Hi everyone, I am hoping to get some basic husbandry advice. My new G. rosea seems to be settling in very well so far, she has a crazy appetite and has taken prey items within seconds at every feeding but I am slightly concerned because her abdomen seems smaller than I would expect. She also has what looks like a small dry, somewhat flaky patch on the top of her abdomen right in the middle and slightly farther back from center. After doing some research it looks like this is most likely just a mirror patch, but I mention in just in case it could be anything abnormal and I am mistaking what it is.
I had a rosea years ago and I seem to remember her having quite a plump round abdomen almost equal in size to her cephalothorax. This girl has a more oval abdomen that is not quite the width of her cephalothorax. She came from a chain pet store and my concern is that she may be underfed. She shows no signs of dehydration, has eaten three crickets with me so far and has been able to access fresh water at all times and I have seen her drink. My question is, how can I tell whether she is underfed or whether her abdomen is of a normal and healthy size? I don't want to overfeed her but I almost feel like there is a risk she needs to catch up on meals, if that is even a reasonable concern with Ts.
I wish I could get a better picture of her but for right now the attached one is the only decent one I have. The pet store said she is female, but the employee who helped me claimed you could tell by looking at their spinnerets, which I am almost certain is not true. I know in some species the male has a smaller abdomen. Is this true for roseas and could it be that she is actually male? Thanks for any suggestions or help you can offer.
I had a rosea years ago and I seem to remember her having quite a plump round abdomen almost equal in size to her cephalothorax. This girl has a more oval abdomen that is not quite the width of her cephalothorax. She came from a chain pet store and my concern is that she may be underfed. She shows no signs of dehydration, has eaten three crickets with me so far and has been able to access fresh water at all times and I have seen her drink. My question is, how can I tell whether she is underfed or whether her abdomen is of a normal and healthy size? I don't want to overfeed her but I almost feel like there is a risk she needs to catch up on meals, if that is even a reasonable concern with Ts.
I wish I could get a better picture of her but for right now the attached one is the only decent one I have. The pet store said she is female, but the employee who helped me claimed you could tell by looking at their spinnerets, which I am almost certain is not true. I know in some species the male has a smaller abdomen. Is this true for roseas and could it be that she is actually male? Thanks for any suggestions or help you can offer.
