Texas Brown... Dragging its body

[Zer0seeker]

I found a Texas Brown in my backyard, roughly a month ago and all has seemed fine. Recently it started dragging its body along the sand in its cage. Other than that, it only seems to stay around the heat lamp all day. I keep the room at roughly 78-80 degrees. Any idea what might be going on? Im new to the whole tarantula keeper life, any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[le-thomas]

I'm not sure. Pictures will help. Also, no need for a heat lamp.

 

[captmarga]

Yes, a photo will help. It doesn't need to be on sand though, but on coco-coir or eco earth. Does it have a water dish? Chances are if you found it wandering it's a mature male as well. Is it hooked out?

Where in Texas are you?

Marga

 

[Zeph]

I've found two Texas browns in people's yards (Austin and Dallas area), I kept them both for around a year afterwards. The issue with wild-caught tarantulas is you found this guy wandering around, you didn't dig up a tarantula from its burrow. Tarantulas don't tend to venture far from their burrow (if they leave at all) unless they are a mature male looking for a mate. If you found a mature male, it was trying to spread its seed before it died. Mine both survived about a year, chances are your friend is just suffering from old age. If it's a mature male, he won't live to see another molt. I would post pics and see if someone here can determine whether or not this is a mature male. If he's nearing death, this could explain the dragging behavior.

Tarantulas do not need heat lamps, room temperature should be fine if it's in the '70s-'80s. I would recommend getting rid of that lamp and the sand immediately. You can use potting soil for substrate if it's free of fertilizer, otherwise you can get cocofiber substrate for $5 from a pet shop and it'll last forever. Really, the sand doesn't retain moisture and can irritate the spider's lungs. Also, the heat lamp could be drying up all the moisture. Even a Texas tarantula needs some humidity. Please get rid of that heat lamp and replace the sand with soil or cocofiber, make sure your tarantula has a water dish and see if his condition improves.

 

[Zer0seeker]

Thanks for the heat lamp info le-Thomas, I guess I can continue to use that for my cricket breeding again.
Marga - It has a water dish, I don't let it get empty. As far as the terrain its on, that's all I have for the time being until I can get the money to buy some eco-earth, unless I dig up the back yard (which is entirely possible). What do you mean by "hooked out?" I live north of Dallas.

Sorry about the size of the pictures, I uploaded them directly from my phone

As far as pictures go... The tree limbs are something I put in the cage for it to climb on, it likes to sit at the top directly under the heat lamp (which has now been removed).


He hasn't moved from that spot since I moved the light there


The gecko was a surprise when I took the picture. Im in the process of getting it out.. (little buggers are crafty and quick)


Full tank: Water dish is in the center (grey thing), gave it a hideaway from an old fishtank cave (right), and the limbs for something to climb on (left)...


Like I said, im new to this whole thing, any advice is definitely appreciated.

 

[le-thomas]

That's a mature male, and he won't live long. He'll continue to search for a mate, and then die.

 

[Aviara]

I agree that since you found him outside of his burrow, it's highly likely that he's a mature male, and is now getting elderly. Unfortunately, mature males just don't live too long and if this is the case there isn't much you can do. The heat lamp and sand are unnecessary, but likely were not the cause of the problem. Also, did you simply get the sand and the rocks/branches around the cage from your backyard? If so, what means of sterilization did you use? Even though this may not be causing him a problem, it is important for you to understand the hazards of using found objects from outside. Parasites, pests, pesticides, fungus and disease can all be transferred to the cage and your tarantula via unsterilized found decorations and substrates.

 

[Zer0seeker]

That would explain why he keeps trying to climb the wall of the tank (to escape). The sand and limbs... i didn't use any form of sterilization on them. I thought that since it he and they were in my backyard (we don't use pesticides or anything of that nature) it would be ok.... but since its, as ya'll say, a mature male, he's nearing his end. He has made two webs since I found him.. guessing it wont be much longer, eh?

On a separate note, I was looking at acquiring a Mexican Fireleg as well. I'm still doing my research on it before I purchase one, any advice with that one?

 

[le-thomas]

That would explain why he keeps trying to climb the wall of the tank (to escape).

If you're inferring that he's doing this because the sand and decorations weren't sanitized, this is not the case. He's trying to escape because he's looking for a female to mate with. A mature male continues to wander until death, unless a female kills him first.
As for the second tarantula, please use scientific names. I'm assuming you mean Brachypelma boehmei, in which case you want to set up a terrestrial tank of a fairly small size (as compared to the aquarium above) with dry, packed-down substrate.

 

[Zer0seeker]

Sorry about not using the scientific names. I was referring to him trying to find a mate. I appreciate all the help you all have given me. Thank you.

 

[le-thomas]

Good luck and welcome to the addiction

 

[Zeph]

If I were you I would probably let him go out and find a mate. Then get yourself an inexpensive starter tarantula. B. boehmi (fireleg) are gorgeous but tend to flick irritating barbs whereas the related B. smithi (redknee) are usually very docile.

You can use a tank a fourth the size of that big one (sounds counterintuitive because most pets need as much space as possible, tarantulas like to get cozy). Large kritter keepers are cheap. You won't need branches for terrestrial tarantulas like the fireleg, your TX brown is only climbing because he wants to escape but a fall can injure a tarantula. Cork bark is fine, but branches should be reserved for arboreal tarantulas.

Congrats on your new friend, I loved my TX browns when I was a kid. I'd suggest letting him go, doing your research, then go get a more beautiful tarantula with a proper setup. Just my two cents.

 

[Bugmom]

Man, he is all legs, ain't he?

I second releasing him. He just wants to go do what male critters do You'll get more fun, and mileage, out of a female of whatever species you're interested in, and while I do have a wild caught tarantula, I will always suggest captive-bred as a first choice.

Whatever species you decide on, a 10 gallon would be more than enough, assuming you buy an adult. I've got my adult in a 5 gallon and she's quite content. The thing to remember about species that burrow is that they don't wander around, so needing lots of room isn't a concern.

 

[Aviara]

I agree that the Brachypelma smithi would be a better choice than the Brachypelma boehmei, simply due to temperament. Other good choices for beginners are the Grammostola rosea (classic beginner tarantula, cheap, but usually wild-caught and can have a temper), or Avicularia avicularia (arboreal species, but usually docile). If you could find an Aphonopelma hentzi that was not wild-caught, or an Aphonopelma chalcodes, these also tend to be docile tarantulas, although they grow very slowly.

As for my comment about sterilization of items brought in from your yard, it likely has nothing to do with his behavior, but it's very important you know that information. This is especially true for future tarantulas!

 

[poisoned]

As for my comment about sterilization of items brought in from your yard, it likely has nothing to do with his behavior, but it's very important you know that information. This is especially true for future tarantulas!

IME anything more than weathering or baking on low temps will cause mold.

 

[Stan Schultz]

Sterilizing furnishings and ornaments in this tarantula's cage (in fact, probably any tarantula's cage) is an exercise in futility and can be dangerous to both you and the tarantula.

This wild tarantula has come into contact with virtually every disease organism and parasite available in the surrounding habitat. Trying to protect him now is silly. It's doubly so because you're dealing with him and the cage's contents with arguably unclean hands; letting dust, seeds, spores, and eggs literally rain into the cage from the open air while you're working around it; then putting an arguably unclean tarantula into the cage; and lastly throwing in a bunch of outright dirty crickets for him to eat.

And, sterilization will have no effect whatsoever against pesticides.

Lastly, chemical sterilization always presents some risk of poisoning either to the enthusiast, or the tarantula, or both if done badly. And sterilizing using heat (usually baking in an oven) is dangerous with anything that's flammable (e.g., peat, coconut husk, wood). I can't remember of anyone reporting that they burnt their house down because of trying to sterilize something, but even once would be too often, no? Especially since it accomplished so little in the first place. (But then, come to think of it, the cage furnishings would be sterile, no?)

In this case, using backyard dirt and decorations probably isn't too bad an idea because:

1. The mature male tarantula will die in a few months anyway.

2. It's already come into contact, indeed lived with, virtually anything out there already.

3. The OP (Zer0seeker) has already said that no pesticides have been used in their yard for some time.


Zer0seeker: Are you serious about getting another tarantula? Joining the hobby?

If so, get back to us and we'll get you started on the right foot.


Enjoy your little, 8-legged super-stud!

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I found a Texas Brown in my backyard, roughly a month ago and all has seemed fine. Recently it started dragging its body along the sand in its cage. Other than that, it only seems to stay around the heat lamp all day. I keep the room at roughly 78-80 degrees. Any idea what might be going on? Im new to the whole tarantula keeper life, any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

hes a MM Mature Male , just let him free to breed with females.... =/ or you can find a female and try to breed him with her
Pepsi wasps kill Tarantulas so taking him to a burrow is best bet if u can find one

 

[captmarga]

Don't release him... I need him !!!! Yes he's a mature male, he has hooks.

Please PM me.

Marga

 

[Zeph]

Don't release him... I need him !!!! Yes he's a mature male, he has hooks.

Please PM me.

Marga

I almost told Zer0seeker to try trading with someone on the forums and get a spiderling out of the deal. Mature males won't live long, but they're valuable to breeders!

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

How can you be 100% SURE ITs the correct species??
Good luck with your breeding if you breed it