Gothic Tarantulas
New Member
- Messages
- 8
- Location
- Petaluma CA
Hi! Before I get into this I want to make it clear that I have been keeping tarantulas for a while and I am aware that this term is a big buzzword for keeper anxiety. I wouldn't be concerned unless I felt I had cause. There is a lot of exposition but I know context and keeper habits are important to know about.
I have an A. Seemanni adult female who I have only had for about 1.5 years and I unfortunately suspect she might have been wild caught. She's pretty big, so it's not impossible she's a very old lady but I assumed she wasn't any older than 10 and that I might have her for years. I got her from a local store that said they source their tarantulas online captive bred, but who knows what online vendor it was and if they're telling the truth.
I got her about February of last year and she immediately went on a food strike and didn't eat for 5 months before she molted. She seemed hydrated and active the whole time, settling into her enclosure and making a burrow and all that good stuff. After her molt, I have not been able to keep her hydrated. I feel like I have tried everything, even giving her an ICU at one point that she did a great job in. She's been eating normally, I see her drinking occasionally, I'm keeping her substrate a little more moist compared to my other ts because I've noticed she appreciates it. She webs and she made a second burrow, she's been acting normal despite a smaller abdomen for a year now since she molted, but it's just never looked like she was close to plump or comfortable. Not tiny, not scary, but just a little strange compared to my other adults and the photos online.
I feed her about 3 large crickets every two weeks or so, more in one sitting if she seems particularly ravenous. She's always been an amazing eater.
Last time I went to feed her she refused. That's fine, they do that sometimes and I know she's gone on food strikes before. Her butt looked a little worse, this was about a week ago but she was still moving between her two burrows a bit and webbing and drinking, I'd catch her by her dish at night sometimes getting a little drink.
I was doing a thorough check of my ts last night, just like, routine inspections of their environment and body and she was in a good position for me to see her spinnerets and bum. Photos down below, but you can imagine my panic. I thought she was webbing two days ago but now I'm scared she was rubbing her bum. The area additionally looks pretty bald like she might have been over grooming it. I know they aren't the highest quality pictures but I think the situation comes through.
I just want another opinion in case I'm panicking over nothing. It would be amazing to hear that it really isn't anything bad and she just needs some extra care and hydration, but unfortunately she's been acting weird and I'm noticing things I've never seen on any of my other ts.
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I have an A. Seemanni adult female who I have only had for about 1.5 years and I unfortunately suspect she might have been wild caught. She's pretty big, so it's not impossible she's a very old lady but I assumed she wasn't any older than 10 and that I might have her for years. I got her from a local store that said they source their tarantulas online captive bred, but who knows what online vendor it was and if they're telling the truth.
I got her about February of last year and she immediately went on a food strike and didn't eat for 5 months before she molted. She seemed hydrated and active the whole time, settling into her enclosure and making a burrow and all that good stuff. After her molt, I have not been able to keep her hydrated. I feel like I have tried everything, even giving her an ICU at one point that she did a great job in. She's been eating normally, I see her drinking occasionally, I'm keeping her substrate a little more moist compared to my other ts because I've noticed she appreciates it. She webs and she made a second burrow, she's been acting normal despite a smaller abdomen for a year now since she molted, but it's just never looked like she was close to plump or comfortable. Not tiny, not scary, but just a little strange compared to my other adults and the photos online.
I feed her about 3 large crickets every two weeks or so, more in one sitting if she seems particularly ravenous. She's always been an amazing eater.
Last time I went to feed her she refused. That's fine, they do that sometimes and I know she's gone on food strikes before. Her butt looked a little worse, this was about a week ago but she was still moving between her two burrows a bit and webbing and drinking, I'd catch her by her dish at night sometimes getting a little drink.
I was doing a thorough check of my ts last night, just like, routine inspections of their environment and body and she was in a good position for me to see her spinnerets and bum. Photos down below, but you can imagine my panic. I thought she was webbing two days ago but now I'm scared she was rubbing her bum. The area additionally looks pretty bald like she might have been over grooming it. I know they aren't the highest quality pictures but I think the situation comes through.
I just want another opinion in case I'm panicking over nothing. It would be amazing to hear that it really isn't anything bad and she just needs some extra care and hydration, but unfortunately she's been acting weird and I'm noticing things I've never seen on any of my other ts.
View attachment 77672View attachment 77671
