When should I start feeding my Chilean rose?

[kylecchh]

Hello everyone, (First Post!)
I have just started a tarantula hobby yesterday, with a small rose hair tarantula. The pet store I received it from assured it was a female, and charged $5 more for a female then a male. Now I am curious when I should start feeding her, I attempted to give her a cricket just a few minutes ago, (a small pinhead) and she runs away from it and heads to the corner of the tank like it’s another larger arachnid. Then I used a pair of tongs to grab the cricket and put it directly in front of her, and she doesn’t even want to go into a defensive position, she just backs away, even when I let the cricket come out of the tongs in front of her. She didn’t start webbing yet and seems fine, I’m just wondering why she isn’t eating. She constantly cleans her legs with her fangs, and occasionally stomps her legs on the ground like she wants to be fed, I’m not positive on that though. Here is a couple of pictures (Sorry for the crappy ones, I dropped my 12mp camera in a pool):

So anyhow, why isn't she eating? Should I wait a bit more till she gets used to her surroundings?

Thanks,
Kyle

 

[reverendsterlin]

welcome to the club. I've known of rosies that have pulled year plus hunger strikes with no ill effects, offer her a cricket (if the spiders 2 inches or over adult crix are fine) once a week leave it over night and if not eaten remove it. as long as her booty seems full there is little to be concerned with. also (since we don't know size) pay attention to the booty skin surface (not the hairs) and if that is dark/blackish she may be heading for a molt. Crix and molting T's are a bad combo. good luck and relax, she'll eat when she's hungry, could be as simple as a little stress from the new move.
p.s. most regular petstores have no clue what they are talking about when sexing T's or any other care knowledge, use the search for rosie or grammastola to get a lot of already posted info and your in the right place if you have questions. lol first T, prepare to get bit (that isn't literal) you'll see.
Rev

 

[kupo969]

As stated above, they go on very long hunger strikes. Since you just got her(?) it will be stressed out and will have to adapt to its new enclosure. Give her(?) some times. Also, can you check its front two legs to check if there are hooks (Not the pedipalps which are located infront of its fangs)?

Pinheads are definately too small for this adult spider. Give her some adult crix in about a week.

 

[kylecchh]

welcome to the club. I've known of rosies that have pulled year plus hunger strikes with no ill effects, offer her a cricket (if the spiders 2 inches or over adult crix are fine) once a week leave it over night and if not eaten remove it. as long as her booty seems full there is little to be concerned with. also (since we don't know size) pay attention to the booty skin surface (not the hairs) and if that is dark/blackish she may be heading for a molt. Crix and molting T's are a bad combo. good luck and relax, she'll eat when she's hungry, could be as simple as a little stress from the new move.
p.s. most regular petstores have no clue what they are talking about when sexing T's or any other care knowledge, use the search for rosie or grammastola to get a lot of already posted info and your in the right place if you have questions. lol first T, prepare to get bit (that isn't literal) you'll see.
Rev

Thanks, her abdomen isn't a blackish color yet, but I guess I will have to get larger sized crickets for her - as she measures 2 3/4 inches (what age would that be?) I will start feeding her in a couple days then, thanks again!

As stated above, they go on very long hunger strikes. Since you just got her(?) it will be stressed out and will have to adapt to its new enclosure. Give her(?) some times. Also, can you check its front two legs to check if there are hooks (Not the pedipalps which are located infront of its fangs)?

Pinheads are definately too small for this adult spider. Give her some adult crix in about a week.

Thanks for the reply - I will start feeding her adult crickets in a bit then, so she gets used to her environment. Just picked her up, and only her 3rd segment of legs have little tiny claws (not in a hook shape - they are straight and not that rough, the rest are completely smooth. She also started webbing my hand with a few strands when I picked her up (never did that before). After that, I set her down and took a small pencil (eraser end) and wiggled it a few inches in front of her - she ran to it and then went into a defensive position, at least now I know that she will attack something, lol - as mentioned in my first post she just moved away from crickets before.

 

[xhexdx]

Most if not all of your questions can be answered by reading this sticky:

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=5292

 

[Moltar]

First, I recommend you read this sticky thread specifically on the care of G rosea. You'll find the answers to about 20 questions you haven't even asked yet.

As for the eating, it may be a while before your tarantula eats. They don't settle into new environments that quickly. I'll also go ahead and suggest that you redo your tank. The distance between the floor and the ceiling shouldn't exceed 1-1/2x the legspan of the tarantula. They can be injured or even killed from a rather short fall. Fill the tank about half way up with a proper substrate like peat or coco fiber (bed-a-beast is one popular brand) or even potting soil as long as it's free of fertilizers and pesticides (sand is a no-no, btw). Doing this will mean you have to take out some of those sticks and such, don't worry about that. Your t won't need or want to climb on things like that once it's settled in and happy. Also make sure it has a shallow water dish at all times, other than that keep things completely dry. Don't worry about humidity at all and don't worry about temp unless it gets below 60 or above 90.

That just about covers it. Enjoy your new pet and welcome to the addiction, i mean hobby.

 

[kylecchh]

Most if not all of your questions can be answered by reading this sticky:

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=5292

Thanks, I read that post as well as other care sheets online when I was first researching about the G. Rosea, LONG before I joined this forum, that also convinced me to join this board because of the well experienced people - That post made me think twice about using garden soil, and went to go buy three mixtures of all organic soil specifically for burrowing, but that guide never mentioned anything about what size crickets you should feed a rose hair for how big she/he is, or when you should start feeding her/him when you receive one.

First, I recommend you read this sticky thread specifically on the care of G rosea. You'll find the answers to about 20 questions you haven't even asked yet.

As for the eating, it may be a while before your tarantula eats. They don't settle into new environments that quickly. I'll also go ahead and suggest that you redo your tank. The distance between the floor and the ceiling shouldn't exceed 1-1/2x the legspan of the tarantula. They can be injured or even killed from a rather short fall. Fill the tank about half way up with a proper substrate like peat or coco fiber (bed-a-beast is one popular brand) or even potting soil as long as it's free of fertilizers and pesticides (sand is a no-no, btw). Doing this will mean you have to take out some of those sticks and such, don't worry about that. Your t won't need or want to climb on things like that once it's settled in and happy. Also make sure it has a shallow water dish at all times, other than that keep things completely dry. Don't worry about humidity at all and don't worry about temp unless it gets below 60 or above 90.

That just about covers it. Enjoy your new pet and welcome to the addiction, i mean hobby.

Thanks, I have followed all of those protocols - especially the soil, I don't want her to be infected with anything, so I bought three types of all organic soils made for burrowing. As well as only buying food supplies for her from trusted pet stores. The only thing I need to worry about is the case, as you said, which I will look into putting more soil in so that a ruptured abdomen does not occur. For now she has not even tried to climb the case yet, but she always loves to go on the branches I have in there. I keep the temperature at around 72 to 85F, and the humidity level at 60-70%. But I will raise it with a few sprays of mist if I find any symptoms of a molt coming up. (I do not want her to get stuck in a piece of her old exoskeleton.

 

[xhexdx]

Thanks, I read that post as well as other care sheets online when I was first researching about the G. Rosea, LONG before I joined this forum, that also convinced me to join this board because of the well experienced people - That post made me think twice about using garden soil, and went to go buy three mixtures of all organic soil specifically for burrowing, but that guide never mentioned anything about what size crickets you should feed a rose hair for how big she/he is, or when you should start feeding her/him when you receive one.

Quoted directly from that thread:

"The result is that this species more than almost any other gets really
confused about what season of the year it is. Because we've removed all
their clues they don't know when to start eating again once they get too
fat and stop. Neither do they know when it should be time to molt. They
may go 2 years or more without eating or molting, before they finally pick
up the few very subtle clues available to synchronize with the local
seasons."


The idea is you offer them food, if they dont eat, take it out and try again next week.

The idea of overfeeding a tarantula has been discussed over and over on these threads and I'm sure on many other web sites. Make sure their abdomen stays round and doesn't shrivel and you're golden. Keep water available at all times, but rosies especially don't like moist substrate.

Hope this helps.

--Joe

 

[kupo969]

2 3/4? Oh nevermind then. You will not see any hooks at that size. It looks bigger in the pics, didn't have any size comparison.

 

[Moltar]

FYI: A tarantula that size can eat an adult cricket no prob. Don't bother with pinheads.

 

[kylecchh]

Quoted directly from that thread:

"The result is that this species more than almost any other gets really
confused about what season of the year it is. Because we've removed all
their clues they don't know when to start eating again once they get too
fat and stop. Neither do they know when it should be time to molt. They
may go 2 years or more without eating or molting, before they finally pick
up the few very subtle clues available to synchronize with the local
seasons."


The idea is you offer them food, if they dont eat, take it out and try again next week.

The idea of overfeeding a tarantula has been discussed over and over on these threads and I'm sure on many other web sites. Make sure their abdomen stays round and doesn't shrivel and you're golden. Keep water available at all times, but rosies especially don't like moist substrate.

Hope this helps.

--Joe

Thanks, I'll monitor he abdomen size, and make sure I don't over feed her.

2 3/4? Oh nevermind then. You will not see any hooks at that size. It looks bigger in the pics, didn't have any size comparison.

Yep, only 2 3/4 inches, hope she gets a little bigger on her next molt, but I wonder what that claw-looking thing is then on her third segment that feels rough.

FYI: A tarantula that size can eat an adult cricket no prob. Don't bother with pinheads.

Thanks, I'll be getting some in a few days - do you think she can eat the ones I have if she gets hungry, or will I need adult crickets ASAP?

 

[Moltar]

I have a G rosea that hasn't eaten in 9 months without any noticeable shrinkage to her abdomen. There is no ASAP when it comes to feeding rosies, lol. She'll be fine.

 

[kylecchh]

I have a G rosea that hasn't eaten in 9 months without any noticeable shrinkage to her abdomen. There is no ASAP when it comes to feeding rosies, lol. She'll be fine.

Alright, thanks.

 

[Kid Dragon]

Kyle,

Welcome to the world's best hobby. If you go away on vacation for a month and leave your Grammostola rosea a full water dish she'll be fine when you get home. This species is bullet proof, docile, and an overall excellent choice for a first tarantula. If you don't expose it to heat or sunlight, or drive a wooden stake through its heart it will probably only live for around 15 years... probably more.

You have to get into the mindset that it doesn't need daily care. Keep the water bowl full, offer it a cricket, and if it doesn't eat it in 24 hours, take the cricket out and try again next week. I have had my rosie for decades, (I think I got her when Reagan was President), and she often goes period of 6 months or more where she will not eat. Then one day she becomes an eating machine. This is not the kind of pet to worry about, relax and enjoy.

 

[Londoner]

Yep, only 2 3/4 inches, hope she gets a little bigger on her next molt, but I wonder what that claw-looking thing is then on her third segment that feels rough.

That's odd. There are no hooks visible in pic 3 so I've no idea what you've found there . Any chance you could get pic of the area?

 

[reverendsterlin]

relax, she can eat them if she can find them. nice thing about T's is asap is seldom an issue. You might look into seeing if she'll go for roaches (I prefer dubias and they breed fairly slowly so your not overwhelmed) as little as she'll eat probably 10 adult females that are probably gravid should supply you with feeders for life, roaches have a much better meat to shell ratio, don't stink like crix, don't make noise like crix, and don't generally die like crix, and are vegetarian, you'll find plenty of posts to give you more detailed info. the comment on removing the branches from the container is accurate, young ones like yours (2.5 inches maybe around 2 years old they grow pretty slowly but when she does molt you'll be surprised at the size increase and she can live another 30+ years) may climb a bit but it does increase the risk of a fall. Over feeding rosies is seldom an issue, feed her all she wants, there will be hunger strikes enough in you future together. Once you get another species (and you most likely will lol) you'll be able to tell for yourself how goofy rosies are when it comes to eating.
Rev

 

[kylecchh]

Thanks for all of your responses, great hobby! I'm so used to feeding my cats every day, and my past insect (a African giant millipede that passed away after 2 1/2 years) that it is amazing how long tarantulas can go without food.

That's odd. There are no hooks visible in pic 3 so I've no idea what you've found there . Any chance you could get pic of the area?

I'll try to snap one a bit later, right now shes hiding under her wooden cove, and I don't want to disturb her.

 

[Londoner]

Thanks for all of your responses, great hobby! I'm so used to feeding my cats every day, and my past insect (a African giant millipede that passed away after 2 1/2 years) that it is amazing how long tarantulas can go without food.

I'll try to snap one a bit later, right now shes hiding under her wooden cove, and I don't want to disturb her.

No worries mate. If you have cats, be sure you're enclosure is situated somewhere they can't get at it. I came home from work once and found one of my red-knee's enclosures being batted around the living room floor by my daughter's cat!
My cage was a plastic Kritter keeper which is a lot lighter than your glass tank, but that screen lid looks like the perfect place for an inquisitive feline to perch lol. Cat's seem to be more interested in prey items scurrying around the tank than with the Ts themselves, but it's still a danger for your T. (Luckily, apart from a month long super-sulk, my B. smithi suffered no lasting effects)

 

[hardlucktattoo]

That's odd. There are no hooks visible in pic 3 so I've no idea what you've found there . Any chance you could get pic of the area?

I think the Op is refering to tarsal claws not hooks anyway. If you have cats be very careful about your flea and tick prevention remember it is a pesticide pesticides and arachnids are a no-no thats like putting lemon juice in a glass of milk only worse

 

[kylecchh]

No worries mate. If you have cats, be sure you're enclosure is situated somewhere they can't get at it. I came home from work once and found one of my red-knee's enclosures being batted around the living room floor by my daughter's cat!
My cage was a plastic Kritter keeper which is a lot lighter than your glass tank, but that screen lid looks like the perfect place for an inquisitive feline to perch lol. Cat's seem to be more interested in prey items scurrying around the tank than with the Ts themselves, but it's still a danger for your T. (Luckily, apart from a month long super-sulk, my B. smithi suffered no lasting effects)

Ouch, poor little tarantula! I'll be sure to keep my cats away from my cage now.

I think the Op is refering to tarsal claws not hooks anyway. If you have cats be very careful about your flea and tick prevention remember it is a pesticide pesticides and arachnids are a no-no thats like putting lemon juice in a glass of milk only worse

Well, she has some type of claw on her 3rd segment, I can barley feel small claws on the rest of her legs, but her 3rd really shows out. I saw the post about Dyskenetic Syndrome that may be from frontline, but I don't even use any type of pesticides on my cats - as they are mainly indoor cats, have all of the shots and are fixed, I do believe they don't need any pesticides.