Please help, Brachypelma Albopilosum

[Popmel]

I'm quite new to the tarantula hobby and a week and a half ago, I got a Brachypelma Albopilosum ((Curly Hair)). I waited a few days to feed her, her first meal to no avail, I then waited and tried again a few days later, she still wouldnt eat. I heard of tarantulas not eating so I didnt mind it at all but then I noticed her abdomen balding majorly, nearly the entire abdomen is no longer covered in hairs, which is weird because she hasnt at all flicked hairs at me since I got her. I'm REALLY starting to worry now because I checked on her again not to long ago and she still wont eat and the bald spot keeps getting bigger and bigger. I'm not sure if she is just going into premolt ((which I doubt, her abdomen is not shiny at all nor is it big and plump)) and or if she is stressed out.. is she sick maybe?? What should I do?? I'm completely lost. Please please PLEEASE help me out, I'm starting to panic

 

[Arachnophoric]

First things, you can feel free to calm down. Nothing you've detailed as of right now sounds like any reason to be majorly concerned.

If you want a more thorough breakdown of what could be going on, you'll need to upload an image of your tarantula and her entire setup for us to assess. But based on what you said, it sounds to me like she's just taking some time adjusting to her new home. She may not feel ready to eat yet, and that's just fine. As long as she has access to a full water dish and isn't worryingly thin, tarantulas are creatures built to be without food for long periods of time (several months in some cases, and some species are known to fast to an upwards of a whole year!).

In regards to her abdomen going bald, Ts will rub or kick off hairs even when they're not warding off a predator. They'll occasionally "decorate" a new home with them, as a way to help make it safer for them. Sort of like booby-trapping in case of an intruder. All of these hairs will return after she molts, and balding is in no way an indication of illness in tarantulas. To the best of my knowledge, at least.

 

[moricollins]

@Arachnophoric has it right, nothing you described sounds particularly concerning, and pictures are very helpful for people to provide input and advice

 

[Kitara]

noticed her abdomen balding majorly, nearly the entire abdomen is no longer covered in hairs, which is weird because she hasnt at all flicked hairs at me since I got her.

We had this same concern with ours. He was our first and we thought there was something wrong too. We never saw him flick hairs ever, but then I found out from reading here that they dont just flick hairs when they are agitated. Some line their burrow with them. Some just flick them around the enclosure. I have seen people here refer to it as the carpet of pain. lol There are at least 23 hours a day we are not looking at him. He has a lot of hair flicking time when we are not around.

 

[aarachnid]

I hope it’s okay to piggyback off of this thread, my question is related and it would be silly to start a new one.

What happens when Ts lose all their hairs? They just don’t have any more until their next molt? Would losing all their hairs make them more defensive (in the biting sense) or do they not understand that their hairs are gone?

 

[Vanessa]

I hope it’s okay to piggyback off of this thread, my question is related and it would be silly to start a new one.

What happens when Ts lose all their hairs? They just don’t have any more until their next molt? Would losing all their hairs make them more defensive (in the biting sense) or do they not understand that their hairs are gone?

Their setae doesn't grow - it has no follicle. Their exoskeleton comes with hairs on it and, once they are rubbed off, they have to wait until they moult to get new ones.
I don't think that they know that they have kicked all their hair off and will still try to kick them at you. They don't become more inclined to bite just because they have a bald abdomen.

 

[Arachnophoric]

I hope it’s okay to piggyback off of this thread, my question is related and it would be silly to start a new one.

What happens when Ts lose all their hairs? They just don’t have any more until their next molt? Would losing all their hairs make them more defensive (in the biting sense) or do they not understand that their hairs are gone?

Yep, they'll just be bald until their next molt, since setae develop under the old exuvia just like the rest of it. They're not actually "hairs" and will not sprout up/grow back between molts.

I had my B. vagans girl arrive naked as a baby from probably kicking up a storm while she was in transit. She didn't seem any more defensive than you'd expect of a T, and in fact she seemed quite chill. Didn't appear to take notice of her missing setae whatsoever and went about her tarantula days tarantulaing like normal. And then she molted and the setae came back, earning her the name Hotpants.

Naked Heiny!

• Arachnophoric
• Apr 24, 2018
• 4
• brachypelma brachypelma vagans mexican redrump tarantula vagans

Looks like my new B. vagans got a bit upset during shipping lol.

New Clothes

• Arachnophoric
• Jun 30, 2018
• brachypelma brachypelma vagans mexican redrump tarantula vagans

Female B. vagans, fresh out of molt.

 

[aarachnid]

Thank you! I love learning about these animals. Glad to know they aren’t aware of when they deplete their first line of defense lol.

 

[scooter1685]

... earning her the name Hotpants.

Literally laughed out loud at this

 

[Asgiliath]

Their setae doesn't grow - it has no follicle. Their exoskeleton comes with hairs on it and, once they are rubbed off, they have to wait until they moult to get new ones.
I don't think that they know that they have kicked all their hair off and will still try to kick them at you. They don't become more inclined to bite, just because they have a bald abdomen.

Very true but an interesting question. If that WERE the case it be like a bitey declawed cat.

(Don’t declaw cats btw)

 

[Popmel]

First things, you can feel free to calm down. Nothing you've detailed as of right now sounds like any reason to be majorly concerned.

If you want a more thorough breakdown of what could be going on, you'll need to upload an image of your tarantula and her entire setup for us to assess. But based on what you said, it sounds to me like she's just taking some time adjusting to her new home. She may not feel ready to eat yet, and that's just fine. As long as she has access to a full water dish and isn't worryingly thin, tarantulas are creatures built to be without food for long periods of time (several months in some cases, and some species are known to fast to an upwards of a whole year!).

In regards to her abdomen going bald, Ts will rub or kick off hairs even when they're not warding off a predator. They'll occasionally "decorate" a new home with them, as a way to help make it safer for them. Sort of like booby-trapping in case of an intruder. All of these hairs will return after she molts, and balding is in no way an indication of illness in tarantulas. To the best of my knowledge, at least.

Right right, apologies for not sending a photo, it was 5 am and I just didnt want to stress her anymore but here, I got a few pictures now. Her name is Mocha and also thank you so much for helping me with this

 

[moricollins]

You're going to need to fill the enclosure up with more substrate, if it climbs and falls it could get seriously hurt.

Watch the sharp edges on the water dish. They could cause injury.

The Tarantula itself looks ok to me

 

[Popmel]

You're going to need to fill the enclosure up with more substrate, if it climbs and falls it could get seriously hurt.

Watch the sharp edges on the water dish. They could cause injury.

The Tarantula itself looks ok to me

Haha thank you! I've been meaning to get more substrate but problem is that I dont really have the money at the moment but I'll try as soon as possible and I'll definitely change out the water dish. Again, thank you ♡

 

[Olan]

Right right, apologies for not sending a photo, it was 5 am and I just didnt want to stress her anymore but here, I got a few pictures now. Her name is Mocha and also thank you so much for helping me with this

Your tarantula is in very heavy premolt! The bald patch is very dark, which is how to tell. I would guess she molts within the next few days.

 

[Arachnophoric]

Indeed, your girl is in VERY heavy premolt! In the images of my B. vagans, you can see that her abdomen was a pink fleshy color. When a T is approaching an imminent molt, it'll turn a dark color like yours has and means she could molt at any time now. So you won't have to wait long for her to get her nice, fluffy bum back. Just make sure you leave her be, and when she flips over to molt don't disturb her.

Setup looks good besides the height, which was already addressed. I'd like to add in that the little plastic thermometer/hydrometer is completely unnecessary too - on top of those particular models being incredibly inaccurate, tarantulas don't need a specific humidity or temperature (unlike what a plethora of online caresheets will tell you). Most tarantulas do just fine being kept anywhere from 60-85F and can even handle temperatures above or below that parameter for extended periods of time. If you're comfortable, it's a good likelihood she is too.

Mocha is a gorgeous T, and she'll look even more stunning just fresh out of a molt!

 

[Pyroxian]

Is that mold I see on the edge of the wooden hide? Probably not a major concern, but you might consider replacing it with naturally mold-resistant cork bark when you add substrate. As a side note since you mentioned funds being tight, bricks of coconut coir are much cheaper than loose bags for a given volume.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I noticed her abdomen balding majorly, nearly the entire abdomen is no longer covered in hairs, which is weird because she hasnt at all flicked hairs at me since I got her. I'm REALLY starting to worry now because I checked on her again not to long ago and she still wont eat and the bald spot keeps getting bigger and bigger.

The balding is from kicking hairs, they don't always do it when you're watching, I've never seen my M. mesomelas kick hairs but she always ends up bald pretty quickly after a moult (first image of the picture below).

From the pics you uploaded it's clear that your tarantula is in heavy pre-moult as the bald patch has turned black (this happens once the new exoskeleton forms underneath, image 3 of the picture below). Just leave it alone other than to make sure it has a full water dish.

 

[Kitara]

Her name is Mocha

Our B. albo's name is Mocha too. And he kicked all his hairs off too. Makes it easier to see when it's turning dark and getting ready to molt LOL.

 

[Popmel]

Shes molting now!! You guys were right but now I'm very worried, she decided to molt in the log I gave her ((which I'm going to change out soon due to the mold once I get the money )) and the space she has is very limited, I'm worried she will get trapped and die. I know I cant disturb her but just- ughhhh what should I do??

 

[TwiztedNinja]

I am new but from everything I've read, they are able to molt in some tight spaces without problems