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my adult female tarantula will not eat

although she appears plump and healthy i'm getting worried about her. she hasnt eaten more than a couple of small frogs and a large beetle in the last year. she's very laid back and takes well to being handled,she is 7 years old.
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Avatar universal
Goliath Birdeater T-Blondi, My tarantula is a female and has not eaten since her molt about two months ago. She was very fat and eating everything prior to molt. Even after her molt she still looks fat...should I be worried? She is about three years old 6 to 7 inches quit thick.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Goliath Birdeater T-Blondi, My tarantula is a female and has not eaten since her molt about two months ago. She was very fat and eating everything prior to molt. Even after her molt she still looks fat...should I be worried? She is about three years old 6 to 7 inches quit thick.
Helpful - 0
681148 tn?1437661591
I would find a book specifically about tarantulas.  Or, specifically about the spiders you are considering keeping.  I'm somewhat arachnophobic, too, but not to the point where I'm going to scream and runaway from the giant house spiders that sometimes come into the apartment.  I just prefer to send them back outside.  Tarantulas are special, and many are endangered in their native habitats, so I do definitely encourage you to make sure that if you do get a tarantula that you buy your friend from a breeder or someone who has had experience in hand raising the tarantulas.  And, even though I'm sort of fearful, I think tarantulas are beautiful.  And, no, spiders aren't even interested in people when they are just living their normal lives.  They sometimes come into our living spaces and such, because they often like the same things we do, and many are just looking for a dark secluded home that is safe from predators or they are just looking for a mate.  When they do look for food, they are only looking for species appropriate food.  The majority of spider species are definitely not too toxic for people.  It's actually only a small percentage of spider species that are dangerous to people or our other pets.  Tarantulas and house spiders are not among the list of dangerous spiders.  Definitely find species specific information, too, as there are several tarantula species.

Helpful - 0
1696489 tn?1370821974
I have strange request here.  I am severely archnaphobic.  I'm thinkin if I knew more about spiders (NO PICTURES PLEASE) then maybe I wouldn't be so afraid of them.  I want to know where they live, what they like, how they live, breed, anything... mostly are they really out to get me? (embarrassed grin)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
my Acanthoscuria Geniculata does not eat too... she's a baby not more than 4 molts, but it didn't eat for 2 moths... what shall I do? I've tried everything: humidity, changing food, more heat, but it seems it still doesen't want to eat.... I'm worried...
Helpful - 0
945796 tn?1283482615
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Consider yourself very lucky as most people have the opposite problem you have.  Unlike your tarantula, most owners have a problem with their pet not eating.  

I am happy to see that your tarantula feels comfortable and hungry enough to eat well.  Just make sure that live crickets are not left in the cage over night especially if they are close to their molting phase.  Also, if there are any dead prey around, you want to remove those as well.  

Unlike most other pets, I have not seen an obese tarantula.  They just stop eating when they are full.  I have even heard of ravenous tarantulas eating 20 crickets in a few days.  Then they stop to digest their food for awhile.

You may also want to offer a variety of foods such as mealworms and other insects so that your tarantula gets adequate vitamins and minerals and not just from one food source of crickets.

Congratulations on your new healthy pet & good luck,
Dr. Youkey
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i have just gotten a chilean tarantula and she will not stop eating, in the past 3 days she has eaten approx 10 crickets she is on her tenth right now. Is this normal?? do i keep feeding her til she is full?? she keeps hunting, and everytime i open her cage she jumps like to attack a cricket. please help
Helpful - 0
945796 tn?1283482615
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Chilean Rose tarantulas are notorious for not eating for long periods.  Sometimes, there is no reason for them to stop eating.  They seem to gorge and eat for a while, then stop eating and fast.  They have an erratic feeding schedule and I have heard of them fasting from weeks to months at a time. . . even up to a year!

Many times, the fasting is indicative of an upcoming molt.  This can occur three months before the actual molt.  

Just watch the abdomen to make sure that they aren’t dehydrated.  A starved or dehydrated tarantula will have an abdomen that is shrunken and shriveled.  A healthy tarantula will have a rounded full abdomen.

Even though they aren’t eating, you still need to make sure that they have the appropriate humidity.  Chileans need low humidity level compared to other tarantulas but they are still comfortable at humidity levels from between 60 to 80 percent.  Using a hygrometer will be the most accurate way of knowing what the exact level of humidity is in its environment.  The Hollywood area has been experiencing not only very hot weather this year, but also humidity in the single digits lately.

So keep watching the abdomen and occasionally offer some food.  If they don’t eat it, remove the food immediately.  And watch for signs of an upcoming molt.

Good luck,
Dr. Youkey

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My Chilean Rose-Hair hasn't eaten in 3 months.  I've had her about 10 years and she's only molted about 2-3 times, once after her babies were born.  It's been really hot here in Hollywood, but I would that would make her more active and hungry.
Helpful - 0
945796 tn?1283482615
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Have you tried offering her a variety of foods?  Tarantulas will eat almost anything that they can capture such as crickets, most beetles, grasshoppers, earthworms, moths, etc.  Larger taratulas will eat small snakes, lizards and mice.  I would avoid feeding her bees or wasps, as they can harm the tarantula also any insect that has been exposed to bug spray.  

It is normal for a tarantula to stop feeding for a week during it's molt.  You may find her upside down at this time.  Please do not handle or pick her at while she is upside down.  She will molt out of her old exoskeleton and it will take awhile for her new exoskeleton to harden.  This is not the time handle her.  

It is also very important that her environment has the proper humidity.  This is to ensure a proper molt as well as for her overall health.  Please check that she has the proper husbandry and if she still does not eat after offering a variety of tempting food, I would seek out a veterinarian, entomologist, or other professional for further advice and a checkup.

Good luck,
Dr. Youkey
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
ahh sir i need advice about  my tarantula not eating in two weeks what happen to this vagan tarantula ?

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