Not sure what is going on with my Stripe knee tarantula

[Luciano Insana]

I got Zebra about 1 year and 3 months ago. She (I think it is a she)has been doing great until recently. About 7 months ago she dug a burrow which recently collapsed. She got out of it no problem but seems to have trouble moving, as if she stuck to the ground

Thank you in advance.
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[Andrew Clayton]

I got Zebra about 1 year and 3 months ago. She (I think it is a she)has been doing great until recently. About 7 months ago she dug a burrow which recently collapsed. She got out of it no problem but seems to have trouble moving, as if she stuck to the ground

Thank you in advance.
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Definitely strange movement, is it still eating?

 

[Luciano Insana]

Definitely strange movement, is it still eating?

No, it has not eaten in about 3 weeks

 

[Andrew Clayton]

No, it has not eaten in about 3 weeks

Could you try and get photos of the underside? Has it been like that for 3 weeks?

 

[Luciano Insana]

Could you try and get photos of the underside? Has it been like that for 3 weeks?

I can't really take a picture of the underside because she only stays in a corner. And yes, she has been like that for since the burrow collapsed about 3 weeks ago

 

[Luciano Insana]

I think she cannot get out of the encircled area. Or at least I have never seen her out of it

 

[fcat]

Can we see a photo of the entire enclosure?

I think you need to get her into something safer...that's an aquarium with zero ventilation down low.

You can't rule out a fall, DKS, ataxia from dehydration, suffocation from oxygen displacement, dangerous gas build up, dehydration from injury and I can't believe I just used all those in the same sentence. Rehouse now...and carefully.

 

[Luciano Insana]

Can we see a photo of the entire enclosure?

I think you need to get her into something safer...that's an aquarium with zero ventilation down low.

You can't rule out a fall, DKS, ataxia from dehydration, suffocation from oxygen displacement, dangerous gas build up, dehydration from injury and I can't believe I just used all those in the same sentence. Rehouse now...and carefully.

Like what?
I have had her in this enclosure for about a year and never had any problems.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I can't really take a picture of the underside because she only stays in a corner. And yes, she has been like that for since the burrow collapsed about 3 weeks ago

If you have a clear container try and get her in that being able to see underside could help diagnose the issue

 

[fcat]

Like what?
I have had her in this enclosure for about a year and never had any problems.

Like a plastic box that's about 2x her leg span in each side
With ventilation holes just above the substrate that she likes you to keep moist
No more than 1.5x her leg span in fall space so she doesn't fall to her death
If you haven't notice she can barely walk and seems to be confused...this is when she will prove you wrong and she can't hold herself up
But you may have answered your own question...paired with their very small oxygen demands she has been slowly suffocating down there

I also read something once that I haven't been able to find again....someone here said that tarantulas expect food to intrude their burrow in the wild and may explain why they have problems after a long barricade. I've been watering the burrow entrances ever since, but you would create a dangerous swamp in there, it's best you didnt. They get most of their moisture from their food...did she eat a lot before quitting?

 

[Luciano Insana]

Like a plastic box that's about 2x her leg span in each side
With ventilation holes just above the substrate that she likes you to keep moist
No more than 1.5x her leg span in fall space so she doesn't fall to her death
If you haven't notice she can barely walk and seems to be confused...this is when she will prove you wrong and she can't hold herself up
But you may have answered your own question...paired with their very small oxygen demands she has been slowly suffocating down there

You think she does not have enough oxygen...but doesn't oxygen come in through the mesh lid?

 

[Luciano Insana]

If you have a clear container try and get her in that being able to see underside could help diagnose the issue

I will try

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I think she cannot get out of the encircled area. Or at least I have never seen her out of it

Needs rehoused that's far too much head space in there, also looks like no ventilation, a fall from the top of that could certainly cause issues.

 

[Luciano Insana]

Needs rehoused that's far too much head space in there, also looks like no ventilation, a fall from the top of that could certainly cause issues.

Ok... can I use a similar enclosure and just add more substrate?

 

[Mustafa67]

I got Zebra about 1 year and 3 months ago. She (I think it is a she)has been doing great until recently. About 7 months ago she dug a burrow which recently collapsed. She got out of it no problem but seems to have trouble moving, as if she stuck to the ground

Thank you in advance.
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For one thing the enclosure isn’t suitable. It doesn’t seem to have much substrate, I recommend more sub.

I am also concerned with the mesh top on the roof of the enclosure. Ts can get their legs stuck or can bite through them.

I recommend you take a look at the beginners guide:

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

 

[Luciano Insana]

I am also concerned with the mesh top on the roof of the enclososure. Ts can get their legs stuck or can bite through them.

Can I cover the lid bottom with a much finer mesh?

 

[Luciano Insana]

For one thing the enclosure isn’t suitable. It doesn’t seem to have much substrate, I recommend more sub.

Will do

 

[Andrew Clayton]

You think she does not have enough oxygen...but doesn't oxygen come in through the mesh lid?

There will be oxygen, but the stagnant air is not good for them, without ventilation

Ok... can I use a similar enclosure and just add more substrate?

You could use that same enclosure but nearly filll it with substrate, you want 1.5x DLS of the spider in head space so you're T looks to me to be around 3 inches so you want no more than 4.5 inches of room from the top of the enclosure to the surface of the substrate. Also if it has a mesh top you're gawna need to replace it with something like acrylic.

 

[Luciano Insana]

Also if it has a mesh top you're gawna need to replace it with something like acrylic.

Can't I cover the bottom of the lid with fine mesh ?

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Can't I cover the bottom of the lid with fine mesh ?

No it's the mesh that is the issue. The Tarantula can get it's feet stuck in it, and the finer stuff they can chew through pretty easily.