I’ve never seen my Juvenile Brazilian Black eat but it’s not molting!?

[marleymathers]

Hi folks. I’m still fairly amateur to tarantula keeping. Forgive me but this may seem like I’m talking crap and written in a jumbled way here goes - I’ve only had 4 Ts the past 9 years
My first ever T was a pink toe around 9 years ago, then my Chaco Golden Knee a few years after that. I believe they were Male as they’ve both gone to Tarantula heaven now.
Then a little over 3 months ago I bought my Adult Female Arizona Blonde and a Juvenile Brazilian Black (not sure on the gender) This may sound stupid but I didn’t realise how small the Brazilian black would be as my pink toe was a Juve but nearly adult size, this Brazilian one is much smaller like it’s just out of sling stage. Because of this I originally had her/him in a bigger enclosure and moved it to a smaller enclosure that I had kept crickets in a few weeks after getting it. Anyway, I first stared putting regular sized crickets in and as it was refusing I would immediately take the cricket out, not long after I ordered smaller sized crickets and thought that would do the trick - the first 2 month it just refused. Then the past month I dropped a couple of crickets in. The next day or 2 and there was no sign of the cricket. Does that mean she/he is eating them, or are the crickets burrowing under the substrate then dying? I didn’t worry too much as I know they can go for a very long time without food and she/he looked well fed as the abdomen is plump, so I initially thought she/he was going to go straight into a molt. Though it hasn’t molted yet. Is this normal for young Ts? is it having difficulty transitioning from Sling food like fruit flies or pinheads to bigger prey. I’ve never seen it eat compared to the Arizona Blonde adult and others where they go for it straight away. Cheers for any help/advice

 

[thatdadlife619]

My G. pulchra juvie stayed in premolt for almost 6 months last year, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Like you already know, these guys can be notorious fasters.

 

[Poonjab]

Normal

 

[marleymathers]

My G. pulchra juvie stayed in premolt for almost 6 months last year, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Like you already know, these guys can be notorious fasters.

Ok thanks for your responses guys, it’s just the past few weeks I’ve dropped a few small crickets in and they’ve disappeared. Are the crickets burrowing down in substrate? I didn’t think they eat when in pre molt

 

[8 legged]

Sounds very normal. My two juvenile G. pulchras have been buried in their cave for exactly 112 days...
This species requires a lot of patience - but when grown up they give a lot of joy!

 

[marleymathers]

Sounds very normal. My two juvenile G. pulchras have been buried in their cave for exactly 112 days...
This species requires a lot of patience - but when grown up they give a lot of joy!

Wow 112 Days?! Mine is also partially burrowed but on the side so I can see them from the side of tank.
Have you seen them eat in 112days?!

 

[8 legged]

They don't eat during this time! A pulchra can manage for more than 12 months without food! In the wild they hibernate, usually more than 3 months. By the way, this is also necessary if you want to breed, otherwise the females will not build an egg sac!
I don't see them during this time either - that would only cause damage!

 

[Table]

Wow 112 Days?!

Thats why I space out my G.pulcras feedings, so she wouldn't be in pre molt for too long. doesn't stop her thow, I just get to see her for longer.

 

[8 legged]

Since it is part of the natural cycle of the pulchras to hide longer at certain intervals, one should allow them this need.

 

[thatdadlife619]

Ok thanks for your responses guys, it’s just the past few weeks I’ve dropped a few small crickets in and they’ve disappeared. Are the crickets burrowing down in substrate? I didn’t think they eat when in pre molt

Your spider could have very well eaten them. I’ve had t’s take food during premolt, and IME I haven’t had issues with crickets burrowing

 

[viper69]

Typical

 

[Gutz323]

I started in the hobby end of september/beginning of October last year and my first T was a juvie G. Pulchra, within 2 days of my purchase she buried herself under nearly 5 inches of substrate and blocked off the entrance to her hide. I left it for a few weeks and then a few month or so and was assured everything was gonna be fine because I was constantly worrying. I knew she was alive because I could see her up against the side of the tank like a little window. In the meantime I got bored with a critter keeper full of dirt and bought some other T's. She un-burried herself one month ago freshly molted and loves a bit of food now after refusing food for so long lol! It was Nearly six months before I really saw my first tarantula, that was pretty stressful.

 

[marleymathers]

I started in the hobby end of september/beginning of October last year and my first T was a juvie G. Pulchra, within 2 days of my purchase she buried herself under nearly 5 inches of substrate and blocked off the entrance to her hide. I left it for a few weeks and then a few month or so and was assured everything was gonna be fine because I was constantly worrying. I knew she was alive because I could see her up against the side of the tank like a little window. In the meantime I got bored with a critter keeper full of dirt and bought some other T's. She un-burried herself one month ago freshly molted and loves a bit of food now after refusing food for so long lol! It was Nearly six months before I really saw my first tarantula, that was pretty stressful.

Thank you for responses. It’s good to know that is exactly what mine is doing know, at least I can see them! It’s a waiting game now I guess. It’s new for me to have such tiny tarantulas I’m used to slightly larger Ts and well know about the fasting for months before which was a bit perplexing when I had first T after having mammals as pets the rest of time . As long as the water dish is full and I keep checking every now and then fingers crossed!
Good luck with everything, it can be even more rewarding keeping a few especially if you have a bit of extra space and a tub full of crickets anyway and no hungry Ts or just one. My adult Arizona blonde just sits in her hide practically all the time they are much more shy than my previous 2 Ts who sat out in the open all the time xD

They don't eat during this time! A pulchra can manage for more than 12 months without food! In the wild they hibernate, usually more than 3 months. By the way, this is also necessary if you want to breed, otherwise the females will not build an egg sac!
I don't see them during this time either - that would only cause damage!

thank you very much put mind at rest thought I was doing something majorly wrong! Still getting used to such a tiny T. Im not looking to breed any, just as simple a hobby possible and enjoy their company with me xD

 

[Metallattorney]

My g. pulchra just emerged from a five-month fast. It was buried the whole time.

 

[marleymathers]

My g. pulchra just emerged from a five-month fast. It was buried the whole time.

Hope mine is ok as I’ve changed enclosure to smaller one and took out a little substrate as it was too high to the lid. It wasn’t happy with me doing that but seems more settled now

 

[8 legged]

thank you very much put mind at rest thought I was doing something majorly wrong! Still getting used to such a tiny T. Im not looking to breed any, just as simple a hobby possible and enjoy their company with me xD

You're welcome!
For the hibernation that is necessary for breeding, you would have to lower the temperature significantly. Since that is not your goal, you just have to be patient and maintain the enclosure as you have done so far.

 

[Fledgling]

Mine has been buried for around 2 months, 1.5" sling. At first I didn't try feeding, but then I threw a cricket in overnight just to see. Cricket disappeared. I've offered a medium cricket once a week to my pet dirt mound since then and so far they've all disappeared by the next day. If I shine a light underneath the enclosure I can sometimes see a bit of booty...but that's about it.