What is this in the back of my Tarantula

[Abi3183]

Hello all

New member here but I’ve had my T about 4 years. Still feel like I’m learning every day.

A couple of days ago I added an extra heater to the tank, on top of the cage, as I couldn’t keep the temperature about 12C and I was worried it was too cold for her. Since then she has sat more at the back of the tank, under where the heater was sat so I assumed she was cold and that’s why she barely moved from there

This afternoon I noticed “fluff” on her. She always has a bit of a bald spot there. I never get her out, or mess around with her tank so it’s not because she’s flicked hairs. She had it when I took her on. But now there’s this fluff. At first I was worried it was mites so I got a soft brush to gently wipe them off so I could see what it was. It wasn’t moving like mites would, and it does just look like short little hairs.

Could anybody help with what it is? Should I be worried? Is there anything I should do to help?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TheraMygale]

So, the fluff did not come off?

its probably just shedding/balding. Thats where some UrS is. As they age, tarantulas can show this.

it also looks like dirt. To be honnest, most of my tarantulas show something similar, at the same place. But

i guess the anatomy of the UrS patch is like velcro.

mold/fungal is different. And doesnt look quite like that. Especialy since you say its always sort of had this. It would have progressed much quicker if it was something fungal.

if the heater is on top, it could be drying/dessicating, plus, adding dust.

try adding the heater to the back of the tank if you can. That way, your tarantula can still get heat but it won’t be as dry.

 

[Abi3183]

Yes it did just brush off.
So it was nothing to worry about? Should I remove the heater?
Sorry for all of the questions

 

[Brewser]

Looks like Urt Hair

 

[Abi3183]

This is the placement of the heater. She’s now hiding behind the snake plant. Which I’ve had in there about a year and is meant to be safe for Ts. Every other plant is just plastic and has been in for a couple of years

 

[TheraMygale]

There are no needs to apologize. You came to the right place. We ask questions too to understand the situation.

im not sure i know what type of heater that is.

personaly, i dont think the fluff is anything to worry about.

i would put the heater behind the enclosure, on one side. If only one hide, i would put heater opposite of that.

if room is 12celcius, all winter, it will need some extra heat. But nothing intense.

youve had it for four years though, so you must have been doing something right.

 

[Abi3183]

It’s a ceramic bulb. She has a heat mat on the back and side but as I have no heating in my house I wanted to make sure she got plenty of heat. It’s a 45cm tall tank and the bulb is perhaps 5-10cm above the mesh top so it’s a fair distance from the base where she spends 90% of her time. I didn’t want her to get too hot. It is on a thermostat too, once it hits 20C it shuts off.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I agree, that looks like shed Urs. Nothing to worry about.

You may find this useful

The proper use of heat mats

Mods could you please make this a sticky as there's so much misinformation about heat mats? So heat mats are perfectly safe to use IF they're used properly. They're like a mini space heater when used properly. 1) Heat mats MUST be plugged into a thermostat. That's a thermostat NOT a...

arachnoboards.com

 

[Mustafa67]

Hello all

New member here but I’ve had my T about 4 years. Still feel like I’m learning every day.

A couple of days ago I added an extra heater to the tank, on top of the cage, as I couldn’t keep the temperature about 12C and I was worried it was too cold for her. Since then she has sat more at the back of the tank, under where the heater was sat so I assumed she was cold and that’s why she barely moved from there

This afternoon I noticed “fluff” on her. She always has a bit of a bald spot there. I never get her out, or mess around with her tank so it’s not because she’s flicked hairs. She had it when I took her on. But now there’s this fluff. At first I was worried it was mites so I got a soft brush to gently wipe them off so I could see what it was. It wasn’t moving like mites would, and it does just look like short little hairs.

Could anybody help with what it is? Should I be worried? Is there anything I should do to help?

Thanks in advance.

It flicked hairs. Normal

 

[Abi3183]

Thank you very much everyone!

 

[Gevo]

This "fluff" made of hairs is very common and isn't anything to worry about. They don't dislodge their hairs only when they are stressed or frightened. Sometimes they spread hairs around their home, or they can come loose just from scratching their rear. I have a B. hamorii that grooms herself quite frequently, and she sometimes rubs her back legs slowly over the top of her abdomen, like she's casually scratching her butt, and she's very relaxed when she does it.

 

[Wolfram1]

Are you talking about the mirror-patch? the distinct area with golden urticating setae?

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Looks like urticating setae.

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

 

[NMTs]

A 40cm tall enclosure is not suitable for a terrestrial species like yours - it is tall enough that your T may rupture it's abdomen should it climb to the top and fall. You may say that it has never climbed before, but putting a heat source on top will encourage it to climb towards the heat. Additionally, the mesh top may snag the tarsal claws of your T, trapping it on the lid.

If you can't change the enclosure, I would suggest:
- add more substrate until the distance from sub to lid is no more than 1.5 times the leg span of your T.
- get rid of the ceramic heat emitter and replace it with a heat mat stuck to the side/back of the enclosure.
- replace the mesh top with acrylic that has holes drilled in it for ventilation. This will also allow your enclosure to retain heat better and you won't struggle so much to keep temps up.

As for the fluff on your T, when is the last time it molted? I would guess that is going to molt soon and is spreading urticating setae in preparation for that. This species (Grammostola rosea, yes?) doesn't molt frequently when adult, so if it's been a while that is likely the case.

 

[cold blood]

Put it in a smaller enclosure, then put that smaller enclosure inside this one and heat this one with a heat mat on the side....this will create a safe micro-climate.

Your t isnt sitting under the lamp because its cold, its doing so because ts are drawn to heat....like a moth to a flame.....this is what makes such direct heat sources such a potential danger.