Bad Molt

[metalmickey]

Hi, I've had Delilah, my GBB for a little over 2 years, she had always been very active with an healthy appetite. She had a bad molt shortly before Christmas which resulted in 2 deformed legs, she hasn't eaten for a few months, refuses food, though is still drinking. She has lost weight and gotten visibly smaller, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Hi, I've had Delilah, my GBB for a little over 2 years, she had always been very active with an healthy appetite. She had a bad molt shortly before Christmas which resulted in 2 deformed legs, she hasn't eaten for a few months, refuses food, though is still drinking. She has lost weight and gotten visibly smaller, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Have you tried to feed it pre killed? Could try bug soup also. Has it eaten since the bad moult?

 

[metalmickey]

Have you tried to feed it pre killed? Could try bug soup also. Has it eaten since the bad moult?

I have tried pre killed, she rears up in a threat pose and then backs up. She hasn't eaten since she's moulted, she appears scared of any food item

 

[AndrewClayton]

I have tried pre killed, she rears up in a threat pose and then backs up. She hasn't eaten since she's moulted, she appears scared of any food item

Have you left the pre killed food in there for a day to see if she takes it? You can make bug soup put it in a small lid off something and leave that in there if she's still drinking I would assume she will take that, I find it best squeezing the guts out mealworms to make it.

 

[metalmickey]

Have you left the pre killed food in there for a day to see if she takes it? You can make bug soup put it in a small lid off something and leave that in there if she's still drinking I would assume she will take that, I find it best squeezing the guts out mealworms to make it.

I have left the pre killed food in with her, I'll try the bug soup, thank you

 

[AndrewClayton]

I have left the pre killed food in with her, I'll try the bug soup, thank you

Let me know how it goes, she doesn't look overly thin so I think she will survive a moult to try and sort out what it is that is up with her. Increasing the temperature can speed up the process sometimes, maybe worth giving that a shot if you can.

 

[metalmickey]

Let me know how it goes, she doesn't look overly thin so I think she will survive a moult to try and sort out what it is that is up with her. Increasing the temperature can speed up the process sometimes, maybe worth giving that a shot if you can.

Thank you for the advice and support, will keep you updated

 

[AndrewClayton]

Thank you for the advice and support, will keep you updated

No problem at all bud, were all here to help each other. Yes please do.

 

[Casey K.]

I would use organic chicken breast pieces. It's full of protein, which is mainly what they get from their food. I wouldn't leave it in there for more than 24 hours but it might work. If she accepts it, it will give her the nutrients she needs. I've done this before with some of my bigger tarantulas that refused food and it worked for them. Hope this helps!

 

[metalmickey]

I would use organic chicken breast pieces. It's full of protein, which is mainly what they get from their food. I wouldn't leave it in there for more than 24 hours but it might work. If she accepts it, it will give her the nutrients she needs. I've done this before with some of my bigger tarantulas that refused food and it worked for them. Hope this helps!

Thank you, I'm willing to try anything

 

[metalmickey]

Update
Delilah is still not eating, no matter what I try but she is still drinking and has been webbing, which I'm hoping is a good sign. I'm guessing that if she were really weak then she wouldn't Web.

 

[Casey K.]

Ohhh i thought of something...you mentioned she had a bad molt recently...did you check to make sure her fangs are still there and properly formed? Sometimes a tarantula will lose one or both fangs in a bad molt and it will result in them not eating. Also, if the fangs didn't come out of the old exoskeleton and it has hardened around them, it can cause the same issue. Of course, they can still drink because they have their sucking stomach if it came out of the exoskeleton properly. Just get a light and examine the fangs. If they are gone, the only way for her to eat or to get nutrients is the "bug soup" as mentioned or anything similar to a "protein soup" for spiders.

 

[AndrewClayton]

Ohhh i thought of something...you mentioned she had a bad molt recently...did you check to make sure her fangs are still there and properly formed? Sometimes a tarantula will lose one or both fangs in a bad molt and it will result in them not eating. Also, if the fangs didn't come out of the old exoskeleton and it has hardened around them, it can cause the same issue. Of course, they can still drink because they have their sucking stomach if it came out of the exoskeleton properly. Just get a light and examine the fangs. If they are gone, the only way for her to eat or to get nutrients is the "bug soup" as mentioned or anything similar to a "protein soup" for spiders.

I had this issue with an Avic years ago, I think it was the sucking stomach part never moulted out. It eventually died. If it is the sucking stomach there isn't much you can do but hope it makes it right in the next moult. If it's just the fangs bug soup works.