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Not Eating??


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12 years 3 months ago #61232 by Tammy
Not Eating?? was created by Tammy
Hello,

I really need some advice!!

I have a Brachypelma Smithi, and she recently had a bad shedding. It got stuck to the top of her abdomen and spinnerets. I managed to help her out of it and nothing critical was damaged.
The top of her abdomen, however, started to grow a bit of mold (so it looked) and I then put her into a sterile tank n it cleared up quickly. She seems fine and active, but hasn't eaten in nearly 3 months. I know they can go quite a while without eating, but I'm worried she's still infected or hurt somewhere?
Is there anything I can do to check or help?

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12 years 3 months ago #61238 by Jake
Replied by Jake on topic Not Eating??
Afternoon

Do you have photos of the white stuff on her abdomen?

Can you upload a photo of her?
and what size is the spider?

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12 years 3 months ago #61243 by Huzaifah
Replied by Huzaifah on topic Not Eating??
Do not worry too much ,my female b.smithi is not also such a great eater ..hasn't eaten in about 4 weeks

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12 years 3 months ago - 12 years 3 months ago #61245 by Tammy
Replied by Tammy on topic Not Eating??
Here is a picture of the white stuff. Its not a great picture, but hopefully you can make out what it is. That has all cleared up now, but her abdomen is still bumpy.
She never used to be a fussy eater, only after her bad molt.

She's about 12cm


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Last edit: 12 years 3 months ago by Jake. Reason: photos inserted

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12 years 3 months ago #61260 by Stanley A. Schultz
Replied by Stanley A. Schultz on topic Not Eating??

Bubz10 wrote: ...The top of her abdomen, however, started to grow a bit of mold (so it looked) and I then put her into a sterile tank n it cleared up quickly. She seems fine and active, but hasn't eaten in nearly 3 months. I know they can go quite a while without eating, but I'm worried she's still infected or hurt somewhere? ...


My guess is that you injured her while trying to remove the old exoskeleton. Mold usually doesn't grow unless you're keeping the cage damp. If you are, you should allow it to dry out slowly over the next month or two.

Is there anything I can do to check or help?[/quote]

There is little that you can do at this point except give her the best general care you can. Tarantulas that experience injuries often molt more frequently for one or two molts immediately thereafter. We presume this is to help the healing process.

Brachypelma smith (Mexican redknee tarantulas) should be kept as an arid species: dry substrate with a water dish. They also often appreciate a small hide.

Check for eating with only one (1) adult cricket (or equivalent food) a week. Feed it in the evening. Leave the cricket in with it for a day or two. If it declines to eat, remove the cricket and feed it to one of your other tarantulas.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER TARANTULAS?
Well! We're just going to have to see what we can do about that!

When it does begin to eat again, you can feed it a little heavily (e.g., 4 or 5 adult crickets a week) for several weeks, then drop back to only one or two crickets a week.

If it continues to not eat for another few weeks, or begins to act weak, or begins to go into a death curl, put it in an ICU for a few days, and get back to using this same thread.

Best of luck with your little 8-legged invalid.

The Tarantula Whisperers!
Stan Schultz
Marguerite Schultz
Co-authors of the TARANTULA KEEPER'S GUIDE, now in its third edition!
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The following user(s) said Thank You: Tiaan, Huzaifah, Tammy

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12 years 3 months ago #61270 by Tammy
Replied by Tammy on topic Not Eating??
She is now in a dry environment and is still active and walking around with no problems. I had made her tank moist and humid to try help with the stuck molt as she looked extremely uncomfortable and unhappy dragging it around! :(

Thanks all for your help and advice!! I really hope she'll come right, I've been so worried!

Is it possible that she'll molt again without eating at all?

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