Weird fast

[Edan bandoot]

My phormingochilus sp rufus molted on the second of last month and has refused food ever since.

It's looking incredibly skinny and I've seen it drinking an abnormal amount.

When I attempt to feed it, it moves the cricket out of it's "burrow" and webs it up like an orb weaver would and doesn't touch it.

I also saw the molt of the sucking stomach on its previous molt and it was the clearest I had ever seen.

What do you guys think is up based off of this information. (Spider is 2.5 " dls)

Normally fasts don't worry me, but normally they're not post molt either.

 

[Poonjab]

Has it been overly warmer than usual at your place?

 

[Edan bandoot]

Has it been overly warmer than usual at your place?

Yes I'd say it's been warmer

It's down at the water dish again, but it doesn't actually have it's face in the water

 

[Smotzer]

Is the substrate dryer?

 

[Edan bandoot]

Is the substrate dryer?

Nope, always kept moist, my room has raised from 20-21C to 24-25C from our recent heatwave though, said heatwave has been going on for a while.

My current idea is to try to get my ambient temperature to 22-23

 

[Smotzer]

Nope, always kept moist, my room has raised from 20-21C to 24-25C from our recent heatwave though, said heatwave has been going on for a while.

My current idea is to try to get my ambient temperature to 22-23

Hmmm well if it’s not that, maybe something else internally happened when it molted? Is it otherwise acting end going about it’s business normally? And maybe lower temps might help

 

[Edan bandoot]

Hmmm well if it’s not that, maybe something else internally happened when it molted? Is it otherwise acting end going about it’s business normally? And maybe lower temps might help

its webbing a lot and it seems kinda disoriented for lack of a better word.

Instead of bolting to go back to its hole like it used to it sort of slowly wanders about.

I don't see any emboli and im pretty sure the mature males have a different colour as well so im stumped.

 

[Stardust1986]

Nope, always kept moist, my room has raised from 20-21C to 24-25C from our recent heatwave though, said heatwave has been going on for a while.

My current idea is to try to get my ambient temperature to 22-23

I hear tarantulas hover over their water dish when theres not enough humidity in the enclosure, maybe too much humidity is escaping. I have also heard of tarantulas going on hunger strikes for no apparent reason, and some are picky eaters, and preferences and personalities can vary from molt to molt, have you offered it a variety of feeders?

 

[Edan bandoot]

I hear tarantulas hover over their water dish when theres not enough humidity in the enclosure, maybe too much humidity is escaping. I have also heard of tarantulas going on hunger strikes for no apparent reason, and some are picky eaters, and preferences and personalities can vary from molt to molt, have you offered it a variety of feeders?

It's most definitely humid enough, there is very little top ventilation so I doubt much is escaping, and the substrate is moist.

Here in Canada we only have worms (meal,super,wax) and crickets since most feeder roaches are illegal. If it doesn't eat by Sunday I'll be trying the mealworms.

 

[Smotzer]

its webbing a lot and it seems kinda disoriented for lack of a better word.

Instead of bolting to go back to its hole like it used to it sort of slowly wanders about.

I don't see any emboli and im pretty sure the mature males have a different colour as well so im stumped.

That only makes this sounds a little bit stranger… I don’t own this species so I can’t touch on if they are dichromatic at maturity or not. Have you seen it actually drink or only rest above the dish like in the photo?

 

[Edan bandoot]

That only makes this sounds a little bit stranger… I don’t own this species so I can’t touch on if they are dichromatic at maturity or not. Have you seen it actually drink or only rest above the dish like in the photo?

I've seen it shove it's head in the water, but I can't tell you for certain it's drinking (obviously).

If you look at the phormingochilus genus gallery, Tom Patterson posted a picture of an adult female and male.

 

[Stardust1986]

That only makes this sounds a little bit stranger… I don’t own this species so I can’t touch on if they are dichromatic at maturity or not. Have you seen it actually drink or only rest above the dish like in the photo?

I have never owned this species, and I haven't had first hand experience with this. But I have learned a lot from others who have, there are species specific requirments, but many rules are universally true, I feel confident to say hovering over the water dish means their seeking humid air

It's most definitely humid enough, there is very little top ventilation so I doubt much is escaping, and the substrate is moist.

Here in Canada we only have worms (meal,super,wax) and crickets since most feeder roaches are illegal. If it doesn't eat by Sunday I'll be trying the mealworms.

I read that roaches are nutritious and tend to be a favorite in their natural habitat, maybe 'gut load' will make crickets more appealing, I buy it in the pet store, it adds nutrients

 

[Smotzer]

I've seen it shove it's head in the water, but I can't tell you for certain it's drinking (obviously).

If you look at the phormingochilus genus gallery, Tom Patterson posted a picture of an adult female and male.

Hmmm yeah well obviously , but based on all you have said that is optimistic, and moisture levels, it doesn’t exactly look like dehydration issue.

and okay I’ll look at those!

 

[Edan bandoot]

Hmmm yeah well obviously , but based on all you have said that is optimistic, and moisture levels, it doesn’t exactly look like dehydration issue.

and okay I’ll look at those!

i guess i should also add that the abdomen isn't shriveled it's just extremely skinny. (which imo further negates sucking stomach/dehydration issues)

 

[Stardust1986]

Hmmm yeah well obviously , but based on all you have said that is optimistic, and moisture levels, it doesn’t exactly look like dehydration issue.

and okay I’ll look at those!

Maybe your tarantula is just going on a hunger strike, they can go months without eating for no reason, my aphonopelma semani does this sometimes, it worried me a lot, but one day he just started eating again.

 

[Smotzer]

i guess i should also add that the abdomen isn't shriveled it's just extremely skinny. (which imo further negates sucking stomach/dehydration issues)

Perhaps it’s an issue with the larger digestive system in the midgut like an issues with the caecal storage of water and nutrients or through peritrophic membrane. Maybe it’s drinking but not using or storing them. Just a wild guess here

 

[Edan bandoot]

Perhaps it’s an issue with the larger digestive system in the midgut like an issues with the caecal storage of water and nutrients or through peritrophic membrane. Maybe it’s drinking but not using or storing them. Just a wild guess here

If that's the case do I have any course of action?

 

[Stardust1986]

If that's the case do I have any course of action?

Just keep offering it food, if its hungry, it will eventually eat. If it's a digestion problem, it's out of your hands

 

[Tarantuland]

You could try crushing up a prey item and mixing it up with some water making a little cricket gazpacho. Best of luck

 

[cold blood]

Something bad happened in the molt too prevent food-water intake...at least thats what it seems like to me. Ts dont drink often....drinking often is a sign the previous drink offered little or nothing....freshly molted ts are always hungry, if they kill, they eat...yours is killing and not eating....it has the drive, but isnt doing anything with it. This species are good eaters.

Best hope is a quick molt if its as it seems.