My Daughter's First Tarantula Died.

[Tortoise Tom]

This is not the experience we were hoping for. Back in June I bought a little G. pulchripes for my daughter. It was her first tarantula and we were all very excited about it. We found it dead yesterday. It is right side up, not in the "death curl", and its been unresponsive to touch for 24 hours. It ate about 7 days ago. It molted about 3 weeks ago. Everything has been fine. It made a little hidey hole under the cork bark when we first got it and all seemed good. We really haven't seen much of him, but we check on him once a week or so. The roaches all disappear and I've removed a few waste boluses.

It was a tiny little thing when we got it, but it was eating pinhead Blatta lateralis nymphs for us. I was out of town earlier this week and I asked a friend to bring over a pinhead roach for it to eat. He brought over a newborn dubia that was too large, but still smaller than the spider. The dubia found its way into the underground retreat and the little spider has been out in the enclosure where we could see him finally. I didn't realize all this until my daughter told me he wasn't moving. I suspected a bad molt or something, so I checked under the cork bark and that is when I saw the tiny dubia nymph and realized what happened with the roach mix up. The roach was half the size of the spider, but probably too large for it to eat. I think it spooked him out of his lair, but that shouldn't have killed him, right?

Here is the enclosure:

Room temp is a steady 73-74 with the A/C going during our hot summer here. We've been feeding him twice a week. We refill the water dish each time we feed and its never less than half full. We over flow the water bowl to keep the substrate lightly damp.

I've added dozens of new slings to my collection over the last few weeks and months. All are doing great. Thriving, eating, growing. The only casualty other than this was an A. geniculata that molted in transit and died two days later. That one was understandable. This one isn't. Doesn't make any sense. What am I missing? My daughter is crushed and we just want to understand what went wrong. Everything seemed great and we are right in the middle of the growth cycle, so it doesn't seem molt related. Anyone have any ideas? If I made a mistake I want to know about it so I don't repeat it.

 

[Enn49]

I'm so sorry that your daughter's T has died, I hope it doesn't put her off the hobby .
Sadly nature can be harsh and some little ones are just not meant to be.

 

[Nunua]

I'm sorry for your loss As Enn said, I hope that this doesn't put her or you off the hobby.
Sometimes things like this just happen - No matter how well you're taking care of the T, some of them are not meant to mature. Besides the basic care, which I'm absolutely sure that you bot are doing very well, there is very little we can do.

So please, do not blame yourself and talk to your daughter to not blame herself either, as I'm pretty sure that neither of you is not the reason that Aragog passed away. One of my friends also suddenly lost one of his Ts that was already way over "the safe 1 or 2 inch mark", and if you do remember, Enn also lost her Chila.

 

[PanzoN88]

Sorry for your loss, I know the feeling. I just lost my smaller P. cancerides for unknown reasons (the big one I bought from @Thistles is doing fine) it just shows that some sadly are not meant to make it. You can have 50 of the same species in the same conditions, but nature takes hold of some. Best advice I can give is get another to fill the void.

 

[Thistles]

OP, I was given a free Chaco yesterday. I think it was probably meant to be your daughter’s second tarantula. I’ll take a look today and try to sex it, and if you pay shipping I’ll send it to her.

@PanzoN88 is correct. Some just aren’t meant to make it. I’ve seen it in the eggsacs I’ve produced when I keep a few to rear. Most of the kids do great, but sometimes one kept in the same conditions just doesn’t make it.

I doubt this caused the sling’s death, but you have it set up more like an arboreal than terrestrial. In the future, I would have a long, low enclosure for this species as it gets older, and turn it the other way and keep deep substrate for little slings with only a small bit of vertical airspace.

 

[Phil]

OP, I was given a free Chaco yesterday. I think it was probably meant to be your daughter’s second tarantula. I’ll take a look today and try to sex it, and if you pay shipping I’ll send it to her.

@PanzoN88 is correct. Some just aren’t meant to make it. I’ve seen it in the eggsacs I’ve produced when I keep a few to rear. Most of the kids do great, but sometimes one kept in the same conditions just doesn’t make it.

I doubt this caused the sling’s death, but you have it set up more like an arboreal than terrestrial. In the future, I would have a long, low enclosure for this species as it gets older, and turn it the other way and keep deep substrate for little slings with only a small bit of vertical airspace.

what a lovely gesture. I hope the OP spots this and takes you up on the offer. This is what makes this forum so great. x

 

[Thistles]

Thanks, Phil. Just seemed like good timing/destiny.

@Tortoise Tom It looks female ventrally (but no promises) and is around 3” so she’s well-started. I’d be happy to send her. If you need enclosure help, let me know and I can talk you through it or send some stuff. I dont mean any offense, but I don’t know what your experience is like.

 

[Tortoise Tom]

Thanks, Phil. Just seemed like good timing/destiny.
It looks female ventrally (but no promises) and is around 3” so she’s well-started. I’d be happy to send her. If you need enclosure help, let me know and I can talk you through it or send some stuff. I don't mean any offense, but I don’t know what your experience is like.

This is an amazing offer. We'd love to give your spider a good home. All I can think to say is Thank You! I'll send a PM to get an address and shipping money to you. At 3" I'll just put her into a 5 gallon cube.

From my Daughter:
Thank you so much! I am so grateful for this offer and I was so happy when my dad told me about this! Being the eleven year old that I am, it was defiantly heartbreaking to loose my sling, even though it was a tiny little spider, I loved Aragog so much, so I totally lit up when my dad told me about your offer. It is so kind of you to do this, and I wish all people could be this nice!

 

[Thistles]

Aww, she sounds like a sweetie! It’s always heartbreaking to lose a pet. Hopefully this will help!

 

[Tuskedwings]

Man I wish I would've thought of the name Aragog, thats a good one. Best of luck the T thats being sent over. Watch as 1 becomes 3 becomes 5 becomes 10, thats how it goes in this hobby hahaha.

 

[Tortoise Tom]

Man I wish I would've thought of the name Aragog, thats a good one. Best of luck the T thats being sent over. Watch as 1 becomes 3 becomes 5 becomes 10, thats how it goes in this hobby hahaha.

We are hovering around 50 right now...

 

[Tortoise Tom]

This sad story is having a happy ending. We took @Thistles up on her very generous offer and now my daughter has a new tarantula to love. "Erza Scarlet" is about 3" and every inch is simply gorgeous and perfect. She arrived extremely well packed, safe and sound. She calmly walked out of her packing material and into her new Nano cube.

As if this weren't enough… I wanted to do overnight shipping because of the heat. We get cool nights, so as long as a package arrives in the morning, its not too hot even if the day time high will eventually reach 100. Overnight shipping isn't cheap and Thistles, out of sheer generosity and good will decided to send me a couple of extras just because she felt bad about how much I was paying for the shipping. She sent me a gorgeous H. gigas and also this little gem:

This is the first time I've seen or heard of Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus. What an amazing bonus! I've got it set up like my other two Psalmos and if its anything like them, I'm going to love this little spider.

Many thanks to Thistles. I hope to find a way to return your kindness and generosity someday.

 

[Enn49]

This sad story is having a happy ending. We took @Thistles up on her very generous offer and now my daughter has a new tarantula to love. "Erza Scarlet" is about 3" and every inch is simply gorgeous and perfect. She arrived extremely well packed, safe and sound. She calmly walked out of her packing material and into her new Nano cube.
View attachment 31596

As if this weren't enough… I wanted to do overnight shipping because of the heat. We get cool nights, so as long as a package arrives in the morning, its not too hot even if the day time high will eventually reach 100. Overnight shipping isn't cheap and Thistles, out of sheer generosity and good will decided to send me a couple of extras just because she felt bad about how much I was paying for the shipping. She sent me a gorgeous H. gigas and also this little gem:
View attachment 31597
This is the first time I've seen or heard of Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus. What an amazing bonus! I've got it set up like my other two Psalmos and if its anything like them, I'm going to love this little spider.

Many thanks to Thistles. I hope to find a way to return your kindness and generosity someday.

I bet your daughter is thrilled, she's lovely, as are yours. It was a wonderful gesture from @Thistles.

 

[Inky]

Man I wish I would've thought of the name Aragog, thats a good one. Best of luck the T thats being sent over. Watch as 1 becomes 3 becomes 5 becomes 10, thats how it goes in this hobby hahaha.

Haha I can tell. I am new, My first T didn't even arrive yet and I already ordered another! I had to get a terrestrial AND an arboreal.

 

[Tortoise Tom]

She's all settled in behind her cork bark now. The water dish had some substrate in it, so we know she was out digging around and exploring. We decided to offer her a roach last night and she took it straight away. Always a good sign when they want to eat!

 

[Whitelightning777]

The only question is what your daughter will get next!!

 

[Tortoise Tom]

The only question is what your daughter will get next!!

Please!!! She wants one or everything and two of some things! Its enough for her to just manage all her chickens!

 

[Whitelightning777]

Tarantulas are easier and cheaper to maintain. I still get your point.