T. vagans sealed himself off again/not eating over a month after molting

[wishiwasntafraidofspiders]

This is my little t. vagans Bob (~1.5” dls). He last ate two months ago, then disappeared into his burrow. He molted successfully about three weeks later and emerged from his burrow maybe a week after. I offered him smallish crickets twice, but he refused.

He then set up shop underneath the skull (not connected to his burrow) a few days later and sealed himself off again. I don't want to disturb him, but should I be getting worried given that he molted over a month ago and hasn’t eaten yet? He always has access to water, but I haven't seen him drink either.

 

[Mustafa67]

View attachment 494916

This is my little t. vagans Bob (~1.5” dls). He last ate two months ago, then disappeared into his burrow. He molted successfully about three weeks later and emerged from his burrow maybe a week after. I offered him smallish crickets twice, but he refused.

He then set up shop underneath the skull (not connected to his burrow) a few days later and sealed himself off again. I don't want to disturb him, but should I be getting worried given that he molted over a month ago and hasn’t eaten yet? He always has access to water, but I haven't seen him drink either.

Normal

 

[viper69]

Suggest you read the forum w/threads JUST LIKE YOURS, then come back here and let us know if you are worried and WHY. There's a COMMON theme in virtually of these threads!

 

[TheraMygale]

The one thing you can be sure of, is being unsure why.

when its too long, after a molt, for me, after a month, i brush away the dirt, just enough so tarantula can “smell” prekill I lay there.

it might also be coming out at night: put a prekill near sealed entrance. If its gone the next day, that means it came out and took it.

 

[Brewser]

Hidden Away
Nocturnal Foray

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

It will eat when it’s hungry until then wait.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Is it me or lately here 90% of post is "my tarantula will not eat"

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

While not unusual to not eat for long periods, I do think Bob is a bit in the waifish side. You can’t force him to eat though. Just try different types of feeders once a week and he’ll eat when he’s ready. Make sure water is always available. You may not see him drink, but if there’s dirt in the dish, he’s been there.

 

[wishiwasntafraidofspiders]

Suggest you read the forum w/threads JUST LIKE YOURS, then come back here and let us know if you are worried and WHY. There's a COMMON theme in virtually of these threads!

I do realize these posts must be quite tiresome for those with a little more experience, and even I myself am well aware that certain species can go into hiding and refuse food for a long time. The reason I'm concerned is not because he's in hiding, but because he molted quite a while ago and is still not interested in food/water. I'm more worried about dehydration, or perhaps an issue with his sucking stomach post-molt, and if or when I should consider intervening in some way.

All my other tarantulas are voracious eaters, so I have literally zero experience with this. I actually did search on Google and in forums, but all I came across is people asking if it's normal for them to go into hiding/refuse food generally speaking, which is not the question I'm asking here.

This little spider is actually very dear to me, and I want to make sure I do what's best for him. And that's overall a good thing I'd like to think, even though these questions might be annoying for many. Thankfully you are free to simply skip over my post and have a look at the next, most likely much more interesting one.

 

[wishiwasntafraidofspiders]

The one thing you can be sure of, is being unsure why.

when its too long, after a molt, for me, after a month, i brush away the dirt, just enough so tarantula can “smell” prekill I lay there.

it might also be coming out at night: put a prekill near sealed entrance. If its gone the next day, that means it came out and took it.

Thanks, that's really helpful, I'll give that a try tonight! I'll try different feeders as well, maybe he's just tired of the same old crickets all the time.

 

[wishiwasntafraidofspiders]

While not unusual to not eat for long periods, I do think Bob is a bit in the waifish side. You can’t force him to eat though. Just try different types of feeders once a week and he’ll eat when he’s ready. Make sure water is always available. You may not see him drink, but if there’s dirt in the dish, he’s been there.

Thanks, I'll give that a try! The picture was taken after he molted and emerged from his burrow, right before he sealed himself off underneath the skull. I figured he was looking just fine considering he had just molted, but now that over a month has passed since and I can't see him at all I'm starting to be quite worried about him. I guess I'll just have to trust he knows what he's doing, but he's really not making it easy.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Thanks, I'll give that a try! The picture was taken after he molted and emerged from his burrow, right before he sealed himself off underneath the skull. I figured he was looking just fine considering he had just molted, but now that over a month has passed since and I can't see him at all I'm starting to be quite worried about him. I guess I'll just have to trust he knows what he's doing, but he's really not making it easy.

I feel your pain. I have a T that sealed off 4 months ago. It can be nerve wracking. Luckily I have a window to monitor and can shoot a few drops of water at the wall above for drinking.

 

[viper69]

I do realize these posts must be quite tiresome for those with a little more experience, and even I myself am well aware that certain species can go into hiding and refuse food for a long time. The reason I'm concerned is not because he's in hiding, but because he molted quite a while ago and is still not interested in food/water. I'm more worried about dehydration, or perhaps an issue with his sucking stomach post-molt, and if or when I should consider intervening in some way.

All my other tarantulas are voracious eaters, so I have literally zero experience with this. I actually did search on Google and in forums, but all I came across is people asking if it's normal for them to go into hiding/refuse food generally speaking, which is not the question I'm asking here.

This little spider is actually very dear to me, and I want to make sure I do what's best for him. And that's overall a good thing I'd like to think, even though these questions might be annoying for many. Thankfully you are free to simply skip over my post and have a look at the next, most likely much more interesting one.

The reason I suggest for people to read is for the very same reason I do it myself. When you look up a certain topic here, you will always learn more than what you searching for. Being armed with knowledge is never a bad thing when one owns an exotic animal that no one knows much about.
If it's dehydrated the cause cannot be determined, you can only provide more water.
If it's the sucking stomach one cannot do anything to fix that either.

The reply above that I quoted has more details than what you posted. Your post title and the post read itself reads like every other. There was no mention of a sucking stomach concern, nor of dehydration.

I be getting worried given that he molted over a month ago and hasn’t eaten yet?

Here's your question- and based on what you provided the answer is generally no

 

[viper69]

Is it me or lately here 90% of post is "my tarantula will not eat"

No, I've noticed.

Generally speaking people aren't prepared for most of the common behaviors that Ts exhibit, be it not drinking from a dish, covering up, not eating etc etc. Yet all these questions are asked/answered millions of times over. I've seen posts here where we tell the person "do not worry", and they come back in the same thread "are you sure"

 

[Arachnophobphile]

No, I've noticed.

Generally speaking people aren't prepared for most of the common behaviors that Ts exhibit, be it not drinking from a dish, covering up, not eating etc etc. Yet all these questions are asked/answered millions of times over. I've seen posts here where we tell the person "do not worry", and they come back in the same thread "are you sure"

I thought I was going crazy seems everyday new post pop up that their tarantulas will not eat. I think that's basic T Keeping 101 to know why.

 

[wishiwasntafraidofspiders]

The reason I suggest for people to read is for the very same reason I do it myself. When you look up a certain topic here, you will always learn more than what you searching for. Being armed with knowledge is never a bad thing when one owns an exotic animal that no one knows much about.
If it's dehydrated the cause cannot be determined, you can only provide more water.
If it's the sucking stomach one cannot do anything to fix that either.

The reply above that I quoted has more details than what you posted. Your post title and the post read itself reads like every other. There was no mention of a sucking stomach concern, nor of dehydration.


Here's your question- and based on what you provided the answer is generally no

Thanks, I appreciate the response! I suppose I tried asking a more general question in the interest of brevity, and because while I'm aware of some things that could be an issue after a molt I highly doubt I'm aware of all of them. But I can see how that makes it difficult to actually address the concerns someone might be having.

I think for a lot of these basic, repetitive questions people are probably also just looking for reassurance that their spider is probably fine. I've seen a lot of posts from people with very similar concerns, but their husbandry might be different, or maybe their spider is a different species, or maybe it's older or younger or the timeline is different, whatever it may be. So it's at least conceivable that the responses might not apply to my situation in the same way. And even with not insignificant amounts of research, you just don't know what you don't know, especially with limited practical experience. So there's always that what if, and it helps a lot to hear someone say no, that's normal or maybe here's what to look out for or things you can try.

In any case, I'll have another look browsing by topic instead. It's entirely possible my approach to searching is the reason I wasn't able to find the information I was looking for.

 

[viper69]

I suppose I tried asking a more general question in the interest of brevit

Understood many do it, I get it

highly doubt I'm aware of all of them

I don't think anyone is, we know little about these animals

But I can see how that makes it difficult to actually address the concerns someone might be having

100%, hence my "go read", come back w/Qs

are probably also just looking for reassurance that their spider is probably fine

True- however I feel it's more important to arm people with knowledge, and for them to flex critical thinking rather than rely on people. There's NOTHING wrong with asking questions. There is A LOT wrong with expecting answers from people who are not paid to donate their time. Everyone is busy, everyone has other things to do in life. Not saying this applies to YOU, but it applies to A LOT. Peeps just drop a question, and think it's Burger King- have it your way. If they aren't interested in helping themselves, I am certainly not.

So it's at least conceivable that the responses might not apply to my situation

True

you just don't know what you don't know

True

Again, which is why I tell people to read. I've learned far MORE from searching a single topic, than asking my single topic question to be answered - why? because each question normally has tons of replies, and they are not all the same, or written the same, so something may work for you, and not for me etc.

ENJOY!