Recent content by Salatia

Wanted to add this to make it clear why I was hoping for further clarity regarding what you suspected you might see in the image. Note, whenever possible I will spend some time examining any images for signs something might be amiss. In the event a poster thinks they see something, and I am...

I wasn't being funny or judgemental. There's no tone to written text, only the words used - any tone is inferred by the reader. Asking is the best thing to do, if in doubt. It's just also best not to assume someone is seeing things the same as you - hence asking you to highlight if there was a...

I'm not clear what you are asking. What do you mean by 'extended'? In the image I can see a pale abdominal underside - nothing unusual. As tarantulas grow their colouration develops and gets closer to what it will be as a matured adult. Irminia are sexually dimorphic as well, which means...

The picture doesn't really show much, as the abdomen is what we use to judge size and hydration. Do you have a full picture of the enclosure, and how do you provide water (and where)? What size food are you using and how often do you offer?

We don't know nearly enough about how their systems work, and how those systems 'decay' with age, to be able to truly know what is 'normal' old age and what is abnormal pathology being made visible by old age and so on. Kind of the difference between dementia and natural forgetfulness and such...

My first question is whether it is a mature male, ie has palpal emboli on the pedipalps - a swollen bulb-like shape on the end, where on females they look just like the feet essentially. Pre-moult could also be a possibility. Whilst the common sign mentioned is darkening of the abdomen...

Ah great! It looks good. Maybe if you added some black paper in the corner behind/around the bark it might feel more secure? Just a thought and up to you - could use a light tape or something so you can pull it back if needed. It may just feel there's not a solid hiding place, somewhere it feels...

I'm not sure what you mean by 'feed him'. To feed a tarantula you put food in, and let them catch it. Disable the food if its dangerous. You don't have them take it from tongs or such because 1) they can break their fangs, meaning they can no longer eat normally and 2) if it changes its mind...

I am concerned that someone who doesn't understand their care and signs of death is accessing the enclosure - I can't imagine anyone interfering with any of my pets in any condition without permission, least of all those that can move in a flash. I recommend you also do further reasearch...

Those movements I see either when they're bundling up their leftovers/rubbish - but usually not long after eating - based just on the chelcirae movements and palps. Otherwise, the rest of the time it's grooming behaviour. Easier to spot on the arboreals, but with the terrestrial Ts you can...

Re. Realising you removed the cricket - it's very handy to have a note of when you feed a T, whether they catch their dinner there and then or not, signs they've fed like seeing them make the catch/removing the bolus/remains of the prey you fed that time (which doesn't necessarily mean it was...

I recommend reading The Tarantula Keepers Guide Ed.3 - there is some outdated information, and some corrections on the associated website - but the summary given for care for groups of tarantulas is very helpful, and gives a good basis for *any* T, assuming you can find out where it typically...

First glance at thumbnail I was thinking Acanthoscurria geniculata, but up close I think maybe Nhandu coloratovillus? Chromatus also a possibility. Generally you want to see the body colour, the hair colour of the hair extending from the body and legs, and a look at the bands on the legs where...

Well I'm aware of that, but I'm also aware of people with heated hobby sheds and greenhouses. The concern isn't surviving a long time but what it does during the time it *is* roaming.

That was my thinking - someone saying the chance they were a pet and ended up where they did was unlikely...but how is that less unlikely than making it across from wherever as an accidental import?!