Mature male tarantula having 'episodes' of unusual behavior

[TenebrisAvicularia]

I have a mature male A. avicularia who is 11-13+ months past his ultimate molt. I got gifted him when he was already an adult, he has always seemed very healthy. He had a post-ultimate molt on August, 16, 2024. He surprisingly survived only with the loss of a single pedipalp, and resumed his usual male spider things. I noticed that around two months after his last molt, be began to have 'episodes'. It's odd, and I am a bit confused. He will curl his front limbs under him, shiver/shake (convulse?) and reach outwards with his pedipalp. His chelicerae will tense and extend, his fangs almost crossing in the process. Somehow, he manages to stay clinging to the sides of his enclosure the whole time. He seems fine afterwards, luckily. I've never seen this happen before in any other tarantula, it reminds me of a seizure. But I highly doubt that spiders have the neurology for a seizure. I don't have anything sharp or harmful in his enclosure, I don't use any pesticides indoors. He is provided with clean water and I always buy prey from proper sources. I have dogs, but they're not allowed to be in the same room as my tarantulas. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there an explanation for what's happening? I'm at a loss. Edited to add: This only began after his post-maturity molt.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

It's impressive that he survived a post-ultimate molt to begin with. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he has systemic issues as a result. Essentially he's on borrowed time. Hard to say exactly what's causing it, though it sounds neurological.

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

Thank you. That does make sense, neurological is the only plausible explanation that I can think of. He's a strong old man, but I hate seeing him have these issues. I'm surprised that he's lived as long as he has.

 

[A guy]

I mean being a mature male means they're on the constant verge of death. They can get weird all they want lol

 

[fcat]

Im having a hard time visualizing this... How long does the shaking last? Are you able to get a picture of him in that position if not a video?

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

It lasts for around a minute or two, sometimes I think it might be longer. He did it today, I just walked in and found him that way. I went to get my phone and it was over, so I unfortunately didn't get video. I'll try to carry my phone with me every time I check on him. The convulsions seem to happen around once or twice a month, maybe more. I'm sure it happens when I'm out of the room.

 

[fcat]

And just to confirm/rule out, he's not making a sperm web, correct?

Have you seen him "tap" and "vibrate" when he's wandering for a female? You can actually hear/differentiate between both... The latter sounds exactly like a cell phone vibrating. It's their way of announcing to nearby females that he is there to mate and not be a meal. He will do this in just about every position, even upside down, and location in his tank, trying to find a female....except when he is making a sperm web or at rest. And probably most active at night. I would guess he has one to a few sacred spots for his sperm web making, and while they are really good at destroying the evidence of a sperm web, your clues will be returning to the same spot to web or simply catching him in the act. It becomes a little harder to locate when they make them in their molting chambers/ hide since they line those with webbing too. But if you are well versed at distinguishing those mating behaviors then we can rule out normal behaviors...

If the movements seem uncoordinated I would consider dehydration being the culprit (they derive most of their moisture from food and MM certainly can lose interest in eating).

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

He has never tapped or vibrated during his wandering. I've seen male tarantula courtship behavior, and it looks nothing like what's happening to him. I've seen him make sperm webs, though he doesn't make them as frequently. Probably because of his malformed palpal bulb. His movements are otherwise typical, it's like he just randomly begins to convulse and lose control of his front end. He's well hydrated, I always have water there for him. He doesn't eat very frequently, hence me checking his water often. I posted pics of him in the "Mature males appreciation thread" if you'd like to take a look at him. He's kinda slim, but not dehydrated. The episodes really do remind me of a seizure. I'd know if he was just being randy, what I'm witnessing is not normal. It seems to follow the same pattern each time; his front legs curl in while quivering, then stretch out. His pedipalp reaches for nothing, followed by his fangs extending and crossing uncontrollably.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I've had two mature male tarantulas molt a second time after their penultimate molt. One completely trapped in it's exoskeleton and had to be humanely euthanized. The second one lost a pedipalp and survived for quite a long time before expiring.

It's not common for MM's to molt again after their penultimate molt but it does happen. It's also common to lose one or both pedipalps due to trying to molt over the eboli.

It's anyone guess what is going on with yours or if it's anything to be concerned over. Just provide the best care you can until it's time comes.

 

[viper69]

Interesting

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

A bit of an update on this tarantula. He is doing okay for now. He ate a large cricket yesterday, then defiantly pooped in his water dish and hid the prey bolus in a spot where I can't reach it. I'll keep an eye on him and record him if anything happens.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

A bit of an update on this tarantula. He is doing okay for now. He ate a large cricket yesterday, then defiantly pooped in his water dish and hid the prey bolus in a spot where I can't reach it. I'll keep an eye on him and record him if anything happens.

Your T will be fine without one of it's pedipalps. Mine was fine and as I stated before lived for quite sometime before expiring. How long a mature male varies. Husbandry plays a large role in extending their lives. Moisture is critical for mature males. Waterdish always full and moist sub on at least one side of the enclosure is what I recommend. Never let the substrate dry to the point it's separated from the sides and corners of the enclosure if using coco fiber.

All my mature males lived on for a few years after maturing. I have three right now that I swear will live for quite some time.

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

Your T will be fine without one of it's pedipalps. Mine was fine and as I stated before lived for quite sometime before expiring. How long a mature male varies. Husbandry plays a large role in extending their lives. Moisture is critical for mature males. Waterdish always full and moist sub on at least one side of the enclosure is what I recommend. Never let the substrate dry to the point it's separated from the sides and corners of the enclosure if using coco fiber.

All my mature males lived on for a few years after maturing. I have three right now that I swear will live for quite some time.

He has done well without his right pedipalp. He also made a sperm web today. It seems that whatever issues he's having occurs once or twice a month, but he's otherwise healthy. I've been keeping him hydrated with some moist substrate, and as you mentioned it's been working well.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

You're doing fine in your husbandry. There's quirks with tarantulas that just can't be explained or described by science yet. As long as your attentive to your T's enclosure status it being an Aphonopelma I will guess it could live on for 2 years or more.

My MM Aphonopelma chalcodes was trapped in it's molt. I blame myself for that as I didn't have enough damp substrate and conditions got pretty dry. I can admit my mistake and it hurt me pretty deep especially having to euthanized him. I was very fond of him as he was a joy to have. He would lived on if it wasn't for that.

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

I'm so sorry about your Aphonopelma chalcodes. I've seen that the genus is usually kept quite dry, so keeping him that way makes sense. I never expected to see an MM tarantula molt, and I was confused when I saw premolt in my Avicularia avicularia. I didn't think that was happening until I explained his behavior to someone I know, then it clicked. I was shocked to see him survive it, I thought that I was going to end up with a deformed or deceased spider.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I'm so sorry about your Aphonopelma chalcodes. I've seen that the genus is usually kept quite dry, so keeping him that way makes sense. I never expected to see an MM tarantula molt, and I was confused when I saw premolt in my Avicularia avicularia. I didn't think that was happening until I explained his behavior to someone I know, then it clicked. I was shocked to see him survive it, I thought that I was going to end up with a deformed or deceased spider.

Under normal conditions for NW terrestrials sub-adult and up I keep the waterdish full and overflow every once in a while like once a week or every other week. Sometimes not even that much during Spring and Summer.

Winter changes gear. With the furnace going it dries the air out faster not too mention it's just dry here. Due to that the substrate dries out faster. I have to keep up with the waterdish and sub. I also use more ventilation. That's key to avoid fungus.

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

I'll make sure to keep that in mind and continue moistening a corner for him. I've had female crickets escape me and my old boy and lay eggs in the damp parts of the substrate, resulting in annoying pinheads in the enclosure. I might start offering only male crickets or try prekilled... or maybe I should just breed crickets?

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Banded crickets are easy to breed. I don't know what state you live in so not sure what roaches would be allowed outside of dubia and discoids.

I always recommend B. lateralis and E. posticus roaches. E. posticus or orange head roaches are great for adult tarantulas 5 inches and up. Even my adult Tapinauchenius violaceus that's a little over 4 inches loves them. I pre-kill it first though as I don't think it has the strength to overpower it.

B. lateralis are one of the best feeders for tarantulas. Mature males IMO are just not big enough for a 6 inch T and up. I want my adult T's to have a good size meal which the E. posticus provide.

I do not like dubia however or I should say my adult T's do not care for them. They are ok up until tarantulas hit sub-adult then, at least all of mine want nothing to do with them.

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

To my knowledge, only discoids are allowed where I'm at. I'd love to use roaches as feeders, but I unfortunately live with someone who despises them. I'm not a fan of how fragile and smelly banded crickets are, but oh well. Since I only have two tarantulas right now, a juvenile and an adult, feeders aren't that big of a deal.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Nothing wrong with crickets plus very affordable and easy to breed.