Dying ??

[Myvalk]

Hi guys and gals, I am new here, I’ve owned my female Chilean Rose hair for about eight or nine years. About two weeks ago she worked her self into a corner and stayed there and hasn’t moved since. She is still alive because if I tap the glass she moves. What’s going on? Is she dying? Do they hibernate? She has never done this before.

 

[ilovebrachys]

Hello and welcome to the forum
Some pictures will help us to help you

 

[Myvalk]

Here she is, so still, but still alive.

 

[ilovebrachys]

Here she is, so still, but still alive.

I don't think she looks like she's dying to me.. It looks more like a stress curl - can you show some pics of her enclosure?
When did she last moult approximately?
Do you have hides and a water dish available for her to use?

 

[Myvalk]

She molted about two years maybe three years ago last. She has a cave that she can go in she has a water dish which is shallow that she can reach. One thing I did notice that she does that I do not see other tarantulas doing is that when she is fed her cricket she runs away from it.

 

[Myvalk]

Also something that my wife mentioned, there appeared some black beetles in her enclosure that I never fed her. I did give her some meal worms a year ago. Could they have grown into beetles ?

 

[ilovebrachys]

Also something that my wife mentioned, there appeared some black beetles in her enclosure that I never fed her. I did give her some meal worms a year ago. Could they have grown into beetles ?

Yes the mealworms turn into beetles and having them in her enclosure could be what is causing her to feel uncomfortable? She's definitely not hungry if she's trying to get away from the crickets...
She's probably due a moult too if it's been that long between moults,
Her enclosure could do with more substrate as there's not enough in there for her to burrow into if she wants to, so if possible change it all out for fresh sub and give her plenty that way you'll get rid of all the bugs in there too and she can burrow away if she wishes to, you can also overflow her water dish to make a damp area of sub around it jus incase she wants to be near moist sub its always good to give them that option -
Hope that helps

 

[Myvalk]

Thank you, that is all helpful information. I will do that today.

 

[Myvalk]

Ok, put her in a new enclosure, new coconut stuff, water and overflowing to moisten the substrate a bit near the bowl.
she hardly moved when I switched her but I did notice that her fangs were extended more than normal.

 

[ilovebrachys]

Ok, put her in a new enclosure, new coconut stuff, water and overflowing to moisten the substrate a bit near the bowl.
she hardly moved when I switched her but I did notice that her fangs were extended more than normal.

Has she moved at all since you placed her in the new enclosure? @Casey K. @Arachnoclown can either of you offer any help or advice?

 

[Casey K.]

I would start over with some fresh substrate. Coco fiber mixed with peat moss and maybe sand or some type of organic top soil. Make it slightly damp. Wash and clean her water dish thoroughly along with her hide. Bring the substrate up about 6 inches off the terrarium floor so she can burrow if she wants to. I am glad you come here to ask questions and I've seen worse setups for tarantulas but what is that dark black plastic/screw looking thing next to her in her terrarium? Is it possible she could've hurt herself on it? I would completely wash the terrarium out with dawn dish detergent and hot water. Rinse thoroughly. She needs a new setup. Clean fresh water. I wish I were there to help...I'd do it myself if I could..... hope this helps. She may need to go in an ICU while you clean everything out and give her fresh substrate. Place her in a clean bowl/container. Place paper towel down on the bottom and mist it very well. Get it nice and damp. Place her on the paper towel and then lid it off. Make sure there is ventilation for her. This is one of those times where you wanna jump through your phone and take over, yourself, lol....just follow my instruction and you will be okay. I hope she gets better. The substrate does need to come up off the floor a good 6" so if she climbs and falls there's not much distance between the substrate floor and top of the cage. This will prevent injuries.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Where is this spider kept...House or garage???

 

[Myvalk]

I got a new, smaller enclosure, put about 6” of coconut substrate in, tapering down to about 2”.
cleaned water dish good, that screw thingy was in the water dish because the crickets were drowning so that allowed them to climb out. She is kept in my laundry/boiler room. Temp 77° humidity 66%.
There is a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector in the room. she has not moved except for a leg shake when I moved her. I’m thinking maybe those beetles might have bit her ?

 

[Myvalk]

She hasn’t moved in 24 hours. Just a leg spaz if I lightly blow on her.

 

[Casey K.]

She hasn’t moved in 24 hours. Just a leg spaz if I lightly blow on her.

Did you put her in an icu???

 

[Myvalk]

Is that serious ? An ICU for a tarantula?

 

[ilovebrachys]

Is that serious ? An ICU for a tarantula?

Yes as mentioned in the post above all you need is a container of some sort (make sure it has a good lid) with ventilation holes added, line it with damp paper towel and put the T in there and lid it off... Make sure the paper towel is kept moist for her and monitor her closely - sometimes a few days kept like this can really help

 

[Myvalk]

Ok. I’m so sorry I missed that. I must have just quickly read thru. I’ll try that. Thank you.

 

[Myvalk]

OK done. How long do I keep her in there?

 

[ilovebrachys]

OK done. How long do I keep her in there?

At least a couple of days to see if there's any change.. It will give her a chance to rehydrate