hi i have a salmon pink and have noticed something on her abdomen and she looks grey and is not eating its not looking good ive uploaded pics to my gallery as i cant figure out how to upload them here i just need some advice as i dont know what to do. Is it a crack or mites i just got a new hide from the pet shop and it seems to have started then so ive taken it out now any help wold be great thanks

From your first picture there is no signs of any hemolymph leaking from the specimen's opisthosoma. Your second and third pictures confirm the lost of urticating bristles( the fluffiness in that area). The bald patch will get larger. The not eating part is also evident of a tarantula in pre-moult. Lay-off with the feeding.

Monitor your tarantula closely and keep us posted.

thanks usumbara she has just ate a locust and a hopper do you think the hole/bald patch is going to be a problem as its pink also she molted about 2 or 3 months ago

Hi Dean.

I think if not premolt, it's inevitable for some urticating hair to become dislodged. You mentioned the new enclosure. Any chance she might have kicked some at you?

Just a question, and definately not a criticism: I noticed the wood chip substrate and the gel balls for hydration. Is this because you believe it to be best for the T or is that what the pet shop supplied?

She sure is a pretty one!

hi marius yes she does kick quite often as for the substrate yes its what the pet shop said i was best using why what would you suggest? as im quite new to the hobby any advice is always good oh and thats just a water bowl not gell balls its just the way the pic has taken thanks

Hi Dean.

I'm pretty new too, but I have seen quite a lot of debate on the substrate front with wood chips almost always losing to any other form of substrate besides sand.

Basically, at worst wood chips can potentially be toxic. But there are other issues, like mold, the rough surface irritating or damaging the T, complicating maintenance, and not being very effective in trapping moisture for slow release to up the humidity. Then there is burrowing which is difficult or impossible in wood chip and many more.

Personally it makes sense to me to have some kind of substrate that mimics their natural habitat. I use shredded coconut husk with varying levels of dampness for different species. For example, I keep more moisture in the B. Albopilosum's peat (which lives in the Honduran jungle), than the N. Chromatus, which is a grassland species.

I hope this helps!