Is my tarantula sick?

[AlmondEyedRooh]

Hi everyone. I am reaching out because I am concerned about my GBB. She is still moving around but a bit lethargic. However, I notice her abdomen “sags” when she’s hanging on her side. I’ve never seen this behavior before until this month. Anyone have a clue what’s going on? Does she need Tarantula ER (i.e. wet paper towel in an small container)? Here is a picture for reference. Thanks in advance.

 

[8 legged]

Hello, no - you can't say what's going on here. Why it is "letargic" can be due to husbandry parameters, age, molting or illness. The hanging abdomen is by no means unusual in tarantulas (gravity). Ist it a male? Because the color of it´s legs...

 

[fcat]

Is the sagging apparent any time she is on her side, or is it after a period of inactivity, like she is sleeping?

 

[Rigor Mortis]

Does she need Tarantula ER (i.e. wet paper towel in an small container)? Here is a picture for reference.

Never this. I cannot think of a single instance where this would actually help a tarantula.

 

[fcat]

male?

That would explain the condition of the webbing....I bet you're right

 

[Charliemum]

I have a female Grammostola rosea that likes to sit in this position just before and after a moult but with all those curled up edges on the web that look like male sperm webs, I am going to say probably a mature male and unfortunately males don't last very long, well compared to females they don't.
Maybe if you could get a picture of the pedipalps we might be able to whittle the options down further by determining if the t is actually a mature male or not then we can better guess.
It is all a guess btw, unfortunately t's hide illness and you often can't tell what was wrong with them or why they are behaving that way. It's one of the worst parts of keeping , you'll never know for sure.... all we can do is our best .

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Never this. I cannot think of a single instance where this would actually help a tarantula.

By then it’s usually too late, I don’t know why this outdated information is quoted so much or who is spreading it. I tried the ICU once and didn’t work. The spider lost ability to eat and drink. RIP king baboon.

I have a female Grammostola rosea that likes to sit in this position just before and after a moult but with all those curled up edges on the web that look like male sperm webs, I am going to say probably a mature male and unfortunately males don't last very long, well compared to females they don't.
Maybe if you could get a picture of the pedipalps we might be able to whittle the options down further by determining if the t is actually a mature male or not then we can better guess.
It is all a guess btw, unfortunately t's hide illness and you often can't tell what was wrong with them or why they are behaving that way. It's one of the worst parts of keeping , you'll never know for sure.... all we can do is our best .

If ops t is a. Male then this behavior isn’t unusual the way it’s pictured .

 

[Charliemum]

If ops t is a. Male then this behavior isn’t unusual the way it’s pictured .

I know that's why I asked for pedi pics, need to know gender before any deductions can be made

 

[Charliemum]

And don't use an "icu" they don't work it's just unnecessary stress for an ill t . Think about it if your ill do you want to be in a sterile room you don't know that's wet n humid or do you want to be at home in your own bed where you are comfortable if the problem really is humidity you can always up the humidity where the t is in its own home by adding water and not cause extra stress by moving them just to up humidity. Seems needless to me when the humiditycan be upped in the t's viv.

Not saying that's the problem here but just in general. Please don't stress out your t with those stupid "icu's" if you think your t needs extra humidity add water, and if you want to monitor your t more closely remove decor so you can see better do not remove the t.

 

[AlmondEyedRooh]

Hello, no - you can't say what's going on here. Why it is "letargic" can be due to husbandry parameters, age, molting or illness. The hanging abdomen is by no means unusual in tarantulas (gravity). Ist it a male? Because the color of it´s legs...

hi! Thanks for your prompt response. She is a confirmed female (molt and the employees at the Serpentarium I adopted her from). She doesn’t have hooks like my male Brazilian Black either. Anyways, I haven’t changed her enclosure since I’ve gotten her 3 years ago. I was thinking to change it into a fresh one but I am holding off because of this behavior. Maybe she is about to molt as she hasn’t molted for me yet? I just found her positioning so odd and when I touched her with a brush, she was so docile and unresponsive (which that isn’t normal for her as she tends to movie pretty fast). I’m wondering now could it be the husbandry? Or maybe the temperature? Or maybe it’s too cold?

Attached is an photo of her now. Also weird she is hanging out on the side instead of in her webbing. I haven’t changed her enclosure since I’ve gotten her 3 years ago. I was thinking to change it into a fresh one but I am holding off because of this behavior. Maybe she is about to molt as she hasn’t molted for me yet? I just found her positioning so odd and when I touched her with a brush, she was so docile and unresponsive (which that isn’t normal for her as she tends to movie pretty fast). I’m wondering now could it be the husbandry? Or maybe the temperature? maybe it’s too cold?

Attached is an photo of her now. Also weird she is hanging out on the side instead of in her webbing.[/QUOTE]

 

[AlmondEyedRooh]

hi! Thanks for your prompt response. She is a confirmed female (molt and the employees at the Serpentarium I adopted her from). She doesn’t have hooks like my male Brazilian Black either. Anyways, I haven’t changed her enclosure since I’ve gotten her 3 years ago. I was thinking to change it into a fresh one but I am holding off because of this behavior. Maybe she is about to molt as she hasn’t molted for me yet? I just found her positioning so odd and when I touched her with a brush, she was so docile and unresponsive (which that isn’t normal for her as she tends to movie pretty fast). I’m wondering now could it be the husbandry? Or maybe the temperature? Or maybe it’s too cold? View attachment 464836

Attached is an photo of her now. Also weird she is hanging out on the side instead of in her webbing.

 

[Charliemum]

hi! Thanks for your prompt response. She is a confirmed female (molt and the employees at the Serpentarium I adopted her from). I haven’t changed her enclosure since I’ve gotten her 3 years ago. I was thinking to change it into a fresh one but I am holding off because of this behavior. Maybe she is about to molt as she hasn’t molted for me yet? I just found her positioning so odd and when I touched her with a brush, she was so docile and unresponsive (which that isn’t normal for her as she tends to movie pretty fast). I’m wondering now could it be the husbandry? Or maybe the temperature? maybe it’s too cold? View attachment 464836

Attached is an photo of her now. Also weird she is hanging out on the side instead of in her webbing.

When the legs curl under like that it's called a death curl , I am sorry .... all you can do now is give her access to water and hope. You could try flipping her on her back (if she will let you) and place a droplet of water where her Fangs are and hope she drinks it and it makes a difference but if she hasn't moulted in 3 years she is probably an old girl. I doubt it is anything you have done shes just old bless her. Again I am sorry its hard to loose any t , I wish I could give a more then just hope n water but its the only option now.

 

[AlmondEyedRooh]

When the legs curl under like that it's called a death curl , I am sorry .... all you can do now is give her access to water and hope. You could try flipping her on her back (if she will let you) and place a droplet of water where her Fangs are and hope she drinks it and it makes a difference but if she hasn't moulted in 3 years she is probably an old girl. I doubt it is anything you have done shes just old bless her. Again I am sorry its hard to loose any t , I wish I could give a more then just hope n water but its the only option now.

Ah the old age would make more sense. She was “humanely released” to the Serpentinarium by the previous owner and she was at the store for quite some time as no one was taking her. She molted a week before I took her home. Wasn’t too sure if it was the death curl or not but I suspected it.

 

[Charliemum]

Ah the old age would make more sense. She was “humanely released” to the Serpentinarium by the previous owner and she was at the store for quite some time as no one was taking her. She molted a week before I took her home. Wasn’t too sure if it was the death curl or not but I suspected it.

It looks that way to me and yes if she was a rescue then I would suspect its old age, she could even be wc if you don't know her history it's a possibility. Again I am sorry but at least you can know she got a good home where she was loved for her golden years rather then spending it on a shelf in a rescue. You did a great thing for her.

 

[AlmondEyedRooh]

It looks that way to me and yes if she was a rescue then I would suspect its old age, she could even be wc if you don't know her history it's a possibility. Again I am sorry but at least you can know she got a good home where she was loved for her golden years rather then spending it on a shelf in a rescue. You did a great thing for her.

Thank you so much! She was much loved by my students and myself. Pretty little thing. They enjoyed how she was a good eater and pounced so quick. Here she is in the light. I again used to brush to try and move her and she’s slowly moving.

 

[Charliemum]

Thank you so much! She was much loved by my students and myself. Pretty little thing. They enjoyed how she was a good eater and pounced so quick. Here she is in the light. I again used to brush to try and move her and she’s slowly moving. View attachment 464851

Awww bless her see not only did you give her a home but she was an ambassador too if she taught your students . She may have had an unknown start but now she was loved and will be remembered by not only you but all those people that she taught too .
Keep us updated please I hope I am wrong and she is just dehydrated... I will be keeping my fingers crossed for both of you.

 

[viper69]

Nothing looks unusual

 

[Woody72]

I agree, I don't know why the conversation turned to death curls?

 

[Charliemum]

I agree, I don't know why the conversation turned to death curls?

As op said t's legs keep curling and she isn't responding to being touched with a brush and hasn't moulted in 3 years which i assume means she older plus as op says she was a rescue and was at the rescue for a long time before op took her home so she has no idea how old she was when she came into the op's care.
I did suggest hydration first but if legs are curling and there isn't a response when touched that says to me it isn't good but I can only talk from my own experiences and I don't claim to be an expert by any means, no one can be there is to much to learn but by deduction and op's comments and that top view picture where the legs on one side are tucked under awkwardly that was my opinion.

Tbh I would love it if I was wrong I hope I am and she's just sitting weird or she's just dehydrated or even better moults but any t not responding to touch (especially a gbb) and curling legs is never a good thing from what i have learnt.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

hi! Thanks for your prompt response. She is a confirmed female (molt and the employees at the Serpentarium I adopted her from). She doesn’t have hooks like my male Brazilian Black either. Anyways, I haven’t changed her enclosure since I’ve gotten her 3 years ago. I was thinking to change it into a fresh one but I am holding off because of this behavior. Maybe she is about to molt as she hasn’t molted for me yet? I just found her positioning so odd and when I touched her with a brush, she was so docile and unresponsive (which that isn’t normal for her as she tends to movie pretty fast). I’m wondering now could it be the husbandry? Or maybe the temperature? Or maybe it’s too cold? View attachment 464836

Attached is an photo of her now. Also weird she is hanging out on the side instead of in her webbing. I haven’t changed her enclosure since I’ve gotten her 3 years ago. I was thinking to change it into a fresh one but I am holding off because of this behavior. Maybe she is about to molt as she hasn’t molted for me yet? I just found her positioning so odd and when I touched her with a brush, she was so docile and unresponsive (which that isn’t normal for her as she tends to movie pretty fast). I’m wondering now could it be the husbandry? Or maybe the temperature? maybe it’s too cold? View attachment 464836

Attached is an photo of her now. Also weird she is hanging out on the side instead of in her webbing.

[/QUOTE]

I agree, I don't know why the conversation turned to death curls?

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