Beginner T Keeper w/questions galore.

[Aspen]

Hey all! I just bought my first T (brachypelma albopilosum) about 2 weeks ago! Wooo! Spiders are as fascinating as they are terrifying and I hope to enjoy watching my T and learning all about this hobby! The problem is that I am a worry wart. I researched before I bought my T, and have been researching every day since but I still worry about my new pet. So I have some questions for anyone who knows more than I do. So here goes.

~First some history~

When I bought Pestilence (my T), they told me at the pet store to wait about a week before I tried to feed him. (From my research I have learned to take pet store advice with a grain of salt but that is why I am here) So I did, and when I put the first cricket in with him, it was almost like he ran away from the food and hid out on the walls of the enclosure, only returning to the substrate when I had removed the cricket. A few days ago, I noticed that the pinkish colored bald spot on his back had turned to a dark black color, and now you can't see the bald spot on him unless you look really close. It seems like he is in Pre-molt but his abdomen isn't really plump or shiny in anyway. Do tarantulas change color like that for any reason other than molting? Should I try to feed him again and if so what is the longest I should leave a cricket in the enclosure if he is in pre-molt?

My second question is that I have had him in his new enclosure for a little over 2 weeks now. From my research and the helpful dude at the pet store, I have learned that albopilosum's typically like to burrow, but Prestilence has not started to burrow, no matter how much I try to start a burrow for him. The first few days he was in the enclosure, he spun webs across the piece of drift wood and spends the majority of his time next to said wood. His webs have since fallen some and he has made no attempt to refurbish them. Is he still possibly stressed out about the rehoming and just needs more time to settle in?

What if he is stressed about the rehoming and in premolt? Could stress affect how well his molt goes?

Thanks in advance for dealing with my obnoxious worrying. And thanks for all your help!

 

[micheldied]

Ts can go into premolt, and molt without being very fat. Turning black means it's likely in premolt, which can take very long in some individuals and some species.

I have two B. albopilosum now, one that has never even moved any substrate, and one that burrowed from the first day and has been at the bottom of his container ever since, who also happens to be in premolt though it isn't fat and has never eaten in my care. Some will burrow, some won't.

I wouldn't worry to much, these are really hardy Ts.

 

[Nicolas C]

As micheldied said, your T is most probably in heavy premolt (the fact that the spot turned from pink to black is the obvious sign). Don't give it any food until the molt, which will happen soon (if the spot is already black, it should be less than one month). When the molt is completed, don't offer it any food before one week - ten days.

For the burrow question, just leave it be. B albopilosum don't always use a burrow in captivity. If it needs one, it'll dig it. If not, then fine. She knows best.

I'm also a worry guy, and even after many years in the hobby, I'm still getting worried when one of my Ts fast for too long! Or if it doesn't behave as I thought it should! But I'm always relieved afterwards... thankfully!

 

[Enn49]

You don't say how big your T is, but B. albopilosums tend to burrow a lot when they're small but once they reach around 1-1.5" they spend more time on the surface.

 

[Scoolman]

Sounds like premolt. If so, it is not going to burrow until after it molts.

 

[RedCapTrio]

It helps if you back read on this topic to about page 15 or so. And it will take your mind off your T and from stressing about it. You will learn a lot more too!