Teacher's Pet: Should I Call a Parent Teacher Conference?

[Teacher With A Spider]

Hello,
I am a science teacher with a pet tarantula that a student gave me as a gift. At first, I wasn't into this but now I LOVE IT!!!! Her name is KD Rose. Here is my concern. My tarantula is spitting out a very thick row of web (white stuff behind her abdomen) and almost looks to be throbbing as it comes out. She was in the death curl and we put a wet towel in with her thinking it was dehydration and has come out of it...now this? Should I be worried?
Thanks,
TEACHER With A SPIDER

 

[kormath]

Is she eating? anything else seem out of the "norm"? That could be poop, their anus is right below the spinnerets.

Hows the enclosure setup? If that's the pic you linked it's a broken link for me, sorry.

Oh and welcome to the forums and addiction i mean hobby!

 

[Teacher With A Spider]

She ate a small cricket last week, but it was with her for two or three days before she ate it. She hardly moves but never does much (especially when the kids are in the classroom). Her enclosure has a hollow rock she likes to sit in and almost guard the door and she is on coconut bedding. She has a water dish, but in our five years together I have only ever seen her drink once! Now when the kids are gone and my classroom is quiet, she will move about, but hasn't done that this school year at all.

 

[Teacher With A Spider]

I was told she was a Chilean Rose tarantula by the student who got her for me. My research tells me they are known as "Pet Rocks" so I didn't expect her to move too much anyway, and she has definitely lived up to this nickname!

 

[kormath]

looks like poop to me. looks like she's in a stress curl also. when did she molt last?

Where is the enclosure at in the room? Might move it to a corner or something away from the activity in the room and see how she does. I'm guessing mid 70's for temps in the room?

Enclosure looks fine, but i'd remove the sponge and put some pebbles in there instead to keep the crickets from drowning. Substrate looks dry so that's good. Abdomen looks nice and fat. Could be just one of their quirky fastings.

 

[Telson]

Looks like more then a stress curl to me..I've had two spiders sit in that position, both died, both for unknown reasons. The thick substance being ejected, are you sure its web? If she's still alive I would check her thoroughly with a microscope or magnifying glass. Could be many things, old age, mite infestation, nematodes, cancer, falling trauma, etc. Or you might find nothing. It happens. Sometimes they just sicken and die for no apparent reason.

 

[Nicolas C]

Mature male? Could you take a photo of the tip of the pedipalps?