Potential impaction in juvenile Tliltocatl albopilosus

[TenebrisAvicularia]

I have had this male 2.6 DLS T. albopilosus, SpongeBob, since October 13. He has been eating, burrowing and showing all other normal behaviors. He had recently molted when I bought him, and was kept in good conditions by the shop/caretakers. I have always fed him based on abdomen size and it has worked well for me.

His last feeding left his abdomen quite large, so I stopped and just kept up the usual routine of watering him. I have recently noticed that his abdomen doesn't appear to be slimming down, even though I paused offering prey over two weeks ago. I recognized concerning behavior, such as scratching at his butt, dragging the abdomen and being a bit more restless. I believe that he has issues relieving himself.

I don't see any visible dried feces on his butt, though I do believe that he might have a tiny amount of swelling. A recent picture can give an idea of how plump he is, I thought that his abdomen would have lost some bulk already. I don't have the exact date of his last feed, but it was well over two, maybe three weeks ago. I might be able to check.
Tell me if I missed any useful information.

SpongeBob SpiderPants

I'm putting him on a diet. He's very round.

arachnoboards.com

 

[TheraMygale]

Well, he is extra plump. Could explain the draggin. These species drop UrS here and there. Which can explain abdomen scratching.

no eating: no pooping.

i doubt he will be slimming down in the next months.

in fact, it “shouldnt” slim down, unless he is sick or has parasites.

only a molt could slim him down at this point.

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

Well, he is extra plump. Could explain the draggin. These species drop UrS here and there. Which can explain abdomen scratching.

no eating: no pooping.

i doubt he will be slimming down in the next months.

in fact, it “shouldnt” slim down, unless he is sick or has parasites.

only a molt could slim him down at this point.

His abdomen dragging appears very purposeful, from what I've seen. The scratching is directed at his anus, not the urticating hair patch.
He could just be a fat boy and in need of a molt (hopefully), but he does seem to be uncomfortable back there.

 

[TheraMygale]

His abdomen dragging appears very purposeful, from what I've seen. The scratching is directed at his anus, not the urticating hair patch.
He could just be a fat boy and in need of a molt (hopefully), but he does seem to be uncomfortable back there.

scratchy anuses happen to everyone.

 

[TenebrisAvicularia]

scratchy anuses happen to everyone.

Well, he certainly doesn't have toilet paper to use...

 

[TheraMygale]

Well, he certainly doesn't have toilet paper to use...

as long as he has a water bowl, and a small moist corner, he should have good basic needs.

 

[cold blood]

His last feeding left his abdomen quite large, so I stopped and just kept up the usual routine of watering him. I have recently noticed that his abdomen doesn't appear to be slimming down, even though I paused offering prey over two weeks

SpongeBob SpiderPants

I'm putting him on a diet. He's very round.

arachnoboards.com

I don't think you understand tarantulas......a tarantulas abdomen won't slim down from not eating......a tarantulas abdomen will only slim down following a molt.....fat tarantulas can go months, some years without food when plump, and they don't get thinner as a result....only when they molt.

 

[Gevo]

The behaviours you’re describing sound like premolt behaviours or just normal tarantula behaviours too.

Scratching can simply be grooming, or they could be laying down urticating hairs in preparation for a molt. It helps keep them safe during that vulnerable time, like a little booby trap around their den.

Dragging the abdomen around makes sense if it’s fat, but they can also look like they’re dragging their bums if they’re laying down fine webbing (and no, you often can’t see the webbing).

Not pooping makes sense if it’s not eating, but poop is also not always visible unless they do it somewhere obvious like on the glass or you happen to see it before it gets ground into the dirt.

Tarantulas don’t gain and lose weight by eating and dieting. They just get fatter and fatter until they refuse food or stop being offered food and then molt. Our goal with spacing feedings appropriately is to reduce the amount of time they’re super fat or fasting prior to the molt, so we’re trying to work with their natural molt cycle, not a weight loss cycle.

Any increases to abdomen size that you think are swelling could very well be further premolt plumping. When in premolt, even if they are no longer eating or being offered food, their abdomen will get plumper and shinier, then eventually darken quite rapidly (you may or may not see that depending on how much hair is left). That’s the new exoskeleton growing underneath.

Impactions do happen, but it’s far more likely to be these things.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I have had this male 2.6 DLS T. albopilosus, SpongeBob, since October 13. He has been eating, burrowing and showing all other normal behaviors. He had recently molted when I bought him, and was kept in good conditions by the shop/caretakers. I have always fed him based on abdomen size and it has worked well for me.

His last feeding left his abdomen quite large, so I stopped and just kept up the usual routine of watering him. I have recently noticed that his abdomen doesn't appear to be slimming down, even though I paused offering prey over two weeks ago. I recognized concerning behavior, such as scratching at his butt, dragging the abdomen and being a bit more restless. I believe that he has issues relieving himself.

I don't see any visible dried feces on his butt, though I do believe that he might have a tiny amount of swelling. A recent picture can give an idea of how plump he is, I thought that his abdomen would have lost some bulk already. I don't have the exact date of his last feed, but it was well over two, maybe three weeks ago. I might be able to check.
Tell me if I missed any useful information.

SpongeBob SpiderPants

I'm putting him on a diet. He's very round.

arachnoboards.com

You sound like a 1st time T keeper here. All this is totally normal. You're T is fat chances are it's not going to eat again until after it moults. If you did notice it slimming down after a couple of weeks there would be something seriously wrong with it, as said before a healthy Tarantula will only slim down after a moult it's not like other Invertebrates, like Mantis that will visually slim between moults. Since you have stopped feeding this will result in it stopping relieving itself, but a T that fat does not need food, keeping it's water dish full is plenty.
In short
Nothing to worry about, you're T is fat, probably won't eat, keep it's water dish full, hopefully it moults soon for you.