P. metallica fasts for almost a year!

[Tugbay Yagci]

Greetings people,

My adult female P. metallica hasnt eaten since I got her off of a shipment lasting for about 21days!

I housed her in August 2010 and I have been trying not to disturb her since then.

Tried to feed her lots of times being refused each time. She webbed her shelter and reacts to temperature changes by climbing up her burrow. And her abdomen got smaller significantly.

A few days ago I have been told by a friend that he lost a couple of adult females, which have been bought and housed by him, refused to eat until they died.

I am very afraid of losing her. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome, Thank You!

 

[Bigboy]

What temps do you keep her at, what is the humidity, and how big is the tank. How many hides are available and what condition was the spider in when you received it?

 

[Tugbay Yagci]

I am sorry for the incomplete information on my first post for I was rushed by fear.

When I received her she was fine, no wrinkles on abdomen, reactions were OK.

Right now it is about 22-25Celsius may be 5 degrees lower at night. (71-77 F) Humidity in the room is rather high due to my slider's enclosure. My 4 adult T. stirmi's molted succesfuly in the same room, so it makes me think the humidity is between 60-75%. I do not use gauges as I believe they suck. I tried to keep her enclosure as simple as I could. Just coco substrate and a half plastic flowerpot placed up right against the wall of a plastic cylindirical pickle box. So just 1 burrow. I covered the burrowside of the plastic box with black paper and she stays above the window level. I think it is dark enough during the day.

The enclosure is neither small nor big for her and I didnt want to rehouse her not to drive things even worse. But now I am thinking about doing so.

 

[Najakeeper]

I think sometimes this is their response to stress. I have lost a sling that had a bad shipping journey and fasted to death. Keep her dark, warm and humid. Do not disturb her much.

Kolay gelsin.

 

[Tugbay Yagci]

Right now, after months of waiting, I can see her drinking from the dish for the first time.

 

[xhexdx]

That's a good sign. Give her an hour or two after you saw her drinking before attempting to feed her again.

 

[billopelma]

She could be waiting for some environmental/seasonal trigger. I'd be changing something, maybe cooling her down or lowering humidity for a few weeks. Is she typically exposed to natural light? If not, you could change the photo period.
Just try something different from what the usual conditions have been.

This is pure speculation of course...

Bill

 

[Tugbay Yagci]

The enclosure is exposed but not her burrow. now I covered each side with black paper and will try another month like this. Drinking made me think that she wants to molt.