Is my tarantula dying?

[Tyler Neff]

I got my first spider a Pink Toed Tarantula about a month ago and up until a little bit it was going great. I can't get her to eat and have almost even forced her to eat. She also can't climb walls like she used to be able to and her stomach is more of a long grape like shape. I did move her into a smaller cage but that's because she's a juvenile and I didn't think she was ready for a 10 gallon. Please Help!!!!

 

[Jmanbeing93]

Sounds like premolt, is her abdomen darkening and becoming bald by any chance?

 

[Tyler Neff]

Sounds like premolt, is her abdomen darkening and becoming bald by any chance?

Sounds like premolt, is her abdomen darkening and becoming bald by any chance?

Down the middle yes but I've never seen or picked up hairs in the enclosure and I clean it regularly even as of last night.

 

[KezyGLA]

Please post pics of the spider and enclosure.

Thanks

Ps. 10 gallon tank is huge for an Avic.

 

[Jmanbeing93]

Down the middle yes

Down the middle? Can you post a picture, everything else sounds like premolt e.g. refusal of food, swollen abdomen and darkening down the middle like you said.

Don't force your spider to eat, it is probably preparing to molt.

 

[Tyler Neff]

How do I get pictures on here sorry this is my first time on this site

 

[KezyGLA]

How do I get pictures on here sorry this is my first time on this site

You can use the upload a file button just under the text box.

Down the middle yes but I've never seen or picked up hairs in the enclosure and I clean it regularly even as of last night.

How do you clean it? It shouldnt need cleaned much at all. Only a spot clean every so often.

 

[Tyler Neff]

I take everything out of the cage and I clean it just with some water to make sure there's no mold. I clean it maybe once every week or two here's the picture

 

[KezyGLA]

I take everything out of the cage and I clean it just with some water to make sure there's no mold. I clean it maybe once every week or two here's the picture

Ok. You need to just keep it to spot cleaning. Removing bolus and poop just when required as what you are doing will be stressing the spider as it cant establish a home to feel secure.

One they have chosen a spot and webbed up then it should remain there until it requires rehousing upon growing.

From that photo the spider seems healthy, but also appears close to a molt.

Can you post pics of the full setup/enclosure please.

 

[Tyler Neff]

Alright thank you so much

 

[Anoplogaster]

Can we see the full setup? Avics need lots of clutter to feel secure.

 

[Tyler Neff]

Another thing is I can't get her to do webs at all so I put the burrow and bark in there. I put a water bowl in there because it says online that these spiders require alot of humidity.

 

[Garth Vader]

Hello. You avic is not in a suitable enclosure for what this species requires.

Here is a thread that will give you helpful information on caring for the T, particularly the post from viper69.

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/avicularia-husbandry.282549/#post-2461399

 

[viper69]

Your T is healthy looking, and into pre-molt Avics sometimes fall a bit during pre-molt.

Your container isn't the right setup for an Avic. Your husbandry is bad too.

I can tell from reading your replies that you haven't done any relevant amount of research at all for this species. I wouldn't be surprised if its dead within a year or less if you don't do research.

Click on my link in sig file.

 

[Tyler Neff]

Can I get a picture of what it should look like so I have a better understanding of what to do. And yea I got it kinda last second from my cousin and I had no idea what to do to be honest until I came on this site

 

[Olan]

http://68.media.tumblr.com/b485535355b834f06b2461bc16b22e42/tumblr_ntelfyyDBV1tiveumo1_500.jpg

Get a plastic gallon jar, punch a bunch of holes in the sides, put in a water dish and some fake leaves.

 

[cold blood]

I put a water bowl in there because it says online that these spiders require alot of humidity

Yeah, most online research yields such horrid results. This misinformation is exactly why many believe them to be fragile...some even coined the term SADS (sudden avic death syndrome)...but this isn't true and SADS doesn't exist.....following care sheets is the reason so many die in captivity.

Forget all that stuff you read and start over on the thread provided for you earlier.


Nothing kills an avicularia as fast as a damp stuffy enclosure....and when you have care sheets stressing specific high humidity numbers and never stressing cross ventilation...what you have is a death trap, not a home.

Cross ventilation is the #1 key to avic survival.

Can I get a picture of what it should look like so I have a better understanding of what to do.

I will just explain how to improve what you have. Remove that thing on the bottom...the bottom should be pretty clear of anything buy a water dish....Avics won't use ground hides and ground clutter is just a place for feeders to hide.

Now what you need is more wood...like you have, leaned how you have. This provides a solid base to hunt from and stretch out on after a molt.

Now you get some plastic plants, and surround the mid-top of all that wood with plants. Avics love clutter, the more you add, the easier time it will have making a web home.


Typically adult A. avics only web prior to a molt....as yours should be getting ready, adding this foliage as quickly as possible is advised.

You don't want to see an avic on the ground, this is often a sign of something bad.

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• cold blood
• Feb 13, 2017

A. avicularia

 

[Venom1080]

Every new comer to the site with an avic thread I assume doesn't know proper husbandry for pink toes. Haven't been wrong yet if I recall correctly.

Follow viper and cold bloods advice and you'll be fine.