-EMERGENCY- I thought my g. pulchra was dead, did I disturb her at the beginning of a molt?

[poodude289]

I walked into my room to check on things with my red light, and I saw her in what looked like a death curl, and upright. I didn't touch her, I was talking aloud and upset and then I saw her suddenly correct herself into a perfectly normal position. Should I be worried or should I be expecting a molted spider tomorrow? Should I go and try to give her water? I typically thought they only went into what looked like a death curl when molting on their backs, but do they flip themselves over at the same time? Please help, thank-you.

 

[poodude289]

I know I definitely didn't disturb her mid molt if that's what this was, if anything it was at the very, very beginning.

 

[poodude289]

It was just really concerning seeing her in what looked like a death curl upright, but then I saw her correct herself once I was loud.

 

[poodude289]

She has 100% been in pre-molt, so I am seriously hoping that's what this is and she isn't dying.

 

[poodude289]

Is this extremely detrimental that she was disturbed even though it was right at the beginning? If she was on her back I wouldn't have been worried.

 

[poodude289]

Also not all of the legs were tucked a bit it was only some

 

[poodude289]

I'm extremely concerned because she was upright!! I hope she was going to flip eventually? If she was dying surely she wouldn't have returned to a normal pose after I made noise?

 

[poodude289]

I've never seen her drink out of the water dish, her abdomen is still plump, and the only thing I've done recently is add a different substrate on the top. I gave the same stuff to my b. hamorii so it can't be that. She hasn't eaten in a very long time, and I know that's normal for pre-molt, and I am worried because I never saw her drink.

 

[m0lsx]

First. If the water bowl is empty, then yes fill it up. Second if you did disturb her during the molting process, then do not beat yourself up. This will happen in the wild & having accidentally done it to two of my T's. She will be fine.

 

[poodude289]

First. If the water bowl is empty, then yes fill it up. Second if you did disturb her during the molting process, then do not beat yourself up. This will happen in the wild & having accidentally done it to two of my T's. She will be fine.

That's my concern, I don't know if she was at the start of a molt or dying. I never let the water dish empty.

 

[poodude289]

I mean, my hope is the fact that she returned to a normal pose after making noise meant that she wasn't dying.

 

[poodude289]

The pose she had just scared the hell out of me into thinking she could be dying.

 

[bwhatch2]

without having seen it it's hard to give you a definitive answer. i can say that i can't count how many times ive seen one of my spiders in what looked like the beginning of a death curl when in fact they were just sitting scrunched up. so assuming that the water hasn't been empty for a long time (weeks is a long time, days is not) then chances are you're fine. my suggestion would be to fill up the water bowl and stop worrying so much. when people relatively new to the hobby worry so much they tend to try to overcorrect the problem. meaning they do this and they do that then try this again then try the other thing and all that helping usually has the opposite effect just stressing the spider out more. make sure its basic husbandry needs are met and you should have happy healthy spider for a long time

 

[bwhatch2]

another great idea is to get a ton more tarantulas then you can spread your worry out more

 

[x_raphael_xx]

I walked into my room to check on things with my red light, and I saw her in what looked like a death curl, and upright. I didn't touch her, I was talking aloud and upset and then I saw her suddenly correct herself into a perfectly normal position. Should I be worried or should I be expecting a molted spider tomorrow? Should I go and try to give her water? I typically thought they only went into what looked like a death curl when molting on their backs, but do they flip themselves over at the same time? Please help, thank-you.

I once had a T that molted right side up.
I've also had a few scares from lazy Ts that don't straighten their legs after grooming & keep 2-3 legs curled up.

Possibly she was just mid groom

 

[boreece27]

another great idea is to get a ton more tarantulas then you can spread your worry out more

I agree with this statement 100%. I started with one and now I’m up to 41

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

Of the spoods I keep it seems my G. Pulchra gets into some disturbing looking poses as you described. I think their just that laid back of a spood and while preening they don't always straighten up all limbs and look a bit wonkie! Mine sometimes cause me to do a double take from time to time. Had others of course but my Pulchra's seem to get me far more often with their strange lounging behaviors. Happy Spoodering!