What does it look like when a tarantula is dying of old age?

[BrittanyS]

So, I haven't yet had a tarantula long enough to die from old age, so I don't know exactly what to expect. Situation is this: I bought a tarantula December 4, 2019 from the local pet store (who I no longer shop with due them buying from the big reptile company who likes to ship tarantulas in shallow deli cups with substrate only, and their tarantulas are typically wild caught). This tarantula was sold as a "Thai Tiger", and the pet store guy told me that it was AKA the "Cyriopagopus Paganus" from what his supplier had him/her listed as. After doing research, I figured out that this was more than likely the Cyriopagopus Vonwirthi. Last night, I was doing my checking on every spider in my spider room and I was thrilled when I saw this one out of her/his burrow! I had only seen her twice out of her burrow since I housed her right after I bought her. She's housed in a 20 gallon tank with 8 inches of substrate and has her tunnel system, of course kept moist. Temp in the spider room is kept at 78-80 during the day and 70-72 at night. Anyway, last night when I saw she was out, I just watched her for a few. I got my husband so he could witness the miracle, too lol. After a couple of minutes, she started trying to walk. She was not very coordinated and her back legs seemed to falter as she walked. She walked about six inches and her back two pairs of legs just gave out. Her back two pairs of legs were in the death curl. We kept watching her and she would try to move, but something was definitely wrong. In the other instances we have seen her out, when the light is turned on, she would immediately go back to her burrow. She's been eating well and nothing seemed out of the ordinary until last night. Abdomen size is normal and I tried looking for signs of impaction, but she looked fine. We flipped her onto her back and I dripped water onto her mouth parts, then we flipped her back over. She barely moved through that, she moved but didn't fight it. So, tried to rule out any dehydration, impaction, etc, I do know she was wild caught, so I am wondering if this is just old age. I am attaching a picture of her that was taken when she tried to walk after her legs had given out before we flipped her over to give her water. This was the most normal she had looked all evening.

 

[omni]

Each genus and species is different, tho old T's will eat much less and are not active, move stiffly. WC adults can have internal parasites and probably have lived rough lives for the most part.

Long term T's we keep age more gently and live years and years. My 1st T, an E. campestratus was a WC back in 98 and I kept her for 15 years. she was already 3" when I got her so guess about 6-8yrs old then, and 21-23 when she passed. Very specific to this sp. they are a pet rock anyway and might not move for weeks. I remember putting a glass pebble outside the tank where she was to see if she had moved lol. Last 4 years she would only eat 5 or 6 crickets once a month. when she passed she did not do a death curl. she died sitting, just a little more tucked in. I remember she never chased a cricket again after the 1st 6 yrs(age 14?). she'd wait until they walked in front of her face lol.
Old T's may not walk smoothly bcs the fluids to pump pressure to limbs don't flow well, kind of like artheriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries. They also get scruffy looking and faded colors in most sp. I have not kept Cyriopagopus, so maybe some owners can relate their experiences.

I'm very sorry your T probably is not well. It doesn't take years to become attached to a pet tarantula.

 

[BrittanyS]

Each genus and species is different, tho old T's will eat much less and are not active, move stiffly. WC adults can have internal parasites and probably have lived rough lives for the most part.

Long term T's we keep age more gently and live years and years. My 1st T, an E. campestratus was a WC back in 98 and I kept her for 15 years. she was already 3" when I got her so guess about 6-8yrs old then, and 21-23 when she passed. Very specific to this sp. they are a pet rock anyway and might not move for weeks. I remember putting a glass pebble outside the tank where she was to see if she had moved lol. Last 4 years she would only eat 5 or 6 crickets once a month. when she passed she did not do a death curl. she died sitting, just a little more tucked in. I remember she never chased a cricket again after the 1st 6 yrs(age 14?). she'd wait until they walked in front of her face lol.
Old T's may not walk smoothly bcs the fluids to pump pressure to limbs don't flow well, kind of like artheriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries. They also get scruffy looking and faded colors in most sp. I have not kept Cyriopagopus, so maybe some owners can relate their experiences.

I'm very sorry your T probably is not well. It doesn't take years to become attached to a pet tarantula.

She (I didn't even know it was a she until I flipped her over a second time, looking ventrally it was very apparent) was very reclusive so I have no idea how active she was. I'd heard of WCs having the possibility of having parasites, but I also read in another forum that even in wild caught, it was rare. I guess that was still a possibility though, I guess I kinda pushed it out of my mind. She did pass away a few hours ago. I'm going to investigate the burrow later to see if there are any clues. I spend most of my time in my T room, so it seems like I had her longer than 3.5 months lol.

Thank you for sharing your experience, and I am sorry for the loss of yours as well. It sounds like you enjoyed your years with her

 

[viper69]

Omni's words are consistent with what I've read over time. They slow down, just like people.