Sammy wrote: My T has been staying on the ground for the last day or so and not sitting on the glass as she normally does. I just went to look at her now and she is flat on her back. She hasnt been eating for a few days now and is hydrated. Must I start to worry? ...

Did you hear that? The "newbie alarm" just went off! If I'm mistaken, I apologize. In any case, to make sure that you're starting out on the right foot and have been introduced to all the basic issues, I'm going to begin with my soon-to-be-world-notorious NEWBIE INTRODUCTION. Even if you aren’t a newbie I suggest that you read through it for review. (I just LUVS doing this!) Please stand by while I load the canned message.


Cue the mariachis, the confetti, and the clowns. :silly: Let's start the party! :drunk:

Sammy, please don't be offended! I've been messing with tarantulas longer than most people on this forum have been alive, and I still consider myself a newbie. I'm just having a little fun with you.



Okay, let's get down to business. First, the pleasantries:

"Welcome to the hobby!"

"Welcome to these forums!"


Now, to get you started on the right foot I urge you to read the following webpages.

Stan's Rant - A little initial boost in the right direction. READ AND HEED THE WARNINGS! READ THE BOOKS!

Myths, Misconceptions, and Mistakes Perpetuated by Tarantula Enthusiasts - A growing list of bad information in the hobby. Be sure to explore all the links.

Are you planning on getting a Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea)? If so, you definitely should also read Care and Husbandry of the Chilean Rose Tarantula - How NOT to let your Chilean rose tarantula drive you to the funny farm!

Lastly, you should read Substrate to get to the bottom of the situation. :lol:

Additional Thoughts:

The Search Function:
Don't take this as a criticism, but if you don't already know about it, please learn to use the Search function at the top of the page. It'll save us all a lot of time and effort. Most novices and even many seasoned enthusiasts fail to appreciate that 95+% of all tarantula issues have already been addressed, sometimes ad nauseam, on these forums. All you need do is look for the discussions.

A Basic Operating Principle:
If you can't find an answer to your concern using the Search function (after all, search engines are far from perfect), by all means ask us. Remember,

"The only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask."
"And, dumb questions are always easier to deal with than dumb mistakes!"


Fire away!

"We aims to please."


Lastly, has no one told you?

Visit the webpages. Read the warnings. Read the books. Monitor these forums. Do the searches. IGNORE THE CARE SHEETS!

Then get back to us with any concerns you may have. We're here to help.

End Canned Message

Yes, your tarantula is (or by now "was") in the process of molting.

What kind of tarantula is it?

What kind of substrate are you using?

Is the substrate best described as "wet," "moist," "damp," or "dry?"

There! I've done enough damage. I'll leave you now to do your homework. :laugh: