Pink toe not eating or webbing

[lexxcolon]

Hi guys. I have a pink toe tarantula that just turned 2 in February. I rearranged her tank to give her some more foliage up top, and in the process destroyed her old web. I’ve been waiting for her to web again, but she hasn’t. I used to put the crickets directly into her web, but now I can’t, and she won’t take them from the tongs. I’ve tried leaving some in there with her, but I don’t think she’s eating them. Her abdomen has shrunken up a lot in the past few weeks. I’m not sure what else I can do.
She’s in a vertical 10 gallon. And she’s been moving around a lot. Just very skinny.

 

[Liquifin]

To answer your question, you actually have a mature male. The things you describe are normal behaviors for a mature male as any and all mature males will barely eat or rest as their last thing in life is to find a mate before they die. Mature males will not molt again in most cases, as once they molt out as a sexually mature male they won't have much time left before they die. Usually they can live from a few months to a year, but the species of mature male will fluctuate in lifespan as a mature male. Your mature male is basically being restless and eating less as he's trying to find a female before he dies since he doesn't have much time left alive. I hope this gives some clarification and answers with your tarantula.

 

[HeavyMetalTarantula]

Yea it looks to me like photo 3 you can see the hooks on the front legs, got yourself a restless male. Enjoy while you've got em!

 

[viper69]

Hi guys. I have a pink toe tarantula that just turned 2 in February. I rearranged her tank to give her some more foliage up top, and in the process destroyed her old web. I’ve been waiting for her to web again, but she hasn’t. I used to put the crickets directly into her web, but now I can’t, and she won’t take them from the tongs. I’ve tried leaving some in there with her, but I don’t think she’s eating them. Her abdomen has shrunken up a lot in the past few weeks. I’m not sure what else I can do.
She’s in a vertical 10 gallon. And she’s been moving around a lot. Just very skinny.

Feeding HIM from tongs- who the hell let’s their T eat with silverware?!?!?!?!

Didn’t know they had humans to feed them in the jungle!

They don’t need our help to damn eat!
Stop watching StupidTube- assumption on my part. Maybe you cooked up that crazy scheme on your own

Please educate yourself before you get another Avic

 

[lexxcolon]

Feeding HIM from tongs- who the hell let’s their T eat with silverware?!?!?!?!

Didn’t know they had humans to feed them in the jungle!

They don’t need our help to damn eat!
Stop watching StupidTube- assumption on my part. Maybe you cooked up that crazy scheme on your own

Please educate yourself before you get another Avic

I used the tongs to put the cricket in his web cause he wasn’t going on the floor. I don’t appreciate your attitude though. It’s not helpful at all and not relevant to the question. I’ve had spiders for years. I know how to take care of them. I did however think this was a girl so his behavior stumped me and I wanted a second opinion. Please think before you say something. It could’ve been phrased in a much more polite manner.

 

[lexxcolon]

To answer your question, you actually have a mature male. The things you describe are normal behaviors for a mature male as any and all mature males will barely eat or rest as their last thing in life is to find a mate before they die. Mature males will not molt again in most cases, as once they molt out as a sexually mature male they won't have much time left before they die. Usually they can live from a few months to a year, but the species of mature male will fluctuate in lifespan as a mature male. Your mature male is basically being restless and eating less as he's trying to find a female before he dies since he doesn't have much time left alive. I hope this gives some clarification and answers with your tarantula.

Thank you so much for your response. I honestly thought that was the case but I was told he was a girl when I got him, so I wasn’t sure.

 

[Ian14]

I used the tongs to put the cricket in his web cause he wasn’t going on the floor. I don’t appreciate your attitude though. It’s not helpful at all and not relevant to the question. I’ve had spiders for years. I know how to take care of them. I did however think this was a girl so his behavior stumped me and I wanted a second opinion. Please think before you say something. It could’ve been phrased in a much more polite manner.

With the greatest of respect, if you have kept them for years, surely you would be able to identify that this was a mature male.
Viper69 does speak very bluntly but to the point.
You would have a point if this was your one and only tarantula but to say you have had spiders for years kind of blows that out the water.
You are looking at words on a screen, and as such blunt speaking can come across as a bit off. I've also felt a little bit "insulted" by Viper's replies before, until I reminded myself of that!
He/she is blunt and to the point, which to be honest is often the best way to be on a forum. I've been the same myself on reptile forums!
Don't take the words personally, just read what they say. He/she is very knowledgeable and doesn't mean to be rude or belittling.
Remember that on a forum nothing is being SAID, just written.
Less than 10% of human communication is made up of the words themselves.

 

[lexxcolon]

With the greatest of respect, if you have kept them for years, surely you would be able to identify that this was a mature male.
Viper69 does speak very bluntly but to the point.
You would have a point if this was your one and only tarantula but to say you have had spiders for years kind of blows that out the water.
You are looking at words on a screen, and as such blunt speaking can come across as a bit off. I've also felt a little bit "insulted" by Viper's replies before, until I reminded myself of that!
He/she is blunt and to the point, which to be honest is often the best way to be on a forum. I've been the same myself on reptile forums!
Don't take the words personally, just read what they say. He/she is very knowledgeable and doesn't mean to be rude or belittling.
Remember that on a forum nothing is being SAID, just written.
Less than 10% of human communication is made up of the words themselves.

I know you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just upset. I thought I had at least a few years left with him and now it turns out I've only got weeks.
I have had tarantulas for years. I've always had males though and the breeder I got him from assured me this one was a girl, and I honestly didn't know how to check that, nor did I feel the need to.

 

[Ian14]

I know you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just upset. I thought I had at least a few years left with him and now it turns out I've only got weeks.
I have had tarantulas for years. I've always had males though and the breeder I got him from assured me this one was a girl, and I honestly didn't know how to check that, nor did I feel the need to.

Sorry to hear that.
I get that you are upset, especially if you were sold an animal that should have been with you for many more years.
And I can also understand that if you were sold him as a her that you wouldn't have thought otherwise. But those claws are a giveaway!
All I can suggest is to find a far more reputable seller.
Oh, by the way?
Don't apologise, we all understand.

 

[viper69]

I used the tongs to put the cricket in his web cause he wasn’t going on the floor. I don’t appreciate your attitude though. It’s not helpful at all and not relevant to the question. I’ve had spiders for years. I know how to take care of them. I did however think this was a girl so his behavior stumped me and I wanted a second opinion. Please think before you say something. It could’ve been phrased in a much more polite manner.

Yes, you aren't the first person to do that. There really isn't a need to spoonfeed them. They aren't spoonfed in the wild. You aren't the first nor last person to be "trained" by their Avic. You see, as long as you keep doing that they have no need to come down, you are nothing but a drive-thru for dinner. Eh, I've owned a car for decades and I know very little about it. So writing you own spiders for years means very little to me to be honest.

As for my what I wrote, I didn't say anything. All you read is me emphasizing some points with !'s, merely to emphasize some thoughts. I don't see how using proper punctuation is not polite or improper.

I'm typically succinct. Others tend to write differently- both with the same information. If you want the milk and cookies version of answers you will find that from others.

IMO, facts are best expressed succinctly, it saves everyone time.

Enjoy your MM!

 

[Thekla]

I thought I had at least a few years left with him and now it turns out I've only got weeks.

My A. merianae matured almost two years ago, and he's still alive 'n kicking (*knock on wood*). So, you still might have him for quite some time.

 

[Craig73]

In addition to it being a MM, the setup is wrong IMO. Needs taller cork bark and more foliage at the top to create some security as well as anchor points. They spend most of their time at the top (not always) that’s were a lot of the magic needs to happen decor-wise.