T. stirmi has no interest in food

[Cecropia1999]

I have several years of experience with Xenesthis species and recently acquired this T. stirmi about a month ago.

While it is very active, constantly walking around, it will not eat. With the exception of ine cricket ine time weeks ago, it has no interest in food at all. You can throw a cricket right in front of it, have the cricket walk over its leg, and it will do nothing. Very unusual from what I have heard about this species as they tend to be voracious predators and it isn't necessarily plump either. Should I be concerned about this?? I do not have any previous experience with T. stirmi so I am worried about this behavior.

Secondly, as I have posted before, while the tarantula is capable of moving its chelicerae, it seems to prefer keeping then almost hanging, away from it's body, which seems weird to me. Never seen a tarantula do this before and I am not sure if this related to its weird feeding behavior.

It is being kept in a 30 gallon plastic bin with good cross ventilation and deep (8-9 inches) of moist coco fiber:topsoil mix. I have included pics of my setup. Temps range from 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Please let me know what is going on with this T. Stirmi. Thank you

 

[A guy]

I have several years of experience with Xenesthis species and recently acquired this T. stirmi about a month ago.

While it is very active, constantly walking around, it will not eat. With the exception of ine cricket ine time weeks ago, it has no interest in food at all. You can throw a cricket right in front of it, have the cricket walk over its leg, and it will do nothing. Very unusual from what I have heard about this species as they tend to be voracious predators and it isn't necessarily plump either. Should I be concerned about this?? I do not have any previous experience with T. stirmi so I am worried about this behavior.

Secondly, as I have posted before, while the tarantula is capable of moving its chelicerae, it seems to prefer keeping then almost hanging, away from it's body, which seems weird to me. Never seen a tarantula do this before and I am not sure if this related to its weird feeding behavior.

It is being kept in a 30 gallon plastic bin with good cross ventilation and deep (8-9 inches) of moist coco fiber:topsoil mix. I have included pics of my setup. Temps range from 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Please let me know what is going on with this T. Stirmi. Thank you

Where did you get it from? Pet shop? Is it wild caught?

 

[Cecropia1999]

Where did you get it from? Pet shop? Is it wild caught?

Came from a pet shop. Not sure if it was wild caught or captive bred.

 

[A guy]

Came from a pet shop. Not sure if it was wild caught or captive bred.

Yeah, 90% of the time if it's from a pet shop then it's wild caught. That could explain it. It might be sick.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Yeah, 90% of the time if it's from a pet shop then it's wild caught. That could explain it. It might be sick.

Yep I’ve had mixed result with wc .

Why Wc is Bad!!!

Wild caught tarantulas are often sold without labels saying they are. besides eradicating the wild stocks/populations of tarantulas they also can have bad health problems. for me I’ve been sold one t albo from pet stores that had underlying health issues and didn’t end well :sad: it lasted for...

arachnoboards.com

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

recently acquired this T. stirmi about a month ago.

While it is very active, constantly walking around, it will not eat.

The high level of activity and lack of eating is a sign it is not yet settled, or there is something about its housing it doesn't like. My first impressions of the picture of the housing shows that it does not have an adequate hide for its size. I'm not sure what was to be expected from that sliver of bark partially buried in the ground, but it needs a large half-log, or something equivalent, about 9 inches long and about 4 inches wide.

Although not an urgent change now, you will also need to get rid of that empty cup of giant something-or-other which I assume is its water cup and replace it with a shallow cup or dish partially buried in the soil so the top is level with the soil.

Once you see that your T. stirmi stops moving so much and goes into hiding, then you can try feeding again.

 

[viper69]

It’s likely not settled > it’s highly likely WC

Why is the water bowl not flush with the sub?

 

[Cecropia1999]

The high level of activity and lack of eating is a sign it is not yet settled, or there is something about its housing it doesn't like. My first impressions of the picture of the housing shows that it does not have an adequate hide for its size. I'm not sure what was to be expected from that sliver of bark partially buried in the ground, but it needs a large half-log, or something equivalent, about 9 inches long and about 4 inches wide.

Although not an urgent change now, you will also need to get rid of that empty cup of giant something-or-other which I assume is its water cup and replace it with a shallow cup or dish partially buried in the soil so the top is level with the soil.

Once you see that your T. stirmi stops moving so much and goes into hiding, then you can try feeding again.

Thank you. I have reconfigured the enclosure slightly. The hide is around 9 inches long a d 5 inches wide. It looks a lot smaller because I buried half of it and dug out from underneath to create a starter burrow. The water bowl has also been replaced. I had it slanted originally because it was becoming a cricket graveyard. How does this look?

 

[cold blood]

Whether its captive born or wild caught is irrelevant....what is, is that its fat, and fat ts do not need food....even hungry species often refuse food at some point depending on plumpness and where the t is in its molt cycle.

 

[Brewser]

Magnificent Theraphosa Stirmi is adapting to confinement.
Perhaps more structure could be beneficial in this endeavor.

 

[TheraMygale]

It looks amazing though. Maybe it hasnt settled in yet?

i like the basic approach. Maybe it has a lot of ground space? It looks healthy.

at this point if its wc and sick youd know. Its not just chilling there when its sick. It would have trouble with pedipalps if nematodes, or walking very weird if something else.

give it a chance? Be patient maybe? Its so gorgeous.

you obviously bought a large tarantula. If you had it from sling youd know whats up.

at this point: do nothing. Make sure water is accessible. It could even be a bigger bowl, aligned with substrate.

enjoy your tarantula, while its in its gorgeous prime. Wow the colors.

i wish i could have one. Just a lot of space.

Next time you buy something, make sure you know, just for your own peace of mind. Its a lot of money to give away not knowing.

One of my mistakes was not asking enough questions, not looking enough at smal details.

With a name like @Cecropia1999, you must love moths. And they take time. All winter sometimes. You know what it takes.