What to do?

Sarahntula

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 25, 2021
Messages
3
I have an a chalcodes, mature female who, when advertised before I bought her, was "4 years old". Upon her delivery to my location two years ago, I noticed that she was aggressive and would eat really well, so beautiful, etc ... In fact, I posted a video of her liveliness to a facebook tarantula group. Two members, who are pretty savvy with Ts, commented that she was much older than 4, that she was probably 8 - 12 years old.
About six months into her owning me, she stopped eating. I attributed that to where I had her in my home or stress or pre-molt behavior.
After moving her to various locations in my home which did not pan out for her, I finally moved her into my office where she was really happy. It was very quiet and dark. She started webbing on the floor of her tank, something she had never ever done before, and she really looked happy. This was right before Thanksgiving of last year.
Right after New Years, I noticed her gait started getting wobbly. I kept her water dish full and every now and then very lightly misted the tank. I did this because of this room being the warmest in the house.
Her gait got more wobbly and DKS was discussed. I offered her a dubia of adequate size, she took it, and danced, and I rejoiced with her. But, about two hours later, she had discarded it and, in fact put it in the corner of the enclosure and went back to being her wobbly self. And then, one day, I observed her in a tight death curl. She was right next to her water dish. I got sad because I got her for docility reasons, for looks, but also because of her gender. So, I picked her up, kissed her abdomen (ok, ok ... no need to comment about that) and told her that, as soon as the weather was good, I would bury her near my rosebush. I put her down next to her water dish, which she loved being near, anyway. So, I left her there for two or more weeks. One evening, I went in to feed the other spiders and lo and behold, I observed her legs moving. I quickly picked her up, filled her dish, thinking she needed to rehydrate, and put her mouth on its edge.
The next morning I came in and found that she had moved to the middle of the dish and was sitting there (the water dish is actually for an invertebrate like a gecko or snake and is small and she can access water really easy). I left her there, and later that day she made a complete 180 degree turn. I consulted with some experts who all thought she needed rehydration desperately, so I just left her in her dish. Her legs were still curled under her. However, when I fill up the dish, the legs stretch out, her chelicerae move back and forth, and I can see her fangs moving, too. Her carapace has now become a bright color, her legs are of a deeper color, and her abdomen is all fluff and round. I was speaking to another expert who cautioned me about nematodes and when I went to go look at her closely for the "froth at the mouth" type description, she lifted her abdomen and had a bowel movement in the water. She was pissed at me for lifting up her dish and moving the far end closer to me .... I don't like fooling with her because I don't want to stress her out at this very delicate, uncertain time. 155479985_134339708577153_3490636968081635052_n (1).jpg
The day before yesterday, I gave her a meal worm gumbo... which, I don't know if she ate it because it was filled with substrate the next morning, besides the fact she had moved off of the cap of gumbo and was tilted to the side. When I went to clean it, she wouldn't let it go.
She finally let it go. I placed her back in her filled up water dish, put the hide over her like she is normal and ... that's it.
But ... her curl. She's colorful, reacts to me when I approach the tank by giving me a half-assed threat pose and ... her legs are curled ... and ... here she is. Her name is PUB, which is an acronym for Princess Urticating Bitchface.
I don't know if PUB had eaten the gumbo. All I know is that she has been like this for a long while. Do I wait til the weather gets more stable to see if she snaps out of this or is she too old or do I ... put her in the freezer? I am really struggling here. May I have some kind words of advice ... please?


155479985_134339708577153_3490636968081635052_n (1).jpg
 

Matt Man

Arachnoprince
Joined
Jul 4, 2017
Messages
1,685
she could just be really old. Set up a second water dish so she has options, all the more so if she is pooping in her dish. Just keep hydrating and observing. By the size of her carapace and Chelicerae I am guessing she is older than anyone thinks. '
That's a mature gal. I wouldn't kill it, if it is gonna die, nature will take its course
 
Last edited:

Poonjab

Arachnoking
Active Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2019
Messages
2,755
his/her AF chalcodes has been having issues, near death, but recently has been taking in some water and showing some signs of recovery
That’s kinda what I figured based off photo. Abdomen looks shriveled. I agree with you. Water and let it live out life.
 

Smotzer

ArachnoGod
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
5,275
This sounds like very possible dehydration and sounds like it went on for quite a bit before intervention. You can always try and flip it over and administer directly to its mouth parts to have it make sure it has taken fluid.
 

Matt Man

Arachnoprince
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Jul 4, 2017
Messages
1,685
My AF Chalcodes sits in/on her waterfowl and she's quite plump. So the behavior has been seen more than once
 

Tarantuland

Arachnoprince
Joined
Mar 19, 2020
Messages
1,354
Not really sure what you're asking. Facebook groups are not helpful. More bad husbandry advice than good. Misting isn't gonna help. Flip her over and drip water on her fangs and see if that works. Try feeding once a week or so, really not much else you can do. An A chalcodes that size is probably wild caught if it's a female and not pricy. The things grow glacially slow. Best of luck.
 

Polenth

Arachnobaron
Joined
Sep 29, 2018
Messages
460
It's pretty amazing that she was left dehydrated and unable to move for three weeks and still survived. I guess this is a lesson for next time you see a tarantula in a death curl... get their mouth into water and don't assume they're dead.

I'm going to comment on the kissing to be sure you know the issue isn't people thinking it's weird, but that the hairs can cause issues if you get them in your eyes or breathe them in.
 

Poonjab

Arachnoking
Active Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2019
Messages
2,755
I'm going to comment on the kissing to be sure you know the issue isn't people thinking it's weird, but that the hairs can cause issues if you get them in your eyes or breathe them in.
Kisses T on bum. Turns around and tags op on the cheek. Bad day for Charlie Brown.
 

Sarahntula

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 25, 2021
Messages
3
It's pretty amazing that she was left dehydrated and unable to move for three weeks and still survived. I guess this is a lesson for next time you see a tarantula in a death curl... get their mouth into water and don't assume they're dead.

I'm going to comment on the kissing to be sure you know the issue isn't people thinking it's weird, but that the hairs can cause issues if you get them in your eyes or breathe them in.
I know ... as the majority of the animals I "service" are mammals, I got lost in the moment... and thank you so much for your very enlightening reply.
 

Sarahntula

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 25, 2021
Messages
3
I agree. Too Many Words.
there was a comment above which gave you the summary and not sure why you even commented because you are not interested, so scroll on .. but ... I write for a living and, evidently you don't read... so ....
 
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