My new Obt sling not eating. Any ideas?

[newOBTowner]

I bought a new obt sling Oct 27th at an expo. Moved him in a new enclosure. Over night he webbed about his new enclosure alittle. After a week or so offered him a small cricket and he took it. Waited 5 days later n tried offering him a small roach. He just walked over too it n looked at it. Waited a week after, offered another roach and same thing doesn't do anything. Did this again and the same thing.

It's been about a 3 weeks and hasn't eating. I would love any feedback or ideas on what is going on?

 

[Ramen]

How's the abdomen looking, fat? If so, the spider probably is not hungry.

 

[kingshockey]

post a picture of your sling

 

[NMTs]

Sounds like its going to molt soon. Pics of the T and enclosure are needed to confirm.

 

[Brewser]

Welcome to Arachnoboards, and Congratulations on keeping Pterinochilus murinus. What Color Form?
Hard to picture whats going on without a picture. (spider and cage)
Could be Premolt, or Fed up, etc. etc.
Best Regards,

 

[TheraMygale]

If hes not in premolt, and he’s not taking live prey, offer small prekilled.

depending on how it was fed before you, it might be in a long premolt. If they were fed too large prey, it brings on premolt faster, and it takes longer.

i now feed mine only small prey, and not often.

i experienced this, with the large prey. Because they can obviously take it. But i dont like the effects. Its my personal observation and opinion.

 

[newOBTowner]

This is when I first moved him into his enclosure. Now he hides under the cork bark. Don't really see him out much. Every once in a while u see his legs by the entrance. I'll take more pics of his enclosure and post at a another time.

 

[newOBTowner]

I forgot to mention. When I do offer it food he throws a "threat pose".

 

[TheraMygale]

I forgot to mention. When I do offer it food he throws a "threat pose".

Its gorgeous. If its doing the threat pose, very important detail: its not hungry, the prey is too big, premolt. Abdo is very full. You dont have too feed it more unless it decreases.

if and when you can, i would like to see full side view of enclosure.

if abdomen is more then 1.5x the carapace, its full. Its got all it needs. And it got it 10 times quicker then in nature.

obts can grow very fast even if you can get long premolts. Its also why their life expectancy get go very quick for some keepers. Good eaters with attitude: ppl tend to feed them alot. Too much even.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

This is when I first moved him into his enclosure. Now he hides under the cork bark. Don't really see him out much. Every once in a while u see his legs by the entrance. I'll take more pics of his enclosure and post at a another time.

Looks plump enough to go fasting for a while .

 

[newOBTowner]

I'll post a side view of the enclosure when I can. Thank you for everyone's feed back. I also have a GBB which I've had for two years now. I guess I was trying to do everything I did with the GBB to the OBT, but I know it's two different types.

I've also heard that I could prekill a mealworm and just leave it in there for 24 hours. Do you think I should try that?

 

[NMTs]

I've also heard that I could prekill a mealworm and just leave it in there for 24 hours. Do you think I should try that?

There's no need for this - your T has told you that it's not hungry (threat posing at prey items, remember?). There is no reason you need to worry about feeding this spider, it is plenty fat and doesn't need to eat again until after it molts.

 

[newOBTowner]

Okay. Thank you so much. I wasn't sure if it was gonna molt or just not eating. I was getting a little worried. Lol. But I appreciate everyone's feedback.

 

[TheraMygale]

Every species has its quirks. And no matter how many threads you read and videos you watch, it comes with experience.

individuality

All tarantulas can exhibit this, like dogs. You can read 100 books, your tarantula has its own idea of what it wants. Thats where you build a relationship of trust with a living being that doesnt even process emotions like us, if at all.

youre very observant: you noticed the threat pose. Some people wouldnt notice this and think the tarantula is hungry.

dont treat your tarantulas the same: give them a margin for personality. Learn and grow alongside.

its sort of awesome how we can have a relationship with an animal that has no cuddling needs. But that makes them even more precious. They might be curious, but they are not dolphins.

when in doubt: DO NOTHING.

watch. Come to the board with thorough information and photos. And then youll know if you even need to do something.

extra secret level tip: experts. Sure, they know things. Theyve seen a lot, delt with a lot. But not YOUR tarantula.

you will become the expert in your protégé. No matter what advice we give you, you are responsible to learn its cues and tell tales. Thats your job, as a responsible owner. If you dont clean its habitat, dont provide water, we will tell you. That would be on you.

keep doing you, and ask if in doubt. But build confidence, because your tarantula still needs you.

 

[newOBTowner]

Here's pics of his enclosure

 

[NMTs]

Here's pics of his enclosure

That looks fine. When it outgrows that one and you rehouse to a bigger one, you'll want to give it deeper substrate so it can burrow. Giving them the ability to dig a good burrow goes a long way towards reducing their defensive behavior. This is OK for a sling/young juvenile, though.

 

[viper69]

I forgot to mention. When I do offer it food he throws a "threat pose".

It’s an OBT

 

[newOBTowner]

So...update....past few days he's been sitting at his entrance to his hide. Last night tried feeding him a small roach, he still didn't take it. Gave a threat pose. Early this morning, before leaving to go to work I checked on him n noticed he's completely out of his hide and he webbing up his enclosure some more.

 

[newOBTowner]

Here's some pictures of the OBT today

 

[kingshockey]

i would wait a month and then drop a pre killed roach onto its web by the burrow entrance. then remove the next morning if uneaten then rinse repeat until it eats or molts