath dry substrate, layered 2-3 inches of coconut choir. A live plant also initially inhabited the cage.
-The top of the cage is a metal wire screen that slides in and out. Other than some tape to block holes in the screen, it is open and allows much ventilation.
- Last week large number of mites were found on a cricket that had died after only a short time in the cage. Further investigation revealed many book lice as well. These did not seem to inhabit the upper regions of the cage where the tarantula was sitting. The tarantula was clean. Still, resources such as "The Tarantula Keeper's Guide" recommended such a scenario was a bad sign.
-I have since cleared out the cage, bleached it (and rinsed it copiously!), and microwaved the wood decorations for 5 minutes on high each. The substrate was discarded.
-Currently, the cage has a small hollow log and a branch inside, with a thin layer of coconut choir (thin enough you can still see the glass underneath in most places). The two water dishes were returned, though humidity now seems to hover between 65 and 70%. As the fall approaches, the room temperature seems to be falling as well to also in the 65+ range (though it will reach the 70s at times). I am planning to move the tank to my room, which stays warmer most of the day. No more mites, book lice, or flies have been observed.
-A cardboard toilet paper tube has been added.
Tarantula Behavior
-It has a leg span of 3 inches, and the body is over 1 1/4" long. The abdomen does not appear fat, but it doesn't look slim and skinny either. Pictures are attached.
-As mentioned above, it does not seem to want to eat. If it has, I have not found the food bolus. It will not take crickets offered in front of it. Crickets have actually walked on the tarantula and it did not react.
-The tarantula has not webbed much. Small bits of webbing were found on some decorations, but nothing significant (it look more like a cob web, whispy and nearly not there!). However, in the past few days the tarantula climbed into the cardboard tube and has webbed it slightly more than the other decorations, but still not a very significant amount. It is more and more webbed every day, however.
-It appears to be somewhat active. Though in the morning it looks like it is sitting in the same place, I have watched it walk around the cage at night, though very slowly and usually not very far. Lately, it has been staying in one place for much longer periods, though even then, it appears to shift position slightly, usually turning to face a different direction.
-Many times I've found it on the bottom of the tank for a couple days, which I understand is not a happy place for an Avic.
-It allows me to touch it, and will stretch its legs out if stroked lightly. I find this interesting, since I would have expected the tarantula to move away. (at the time, it was sitting with some of its legs on a water dish that I needed to empty and change. It would not move or let go!). True to the claims, this appears to be a VERY docile tarantula!
- That said, it will not stay on my hand for any length of time (frustrating when I am trying to move it). It seems to be able to sense that my hand is not a "normal" surface and will maneuver around it. If it does sit on me, it will do so for only a moment before attempting to scoot quickly to another decoration in the cage.
-It does not appear worn out or sick. When I had the tarantula out of its tank to clean it, I inspected it with a powerful magnifying lens, and observed no signs of pests or sickness, as outlined in "The Taratula Keeper's Guide".
This is its appearance as of 9/20.
Thank you for your assistance!
Chris
