IDK what I'm doing

[violenceincan]

So hi,
I've never been a fan of any kind of arachnid. When our house mate brought home his first spider I was of a common opinion of "if you lose it I'll squish it". He is now on spider 7 andi find myself very carefully changing waters.
For anyone whose made it this far in my <edit> show, I know nothing about tarantulas. But I've found myself the care taker of 7 so far.
I need help with two full grown h gigas. One is female and one is male. The female burrows and seems to just not want anything to do with anyone as long as her burrow is left alone ( cool with me,I'll change water and be out). The male is the only one I've noticed has been acting strange.
From what I've watched he loves his water dish and will often dip in and what not. He usually uses the provided burrow and be gone during daylight (normal, I know that much). But for the past almost month, he just sits out in the corner next to the water dish ( doesn't get in anymore) doesn't hide during daytime...he's literally just out in the corner of the tank allllll day and night...
What's going on with this dude. Please help

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Get some pictures of each spider and cage.. you can use the search function in the right corner too for specific species. Or any questions you have .
Welcome to ab, you have an unusual situation but should be easy to solve .

 

[violenceincan]

Get some pictures of each spider and cage.. you can use the search function in the right corner too for specific species. Or any questions you have .
Welcome to ab, you have an unusual situation but should be easy to solve .

I've tried googling the crap but it's too specific. So at this point I've shuffle his substrate, noticed his water dish was leaking. He still stays in that corner though. This isn't my spider so I hope pics from the outside are fine. Cause he isn't fine with me messing with him

I've tried googling the crap but it's too specific. So at this point I've shuffle his substrate, noticed his water dish was leaking. He still stays in that corner though. This isn't my spider so I hope pics from the outside are fine. Cause he isn't fine with me messing with him

Pics added. I think I have the general as far a terrarium. This is the male h gigas specifically. The female is a burrower so I don't mess with her

 

[cold blood]

First, you need more substrate...these gigas are pretty much the ultimate burrowers with wild specimens found as deep as 38ft down....secondly, they should be kept on damp substrate. Lastly, a tarantula hide should never have a bottom...think of a hide not as a home, but rather as the front door to the eventual home the t will build beneath it.

As for the water, this species is known to have a special relationship with water, often fleeing under the water to escape, or even diving to hunt fish....so being in the water is actually pretty normal.

Its important to know...for the male....if it is mature. If it is, it would explain the behavior as it will hide less, if at alll and naturally want to spend its time roaming in search of a mate.

The water dish isnt leaking, its got webbing or perhaps substrate in the rim, this causes a wicking effect that empties water bowls pretty quickly.

What do you mean by " t I've shuffle his substrate "

 

[violenceincan]

First, you need more substrate...these gigas are pretty much the ultimate burrowers with wild specimens found as deep as 38ft down....secondly, they should be kept on damp substrate. Lastly, a tarantula hide should never have a bottom...think of a hide not as a home, but rather as the front door to the eventual home the t will build beneath it.

As for the water, this species is known tp have a special relationship with water, often fleeing under the water to escape, or even diving to hunt fish....so being in the water is actually pretty normal.

Its important to know...for the male....if it is mature. If it is, it would explain the behavior as it will hide less, if at alll and naturally want to spend its time roaming in search of a mate.

The water dish isnt leaking, its got webbing or perhaps substrate in the rim, this causes a wicking effect that empties water bowls pretty quickly.

What do you mean by " t I've shuffle his substrate "

Omg thank you so much for your detailed reply!
I did know about his love for water..his water was leaking, this pic is after I changed the dish. The burrow temp, I moved also cause that's the corner he chose to just be in. I could take that PVC out and he would still stay in that corner. Hes never burrowed. The female has her whole terrarium torn up nightly cause shes going to china.
But the male doesn't roam. He just stays in that one spot in the tank. I think my roommate said he's at least 4 or 5 years old. (Again, I know absolutely nothing about owning tarantulas just snakes)

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Omg thank you so much for your detailed reply!
I did know about his love for water..his water was leaking, this pic is after I changed the dish. The burrow temp, I moved also cause that's the corner he chose to just be in. I could take that PVC out and he would still stay in that corner. Hes never burrowed. The female has her whole terrarium torn up nightly cause shes going to china.
But the male doesn't roam. He just stays in that one spot in the tank. I think my roommate said he's at least 4 or 5 years old. (Again, I know absolutely nothing about owning tarantulas just snakes)

maybe he’s not mature? You seen his pepipalps?
A pic of her tank might help hopefully it has way deeper substrate. 1.5x legspan is max I go from top of dirt to the lid.

 

[violenceincan]

First, you need more substrate...these gigas are pretty much the ultimate burrowers with wild specimens found as deep as 38ft down....secondly, they should be kept on damp substrate. Lastly, a tarantula hide should never have a bottom...think of a hide not as a home, but rather as the front door to the eventual home the t will build beneath it.

As for the water, this species is known tp have a special relationship with water, often fleeing under the water to escape, or even diving to hunt fish....so being in the water is actually pretty normal.

Its important to know...for the male....if it is mature. If it is, it would explain the behavior as it will hide less, if at alll and naturally want to spend its time roaming in search of a mate.

The water dish isnt leaking, its got webbing or perhaps substrate in the rim, this causes a wicking effect that empties water bowls pretty quickly.

What do you mean by " t I've shuffle his substrate "

Me and that spider have a pretty good thing ( I don't bother him and he won't try to eat me) what I meant by shuffle the substrate was I literally shuffled his dirt around with my snakes substrate sifter. So again I say, NEVER OWNED NOR WANTED A SPIDER. But I can not let a caged creature just suffer

maybe he’s not mature? You seen his pepipalps?
A pic of her tank might help hopefully it has way deeper substrate. 1.5x legspan is max I go from top of dirt to the lid.

Never owned or wanted a spider. Don't really wanna mess with him but if it helps for answers then sure

maybe he’s not mature? You seen his pepipalps?
A pic of her tank might help hopefully it has way deeper substrate. 1.5x legspan is max I go from top of dirt to the lid.

This is also that same corner that the PVC was in.

 

[Smotzer]

I need help with two full grown h gigas. One is female and one is male. The female burrows and seems to just not want anything to do with anyone as long as her burrow is left alone ( cool with me,I'll change water and be out).

They are true fossorials and often will not hesitate to stay in the burrow to avoid any and all potential hazards so burrowing is absolutely normal.

He usually uses the provided burrow and be gone during daylight

This is also par for the course of theraphosids in general, especially fossorials.

But for the past almost month, he just sits out in the corner next to the water dish ( doesn't get in anymore) doesn't hide during daytime...he's literally just out in the corner of the tank allllll day and night...

Well judging my the enclosure appearance, the substrate appears nearly bone dry, it should evenly damp to moist so fix this ASAP, so the hanging around the water bowl could be an indicator that they are seeking more moisture, so I would try and have you, or your friend fix the enclosures so they have deep damp substrate to burrow in. Beyond that as @cold blood also mentioned if they are mature they could be out because it is inclined to search for a mate and burrowing behavior at this stage of life for them is all but abandoned.

 

[cold blood]

what I meant by shuffle the substrate was I literally shuffled his dirt around with my snakes substrate sifter.

this is the opposite if what you should be doing. In fact, if substrate isnt tamped down tightly, it will hinder the ability for the t to burrow at all.

Add more sub, dampen it and tamp it down tightly.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I think it’s great that you are helping out these T’s despite never having asked for them in the first place, and sought out the best place for information. I’m guessing that cupping the spider and changing the enclosure is not an option? As already said, if you are able to add more substrate to half and dampen that substrate that would helpful for him. May I ask about the other 5 T’s?

 

[Tbone192]

^^^^ must deepen substrate. H gigas are notorious pet holes. The male is likely mature and just wants to drink his water and explore for a mate. Keep researching, get as specific as possible. You have got this !

 

[Liquifin]

It's a mature male tarantula, which answers your question as to why it is not eating.

 

[violenceincan]

They are true fossorials and often will not hesitate to stay in the burrow to avoid any and all potential hazards so burrowing is absolutely normal.

This is also par for the course of theraphosids in general, especially fossorials.

Well judging my the enclosure appearance, the substrate appears nearly bone dry, it should evenly damp to moist so fix this ASAP, so the hanging around the water bowl could be an indicator that they are seeking more moisture, so I would try and have you, or your friend fix the enclosures so they have deep damp substrate to burrow in. Beyond that as @cold blood also mentioned if they are mature they could be out because it is inclined to search for a mate and burrowing behavior at this stage of life for them is all but abandoned.

Thank you guys so much. I have tried telling him this and he just says he'll get to it. So I'll just do it.

I think it’s great that you are helping out these T’s despite never having asked for them in the first place, and sought out the best place for information. I’m guessing that cupping the spider and changing the enclosure is not an option? As already said, if you are able to add more substrate to half and dampen that substrate that would helpful for him. May I ask about the other 5 T’s?

The male is pretty calm when I nudge him with a small paint brush, hell just move over. I've decided the flat mate has had enough time to fix this and hasn't so I'm going to just do it. But I'm not sure how to get him into a container without him trying to eat me. (Stress him) Also the female recently had an altercation with her owner cause he decided he was going to hold her and she bit him at least 4 small times and then latched onto his pinky. So I'm good on pissing them off more than what they already are.
The other Ts (he's added two since this post) altogether 7. Two H.gigas, one green bottle blue (she's pretty cool I'll actually hold her), one Brazilian black (gender unknown), one burgundy goliath bird eater, and idk what the last one is specifically, I know shes a ginger color with blue on the bottoms of her legs and my roommate will not piss her off

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

The male is pretty calm when I nudge him with a small paint brush, hell just move over. I've decided the flat mate has had enough time to fix this and hasn't so I'm going to just do it. But I'm not sure how to get him into a container without him trying to eat me. (Stress him) Also the female recently had an altercation with her owner cause he decided he was going to hold her and she bit him at least 4 small times and then latched onto his pinky. So I'm good on pissing them off more than what they already are.
The other Ts (he's added two since this post) altogether 7. Two H.gigas, one green bottle blue (she's pretty cool I'll actually hold her), one Brazilian black (gender unknown), one burgundy goliath bird eater, and idk what the last one is specifically, I know shes a ginger color with blue on the bottoms of her legs and my roommate will not piss her off

For rehousing/moving, watch some of Tom Moran’s videos on YouTube. He is a well respected keeper who isn’t all about flash and pissing off spiders. He has great info and experience. I use his methods.
Holding any tarantula is very dangerous for them. They are really very fragile and a short drop could injure or even kill them.
The last T is likely a Harpactira pulchripes. That’s an old world spider with medically significant venom. She won’t kill you if you were ever bit, but she will make you sick in a very not fun way. Did she web a ton or build a trap door? If it’s the later it’s an Idiothele mira.

 

[violenceincan]

They are true fossorials and often will not hesitate to stay in the burrow to avoid any and all potential hazards so burrowing is absolutely normal.

This is also par for the course of theraphosids in general, especially fossorials.

Well judging my the enclosure appearance, the substrate appears nearly bone dry, it should evenly damp to moist so fix this ASAP, so the hanging around the water bowl could be an indicator that they are seeking more moisture, so I would try and have you, or your friend fix the enclosures so they have deep damp substrate to burrow in. Beyond that as @cold blood also mentioned if they are mature they could be out because it is inclined to search for a mate and burrowing behavior at this stage of life for them is all but abandoned.

The female is not even a foot away. Also, how the would I get him into a separate enclosure with pissing him off or stressing him out?

For rehousing/moving, watch some of Tom Moran’s videos on YouTube. He is a well respected keeper who isn’t all about flash and pissing off spiders. He has great info and experience. I use his methods.
Holding any tarantula is very dangerous for them. They are really very fragile and a short drop could injure or even kill them.
The last T is likely a Harpactira pulchripes. That’s an old world spider with medically significant venom. She won’t kill you if you were ever bit, but she will make you sick in a very not fun way. Did she web a ton or build a trap door? If it’s the later it’s an Idiothele mira.

I've read the bit about dropping them and I'd really rather not. She webs herself in

She's the orange bit you barely see. She did this after the flat mate decided he hasn't seen her enough so he dug her up. She made a space of dirt and web by her tree thing. When she came up she wasn't having his nonsense.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Your flat mate sounds like he has absolutely no idea how to properly care for the pets he has. It also sounds like he did no research on what he was getting. If he wants to see the tarantula often, don’t get a fossorial. Sitting out in the open is not what they do! Digging up a burrowed T is like someone ripping the ceiling, walls and your covers off you in your bedroom while you were sleeping. If she were molting especially, that seriously could have hurt her. I can’t see how big the T there is, but that roach may be too large for it. It needs to be around the length of the abdomen. The orange blob in your pic looks more like an OBT (nickname Orange Bitey Thing). Is it more orange or golden with steel blue on the ends of the legs? I’m happy you are trying to look out for the T’s because your flat mate is not. :-(

 

[cold blood]

This is an extremely high-strung species...fast and often nasty...one of the dumbest species to want to hold, your flat mate found out why.

As for the housing, its a mature male, which means its gonna roam the rest of his days, so in this instance, theres no reason to re house it....simply add moisture to the substrate.

 

[violenceincan]

Your flat mate sounds like he has absolutely no idea how to properly care for the pets he has. It also sounds like he did no research on what he was getting. If he wants to see the tarantula often, don’t get a fossorial. Sitting out in the open is not what they do! Digging up a burrowed T is like someone ripping the ceiling, walls and your covers off you in your bedroom while you were sleeping. If she were molting especially, that seriously could have hurt her. I can’t see how big the T there is, but that roach may be too large for it. It needs to be around the length of the abdomen. The orange blob in your pic looks more like an OBT (nickname Orange Bitey Thing). Is it more orange or golden with steel blue on the ends of the legs? I’m happy you are trying to look out for the T’s because your flat mate is not. :-(

Orange bitey thing is definitely an OBT. He doesn't mess with her unless he has to as he's afraid of her since the h gigas female had her way. He's been been getting horrid muscle reactions and still can't feel the pinky she latched to.

This is an extremely high-strung species...fast and often nasty...one of the dumbest species to want to hold, your flat mate found out why.

As for the housing, its a mature male, which means its gonna roam the rest of his days, so in this instance, theres no reason to re house it....simply add moisture to the substrate.

Yes, he did. He wakes at odd hours from hard muscle cramps and can't feel the pinky she latched to. I've started spraying the enclosure once a day and making a point to kind of turn the substrate ( it's extremely dry to dusty) the male is definitely wanting to mate. The female is almost always now as well so I've started doing the same to her. I've gotten more comfortable with their body language so I've actually been able to get her to move away from an area in her tank that I'm fixing and shes calmly walked away from me.

 

[cold blood]

I've started spraying the enclosure once a day and making a point to kind of turn the substrate

Never do either of these things......for the water, pour water into the enclosure, this will get the deeper sub damp...misting does nothing for husbandry.....and never "turn" the substrate, this is the opposite of what you want to do, this not only disrupts the ts comfortability, but it makes the sub un-burrowable and creates a fluffy surface that most ts don't like walking on.

 

[TheraMygale]

Orange bitey thing is definitely an OBT. He doesn't mess with her unless he has to as he's afraid of her since the h gigas female had her way. He's been been getting horrid muscle reactions and still can't feel the pinky she latched to.


Yes, he did. He wakes at odd hours from hard muscle cramps and can't feel the pinky she latched to. I've started spraying the enclosure once a day and making a point to kind of turn the substrate ( it's extremely dry to dusty) the male is definitely wanting to mate. The female is almost always now as well so I've started doing the same to her. I've gotten more comfortable with their body language so I've actually been able to get her to move away from an area in her tank that I'm fixing and shes calmly walked away from me.

As @cold blood said, you don’t turn substrate. Its not a garden.

your friend needs medical attention.

top of enclosure should have some holes? You can pour water that way. In the corners. The water will trickle down. If substrate went bone dry, it will take a while for the substrate to actualy moisten up. Add it in batches and look at the color differences that will happen in layers.

once coco or peat dries, its very hard to moisten again. It takes a while for the water to get into the fibers and humidify. Which is why you want to go in batches. Especialy if you dont know what you are doing.

watch tom morans video on making it rain. Should be in his “beginner videos”.

If male is mature, it doesnt need to be rehomed. Just let it be.