Poecilotheria Vittata troubles

[Bugs and Buds]

Hello there

So around the 1st of July I brought a male poecilotheria Vittata. He is about 5 inches and I am assuming male from the size of his tiny abdomen. I have him kept in a 30cmx30cmx45cm arboreal setup with 2 slabs of cork bark leaned against the back, some fake plants and a water dish. Temps around 25 degrees and humidity at 60-70. It would appear he is not a very good climber, he struggles on the glass, the plastic plants seemed to freak him out upon contact and he is generally jumpy. Not graceful. He will be standing on the cork bark then suddenly fling himself upwards and crumple to the floor then skitter around a bit. Ive since removed the fake plants and added some sloped cork bark to see if this helps but no luck so far. I still wake up at 4am to him crashing around. Also he still hasn't eaten. Has anyone had a simular issue or has any general advice it would be greatly appreciated. I'm concerned he's going to damage himself.
Many thanks

 

[Nightstalker47]

Sounds like you may have a MM nearing the end of his lifespan. Lets see some pics.

 

[Bugs and Buds]

He's chosen now of all times to go and hide quietly. I will see what I have on my phone one mo

 

[Bugs and Buds]

Poecilotheria vittata

• Bugs and Buds
• Aug 14, 2018
• 7
• ghost ornamental tarantula magam tiger spider pederson's ornamental tarantula poecilotheria poecilotheria pederseni poecilotheria vittata vittata

P. Vittata possible MM

 

[Nightstalker47]

Definite MM, always cracks me up when they find their way behind those backgrounds lol.

 

[Bugs and Buds]

Poecilotheria vittata

• Bugs and Buds
• Aug 14, 2018
• ghost ornamental tarantula magam tiger spider pederson's ornamental tarantula poecilotheria poecilotheria pederseni poecilotheria vittata vittata

P. Vittata

Ahh well I've been in the hobby a year. You live and learn right. My first mistake I put the board in upside down. Ages before he came out. 6am I heard him out, jumped up and blocked them with wood haha. Cheers for your help man. Anything I can do to help Peeves as he's called

 

[cold blood]

Temps around 25 degrees and humidity at 60-70

Temps really just need to be 20-21...warmer temps increase metabolism, and for a MM, that means a shorter life.

It would appear he is not a very good climber, he struggles on the glass, the plastic plants seemed to freak him out upon contact and he is generally jumpy.

Normal...as MMs age, they lose grip...probably won't last too much longer.

Also he still hasn't eaten

Mature males rarely eat past the first month or so, perfectly normal.

. Has anyone had a simular issue or has any general advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Not an issue, its normal.

Keep in mind, a MM's life is at its very end...all it wants to do is mate before it dies (which is around the corner)...this is why its constantly roaming.


If you were sold this as a non-breeder, you were taken advantage of...that seller needs a lesson in ethics.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Yeah, thats not cool at all...selling old MMs to new unsuspecting keepers is pretty much a scam.

 

[Bugs and Buds]

It was one of the few reptile shops around me. Also my fault for rushing in I guess. I have 12 slings and they are all doing fine. I'm not sure what sex my C.Lividum is but it's angry and i don't see it much so it's fine. I will stick to slings for now. Thanks for your help folks

 

[cold blood]

It was one of the few reptile shops around me

The first rule of tarantula buying is to always buy from a tarantula dealer...never a reptile dealer.

Buying a t at a reptile place is like going to a jewelry store to buy a new computer. You are just asking for bad advice and a lack of any real world knowledge.

 

[Nightstalker47]

The first rule of tarantula buying is to always buy from a tarantula dealer...never a reptile dealer.

Buying a t at a reptile place is like going to a jewelry store to buy a new computer. You are just asking for bad advice and a lack of any real world knowledge.

Always killing it with the comparisons lol.

But yeah that about sums it up, they love to apply reptile related care to tarantulas in the most ridiculous fashion. Measuring humidity, insisting on selling you heat bulbs and mats along with enormous expensive enclosures, etc...

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Normal...as MMs age, they lose grip...probably won't last too much longer.
Mature males rarely eat past the first month or so, perfectly normal.
Not an issue, its normal.

Yeah :-/

But nonetheless, you can hear those poor buggers saying:

Yesterday
All my troubles seemed so far away
Now even the cork bark seems to betray me
Oh, I believe in yesterday

Suddenly
I'm not half the spider I used to be

I can't continue... I can't <-- sad Butters face

 

[viper69]

C.Lividum is but it's angry

Nope, just a defensive species.

 

[Bugs and Buds]

Nope, just a defensive species.

Tell me about it. The first rehouse was an experience. Im hoping female but i never see her

 

[Bugs and Buds]

So sadly Peeves has gone into death curl this morning

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

It was one of the few reptile shops around me. Also my fault for rushing in I guess. I have 12 slings and they are all doing fine. I'm not sure what sex my C.Lividum is but it's angry and i don't see it much so it's fine. I will stick to slings for now. Thanks for your help folks

good plan, slings are awesome.
Sounds like they were dumping a near end of its road MM about to die.
don’t trust reptile dealers , stick to T dealers .
Reptile dealers generally know nothing about Ts or inverts.
Typed this before I read your last post sorry for your loss and being ripped off.

 

[Teal]

So sadly Peeves has gone into death curl this morning

So sorry you had this experience ): It is VERY likely that the shop you purchased him from was unaware that he was a mature male... as others said, they are usually not knowledgeable about spiders.

I don't know if it is something you'd be interested in doing, but if you want to honour Peeves' little life you can always display him in a shadow box after his passing is complete.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

So sorry you had this experience ): It is VERY likely that the shop you purchased him from was unaware that he was a mature male... as others said, they are usually not knowledgeable about spiders.

I don't know if it is something you'd be interested in doing, but if you want to honour Peeves' little life you can always display him in a shadow box after his passing is complete.

What’s a shadow box? My mom would be terrified tho seeing a old dead spider.

 

[Bugs and Buds]

Indeed what is a shadow box? The pet sure im sure knew, i was just an idiot. I met an amazing taxidermist in bournemourh yesterday whos is going to preserve and box him for me. Is this shadow boxing of a sort?

 

[Teal]

Shadow boxes are like 3D picture frames... you mount an object to the backing, and they have a glass front to preserve it for display.

Using a taxidermist is a bit overboard, but depending on how he sets him up it could be similar to using a shadow box.