M Robustum - *#@*&#@ Help

tmanjim

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 24, 2004
Messages
671
I recently picked up a 4 in. M. Robustum. It has been about 2 weeks and all this thing does is drink water. Seems like I can't fill it up fast enough. Has not eaten yet. 2 crix offered but refused. What the hell, help me out boards.
 

Varden

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
May 22, 2005
Messages
704
It's probably fine. Dehydrated but fine. Change out the water dish, just incase you've got a wick going on. But let it go ahead and drink, keep offering and pulling the crickets if it doesn't eat, and wait to see if it molts like demode suggested.
 

bushbuster

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
344
Maybe shes getting ready to molt, is her abdomen deflated, or fat? Its good shes drinking, shes most likely dehydrated from traveling, if in fact she did. I would keep up the water therapy, 2 weeks isn't that long to go without eating for a T.
 

beetleman

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
2,874
also deep moist substrate for burrowing,corkhide,they love moisture that's how i keep mine. good luck,very awesome spider:clap:
 

bushbuster

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
344
Mine loves the moisture too, I can tell shes a happy one, always carrying around bucketfulls of obligate proof, lol
 

Texas Blonde

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Messages
841
The spider is probably webbing into the water dish. That would explain why it goes empty so fast. Webbing is an excellent wick, and will suck the water out of the dish faster than a pack of dogs on a three legged cat.

If the spider wont eat, it could be for many reasons: 1) its not hungry, 2) its in premolt, 3) its still recovering from shipping. Two weeks is not a long enough time to worry, unless the abdomen is shrunken. Just give it time, and plenty of fresh water. Itll more 'n likely be fine.
 

Venom

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 21, 2002
Messages
1,700
Terra cotta water dishes also wick even unwebbed, as the unglazed clay is somewhat porous. What temp are you keeping it at? Some T's also will not eat if the temperature drops too low--my E.campestratus won't eat below 70 degrees F. It may also just be adjusting to the new enclosure. It is not uncommon for T's to not eat until they are comfortable in their new digs.
 

Alice

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 29, 2006
Messages
976
megaphobema don't like heat, they burrow pretty low in the wild and love humid and cool temperatures. too hot rather than too cold could be the reason she's not eating. also premolt and all the other stuff ;)
 

M.F.Bagaturov

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 20, 2004
Messages
1,003
Hello,
As it was told Megaphobema spp., incl. M. robustum needs relatively low temp, high humidity (do not forget about ventillation in this case too and need a thick layer of substratum which should be kept humid, but not swamp).
Here's some care sheet I wrote for this beautuful, in fact my favorit species (it was long ago and some links may be broken):
======
Megaphobema robustum Ausserer, 1875
(Columbian Giant Orange, Colombian Giant Redleg)

Origin: Colombia
Adult size: to 9 см in BL, 18-20 in LS
Humidity: 70-80%
Temp: 22-26°С
Lifestyle: terrestrial/burrowing

Description: This tropical rainforest tarantula is one of the most attractive tarantula species of the world fauna and original in its behavior.
Huge, heavily bodied, colored with the dense bright orange setae on abdomen and legs and dark carapace and femurs this giant of the spider world have distinctive appearance and unique manner of self-defense. Its rear legs armored with the large sharp spines which in adult tarantula able to inflict a defeat with on small predators.
Being disturbed this spider usually pop up its abdomen and start to flick urticating setae. Simultaneously it does also extend all legs, rapidly turn around with all the body and try to hit the enemy with the hind legs! This is a must seen character!

It possesses a burrowing inclination and like in the wild (it is also referred to find out of Colombia - in North and South Brazil) must be kept with the retreat to exclude disturbance or with the thick layer of humid substratum enough to establishing a burrow. You must also provide it with a water dish for drinking. Occasional misting of the enclosure, which should be rather large, is recommended for this species. You can also decorate the enclosure with artificial plants. Alive plants are not recommended for this purpose because this tarantula doesn’t need the additional lighting.

Being a deep burrowing tropical species living under the cover of the dense vegetation it is suffer from the high temperature and should be kept without additional heating. Average room temperature is far enough for this beautiful giant spider.

There is the only one unsuccessful strain of this tarantula – it is very secretive and nervous, but follows to say it never use its big fangs for defense.
This maybe makes it not a good display tarantula and also not a good species to start with, especially if You’d like the handle able one for Your collection, but believe me, this is one of the most beautiful and interesting theraphosid species to keep!
It is also considering having different color forms – more oranges or brownish and also overall coloration of this spider varies from molt to molt, extremely beautiful after the molt.

These rather rare tarantulas are too expensive and last time seldom sells after its native country close all animal export. It is one of the most difficult to breed species as well and not often happens to included in pet-trade stock.

In one known case female produce a small number of eggs (30) and the spiderlings emerged fairly large, like the same of Theraphosa blondi! (D. Eckardt). They eating very much and fast growing and suggested to live about 20 years or even more. The same rule as for adult works well for successful raising of the youngs – maintenance with deep layer of humid substratum and at the average room temperature.

Ref.
1. WWW
1. http://giantspiders.com/Megaphobema_species.html - info in general
2. http://www.arachnofreaks.com/caresheets/mrobustum.htm - short care sheet
3. http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/M-robustum.html - care sheet
4. http://www.arachnophilia.de/index.php?action=art&id=33 – in German
5. http://www.minaxtarantulas.net/artskotsel/robustum_e.html - care sheet
6. http://www.svenheidrich.de/vs_mega.php - in German
7. http://www.t-o-w.de/html/page22.html - in German
8. http://www.sklipkani.cz/polozka.php?id=709&showpic=159 – in Czech
9. http://mitglied.lycos.de/Arachnida2/id66.htm - in German
10. http://www.phg-vogelspinnen.de/?Rpage=megaphobema_s1.html – in German with pics
11. http://www.bird-eating-spiders.de/Paarung.htm and http://www.bird-eating-spiders.de/Megaphobema.htm - breeding page by D. Eckardt
12. http://terrarystyka.pl/gatunki.php?level=20020703131848 - Poland

2. 2. Literature
1. SCHMIDT, G. 1991. Revision der Gattung Megaphobema (Araneida: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae). Arachnol. Anz. 13: 11-13.
2. SMITH, A.M. 1991. A revision of the genus Megaphobema Pocock 1901 (Araneida; Theraphosida; Theraphosinae). Journal of the British Tarantula Society 6(4): 14-19.
3. AUSSERER, A. 1875. Zweiter Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Arachniden-Familie der Territelariae Thorell (Mygalidae Autor). Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 25: 125-206. [p. 190, pl. 7, f. 42].
4. CARTER, N. 1998. Profile of the “Colombian giant” Megaphobema robustum. Webbings 1(1): 3-4. 5.
5. ISLER, H.-P. 1991. Successful breeding of bird-eating spiders in captivity: Megaphobema robusta. Journal of the British Tarantula Society 7(1): 12.
6. SCHMIDT, G.E.W. 1992. Das Weibchen von Megaphobema robusta (Ausserer 1875) (Araneida: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae). Arachnol. Anz. 3(6): 9-12.
7. Dirk Weinmann. Populationsuntersuchungen an einer Kolonie der Vogelspinne Megaphobema robustum (Ausserer, 1873) in Kolumbien (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae). [Population investigations on a colony of the tarantula Megaphobema robustum (Ausserer, 1873) in Colombia]. Arthropoda, 11:23-30 (2003)
8. Dirk Weinmann. Erkenntnisse zum saisonalen Auftreten und Verhaletn adulter Maennchen der Vogelspinne Megaphobema robustum (Ausserer, 1875) in Kolumbien (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae). [Information on the seasonal occurrence and behaviour of adult males of the tarantula Megaphobema robustum] Arthropoda, 11:7-10 (2003)
9. A. Smith. Discussion paper: Euathlus mesomelas Cambridge 1892. Journal of the British Tarantula Society, 7:15-23 (1991)
10. SCHMIDT, G. (1992): Das Weibchen von Megaphobema robusta (Ausserer 1875). Arachnol. Anz. 3(6): 9-12.
11. SCHNEIDER, F. (2004): “Schaum vorm Maul”, ein alt bekannter Vogelspinnenparasit und seine Folgen. ARACHNE 9(2): 4-11
======
Hope this helps a bit.
 
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