Pink Toe Feeding

[HardPeppers]

So I got my first tarantula on November 9th. It is a pink toe. I bought it mealworms but it hasn't been eating them. If I drop one in front of the T, it just ignores it and the mealworm just burrows into the substrate. I started putting them on a small dish over night. Sometimes, they are still there but sometimes there are missing. I don't know if they escaped the dish or the T has actually been eating it. Please tell me what is wrong. Also, please help me identify if the T is a male or female.

 

[Tenebrarius]

looks pretty fat it was probably eating them/some. the borrowed worm can bother the T as its molting i'd remove it but whatever. using roaches and crickets usually works better. for worms you want to head crush so they don't burrow.

 

[AnObeseHippo]

borrowed worm can bother the T as its molting

By "bother" he means, "kill the tarantula". You should get the worms out of the substrate and always crush their heads before feeding.

 

[UniqueUserName]

So I got my first tarantula on November 9th. It is a pink toe. I bought it mealworms but it hasn't been eating them. If I drop one in front of the T, it just ignores it and the mealworm just burrows into the substrate. I started putting them on a small dish over night. Sometimes, they are still there but sometimes there are missing. I don't know if they escaped the dish or the T has actually been eating it. Please tell me what is wrong. Also, please help me identify if the T is a male or female.

You should definitely crush the head of the worm, like others have stated. Don’t leave food in there for more than 24 hours. You can’t sex a T from that picture, sorry. Your T might not be hungry, so it won’t eat. It looks healthy, so I wouldn’t worry about it not eating.

 

[Tenebrarius]

By "bother" he means, "kill the tarantula". You should get the worms out of the substrate and always crush their heads before feeding.

I was trying to be polite, but yes OP death is very likely newbie mistakes are never forgiving when it comes to Ts. and also use scientific names.

 

[HardPeppers]

I was trying to be polite, but yes OP death is very likely newbie mistakes are never forgiving when it comes to Ts. and also use scientific names.

sorry im new to this stuff

 

[Tenebrarius]

sorry im new to this stuff

the more the merrier, im not trying to scold you or be cruel its good you came here and asked. Like I have never said before "you can never be too cautious unless its about water".
might I ask what sub is that?

 

[boina]

There are several things in your post that worry me:

Why can you drop a worm in front of your arboreal tarantula and it then burrows into the ground? Your tarantula shouldn't really spend much time on the ground but live high up. It's a common beginner mistake to think that these tarantulas need to climb, but that's a complete misunderstanding - they need to live high up. Did you provide living quarters high up, i.e. a large piece of cork bark/wood standing upright for the tarantula to hang out on and hide behind? Fake plants alone won't cut it. That little bit of wood your tarantula is sitting on in the pic is much too small - I hope it isn't the only one.

Further, mealworms aren't the best feeder for Avics. There are quite a few who refuse them. Avics hunt by movement more than other tarantulas, meaning they prefer something that moves, like crickets or roaches.

 

[HardPeppers]

the more the merrier, im not trying to scold you or be cruel its good you came here and asked. Like I have never said before "you can never be too cautious unless its about water".
might I ask what sub is that?

it is called jungle mix fir & sphagnum peat moss. Peat moss has a lower pH than the cocofiber and will not get mold as quickly in a humid environment.

There are several things in your post that worry me:

Why can you drop a worm in front of your arboreal tarantula and it then burrows into the ground? Your tarantula shouldn't really spend much time on the ground but live high up. It's a common beginner mistake to think that these tarantulas need to climb, but that's a complete misunderstanding - they need to live high up. Did you provide living quarters high up, i.e. a large piece of cork bark/wood standing upright for the tarantula to hang out on and hide behind? Fake plants alone won't cut it. That little bit of wood your tarantula is sitting on in the pic is much too small - I hope it isn't the only one.

Further, mealworms aren't the best feeder for Avics. There are quite a few who refuse them. Avics hunt by movement more than other tarantulas, meaning they prefer something that moves, like crickets or roaches.

it has more wood and barks its just not shown in the picture. in other words, it was just one area of the enclosure that i took the picture in.

 

[Liquifin]

it is called jungle mix fir & sphagnum peat moss. Peat moss has a lower pH than the cocofiber and will not get mold as quickly in a humid environment.

"humidity" is a bad sign to hear for new keepers, especially those who have avics.

 

[boina]

in a humid environment.

Uh-oh. But your Avic needs a DRY environment...

 

[Tenebrarius]

"humidity" is a bad sign to hear for new keepers, especially those who have avics.

yes very much agreed I think viper has an avic care link in the sig I'll go look for it but basically at OP don't mist your animal it will be a fast way to have a dead T.

edit: here it is http://arachnoboards.com/threads/avicularia-husbandry.282549/#post-2461396

 

[HardPeppers]

Uh-oh. But your Avic needs a DRY environment...

that's the problem! i read off of some website that it needs humidity and now im screwed

 

[AnObeseHippo]

that's the problem! i read off of some website that it needs humidity and now im screwed

How in heavens are you screwed? Take the tarantula out, put it in a temporary holding cup. Empty out the container. Dry the substrate in oven (I've heard of people microwaving it too). Re-assemble enclosure. Ta-daaaaaa

 

[boina]

that's the problem! i read off of some website that it needs humidity and now im screwed

Well, normally I'd say you can just let it dry out but you are in Florida, where everything is humid... Try to change at least part of the substrate for something dry. 'Humidity' has killed more Avics than all other factors combined. In the old days people thought they needed high humidity because they are from the rain forrest - and their spiders kept dying in high numbers until one smart person figured out that they only tolerate humidity when there is a lot of wind to go with it - and they really don't need it at all.

 

[Tenebrarius]

that's the problem! i read off of some website that it needs humidity and now im screwed

don't microwave it OP you'll get mold oven drying is a fine method used world wide. you oven dry bark to dry it up and kill any unfriendlies. kill out the water mass N all idk what fir is probably wood chips im thinking Ts don't like wood chips if that what it is. don't listen to care sheets. If you T is alive now you can save it no biggie unless it likes anime then there's not hope sorry for the loss...

Well, normally I'd say you can just let it dry out but you are in Florida, where everything is humid... Try to change at least part of the substrate for something dry. 'Humidity' has killed more Avics than all other factors combined. In the old days people thought they needed high humidity because they are from the rain forrest - and their spiders kept dying in high numbers until one smart person figured out that they only tolerate humidity when there is a lot of wind to go with it - and they really don't need it at all.

i.e. lots of ventilation. if its high humidity naturally there OP could add extra ventilation to help.

 

[AnObeseHippo]

don't microwave it OP you'll get mold

lolwut

 

[cold blood]

lolwut

Sterilizing substrate means the first things to colonize it will have it all to themselves, mold spores are everywhere and are usually the first thing to colonize....mold in its self isnt generally harmful, but you still want to avoid big explosions of the stuff.

__________

Damp sub isnt a huge deal as long as the enclosure is well ventilated.

 

[HardPeppers]

don't microwave it OP you'll get mold oven drying is a fine method used world wide. you oven dry bark to dry it up and kill any unfriendlies. kill out the water mass N all idk what fir is probably wood chips im thinking Ts don't like wood chips if that what it is. don't listen to care sheets. If you T is alive now you can save it no biggie unless it likes anime then there's not hope sorry for the loss...


i.e. lots of ventilation. if its high humidity naturally there OP could add extra ventilation to help.

yea i know just changed out the substrate and put in new one.

 

[Tenebrarius]

lolwut

try it if you don't believe me cold blood made a very convincing argument about it. if you don't know how micro wave work they depend on water to work. the plate in their doesn't get heated by the microwaves from the magnetron but the heat from the water heats the surrounding area including the food and plate. oven is the best method.

oh he already came to save the day I guess