Why is my Tarantula scratching its face?

Ogut

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
48
Hello,
I recently got myself a Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens female, and I habe to say, she is wonderful. I love how active she is and how well she eats.
Now to my question. When I woke up this morning I saw her seemingly scratching herself and she's been on it for hours since. I read that the curling of her front legs is a sign of dehydration, but she just ate a roach yesterday.
I am a little worried not gonna lie, so I would appreciate if anyone could tell me what's going on.
 

Attachments

Goopyguy56

Arachnoangel
Joined
Nov 16, 2017
Messages
828
It's probably just grooming. Sometimes I panic when it looks like they are curling there legs. Sometimes I tapp on the side of the enclosure and they stop
 

Ogut

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
48
Oh, I didn't know they had this type of behaviour. Well that makes me glad, she also stopped recently and started wandering the enclosure again. Thanks for your answers.
 

Colorado Ts

Arachnoangel
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
829
I am unable to see the video with either the iPad or my phone...can anyone describe what is happening?
 

Ungoliant

Malleus Aranearum
Staff member
Joined
Mar 7, 2012
Messages
4,100
Now to my question. When I woke up this morning I saw her seemingly scratching herself and she's been on it for hours since. I read that the curling of her front legs is a sign of dehydration, but she just ate a roach yesterday.
I am a little worried not gonna lie, so I would appreciate if anyone could tell me what's going on.
I see the video when I click the attachment link. That is grooming, which is normal (and adorable).

Sometimes all of the legs on one side are involved:

Or they may stick their feet in their mouth to clean them:
 

Vanessa

Grammostola Groupie
Joined
Mar 12, 2016
Messages
2,422
Hello,
I recently got myself a Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens female, and I habe to say, she is wonderful. I love how active she is and how well she eats.
Now to my question. When I woke up this morning I saw her seemingly scratching herself and she's been on it for hours since. I read that the curling of her front legs is a sign of dehydration, but she just ate a roach yesterday.
I am a little worried not gonna lie, so I would appreciate if anyone could tell me what's going on.
It looks like normal grooming to me. That enclosure that you have her in is not appropriate. It is too high and with too little substrate in it - making it a risk of her being injured in a fall.
 

Ogut

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
48
It looks like normal grooming to me. That enclosure that you have her in is not appropriate. It is too high and with too little substrate in it - making it a risk of her being injured in a fall.
Ok, I'll fill it up with a bit more substrate.
I initially set the enclosure up like that because I read that C. Cyaneopubescens are semi-arborial, and it seemed like she liked to climb the cork bark and hasn't borrowed yet nor used the burrow I provided her.
 

Vanessa

Grammostola Groupie
Joined
Mar 12, 2016
Messages
2,422
The semi-arboreal thing has been addressed very recently in this thread...

 

Ogut

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 5, 2020
Messages
48
The semi-arboreal thing has been addressed very recently in this thread...

Thanks for redirecting me to this thread. I'll do what has to be done I guess. More substrate it is then.
 

viper69

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
19,048
Probably pulling its setae out, they do this when there's a viral pandemic.
 
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