Question about my Avicularia avicularia

TwoTimes

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
7
I just bought an pink toe tarantula yesterday, it seems sluggish. I left it alone, and the next day it's still in the same spot. it moves around when I touch it or blow on it, but it just stays at that spot. its spun a little bit of web on some of the rocks i put in the cage. the substrate I was using is fir tree chips from Zilla, my tarantula also was in this bark while at the store. as soon as I researched and found out it was harmful, I took out the tarantula and put it in a box, I don't even have to keep the box closed because he doesn't attempt to move... just walks a bit and stays in the same spot. is he going to die...?
 

fyrefly

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Messages
22
I don't think you need to worry too much. Its not unusual to see an avicularia for days in the same spot.
 

TwoTimes

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
7
could the bark he's been in hurt him though, is it safe to put him back in?
 

Snipes

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 25, 2005
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1,384
Since you bought it yesterday, it is stressed. If it is in the home it was in it will probably be less stressed but if you got it from petco or something its going to be like that for a while since it has left its territory. Just leave it alone and give it water. Don't worry unless its legs curl. After a while it should make itself at home and feel more secure.
 

TwoTimes

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
7
thanks, but I still don't feel safe about putting him in the Fir bark substrate, which is why im buying coconut or peat moss.
My other T I had a couple of years back died of potting soil, so I'll rule that out.
 

Ted

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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Jul 7, 2007
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i dont think the fir tree chips are dangerous.

anyone?
 

jenniferinny

Arachnoknight
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Jan 14, 2007
Messages
174
Any chips are probably not a good thing.. Does it have water? I've seen a lot of petstores around here keep avics very dry with just a sponge for water. Make sure you have a water dish for it.
 

TwoTimes

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
7
thing is, it hasent touched the water bowl I had in there (three sponges, plus water on the bottom)
 

stonemantis

Arachnoprince
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Apr 6, 2005
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I just bought an pink toe tarantula yesterday, it seems sluggish. I left it alone, and the next day it's still in the same spot. it moves around when I touch it or blow on it, but it just stays at that spot. its spun a little bit of web on some of the rocks i put in the cage. the substrate I was using is fir tree chips from Zilla, my tarantula also was in this bark while at the store. as soon as I researched and found out it was harmful, I took out the tarantula and put it in a box, I don't even have to keep the box closed because he doesn't attempt to move... just walks a bit and stays in the same spot. is he going to die...?
First off what's the size of the Avicularia avicularia in question? Reason being because I use waterdishes for all of my individuals that are 2" or larger.

Also what size is the container it's being kept in? Reason being because If a container is too large for it and it doesn't have any decoration to make a web on, it will have a hard time anchoring it's webbing to the desired spot in the enclosure. (Usually it's near the top because it's an arboreal tarantula.)

About the wood I would stay clear of scented or oily woods and stick with corkbark. Reason being because it doesn't mold as much as real wood and it also doesn't emit any oder or oils that may be harmful to your tarantula

About the waterdish I would just put water only in the waterdish and place a plastic ladder in it if it's kind of deep to keep prey items from drowning in it. Also I would mist the sides of the container near it's desired spot in the enclosure because most arboreals IME rarely wander to the ground for anything other than food and they like to drink the water from the sides of the enclosure IMO.
 

TwoTimes

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
7
not sponges, I meant cottonballs. and the tank isn't tall, it's one of those short 10 gallon tanks, there's a pretty big stick, leaning over a rock, a few small plants and rocks, and a small hiding spot under a large rock I made for him.
 

jenniferinny

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jan 14, 2007
Messages
174
It's never gonna hide under a rock.. It's an arboreal species, meaning it will make it's home on the branch or on the wall of the cage.
Cotton balls will mold too.. It's fine with just a water dish. There's no way it can drown in it no matter what the pet store said unless it can submerge it's body in it.
 

kingfarvito

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 21, 2007
Messages
236
step one: empty the tank
step two: set the tank one its side....one of the small sides should be at the bottom
step three: make a dam to hold back your substrate
step four: add about 4 inches of substrate (not wood chips)
step five: add a branch or a piece of cork bark
step six: add water dish with only water
step seven: mist the tank with a spray bottle
step eight: add spider and lid....continue to mist daily
 

TwoTimes

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
7
thanks for the info abyss, im problably going to be going out tomorrow to go shopping for the new substrate, but for now hes gonna be staying in the wood-hell tank. (hopefully he won't get hurt)
 

Snowball

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Mar 18, 2007
Messages
136
Most definatly do what Abyss said. (My A. Avic anchored a TON of web to a bunch of fake leaves and cork bark wayyyy up at the top, and seems comfortable.) They're arboreal, need to be up high. Also, if you want to lessen your chances of SAD (Sudden avic death) he/she will need lots of ventilation, as well with lots of humidity; which is hard to accomplish, but it's doable. Spot clean the crap out of the tank, along with crix corpses, and other nasties.
 

Ted

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 7, 2007
Messages
1,187
i got one this weekend.

its really odd.

i fixed it up as told, and then it hides in the corner with nothing.

just sites there all day and night..never moves.

is it going to move over to the corner with the wood leaning against it?

does this cage look alright?


 

kingfarvito

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 21, 2007
Messages
236
i got one this weekend.

its really odd.

i fixed it up as told, and then it hides in the corner with nothing.

just sites there all day and night..never moves.

is it going to move over to the corner with the wood leaning against it?

does this cage look alright?
cage is fine avics are weird
 
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