Hi guys, I'm a bit worried, because my T (chaco golden knee) got into ger hide on 31st December (New year's Eve) and hasn't got out since then. She is not even drinking. She stopped eating at around last September/October I think. She covered her entrance with web, as if she's saying I don't wanna be disturbed. But she's still alive because a few days ago, I broke her web and touched her feet a little bit with tweezers, and she moved inside her hide of course. What I'm getting concerned most about, is because she is not even drinking. Maybe she is hibernating? I have a heatmat under her enclosure as well. I also have a dehumidifier going on since last December, but her humidity level inside her enclosure is 62%, or at least that's what the meter says. I will attach some photos of the enclosure, and of her entrance as well. Is this a normal behaviour? Thanks in advance
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Chaco Golden knee hiding
- Thread starter Gurat
- Start date
James1975
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 250
- Location
- Walsall west Midlands england
Enclosure looks fine get rid of that heat mat u will burn the t.and it sounds like it's in premolt my g pulchripes was in a long premolt so dont worry just make sure there is plenty of water.
I’d start but saying that Grammostola Pulchripes are awesome Ts to have and a very nice species.
Tarantulas live on instinct. If it’s too hot they will burrow. This is why heat mats are potentially very dangerous and can slowly cook and kill your spider so I would remove it straight away. They aren’t needed.
Humidity is also not important. Care sheets use lazy information and don’t take any factor into consideration other than location.
Best set up I would reccommend is simply a hide a water dish and enough substrate to burrow if it chooses to.
How big is it? Grammostola are a genus know for long premolt
Tarantulas live on instinct. If it’s too hot they will burrow. This is why heat mats are potentially very dangerous and can slowly cook and kill your spider so I would remove it straight away. They aren’t needed.
Humidity is also not important. Care sheets use lazy information and don’t take any factor into consideration other than location.
Best set up I would reccommend is simply a hide a water dish and enough substrate to burrow if it chooses to.
How big is it? Grammostola are a genus know for long premolt
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- 619
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- Nebraska
I agree, sounds like a grammastola doing its thing.
E
ExMember
Guest
How big is the spider? I have 2. One is 5"+ and never even hides or digs. She's always out in the open. My other one is always in its burrow. That one is probably 1-2". They display a range of behaviors depending on size.
I have had tarantulas go 5 months without water (always supplied but no evidence of use). Also saw a 6 month fast by a tiny sling. Not saying you shouldn't attempt to feed or water but tarantulas have evolved to go on very little.
I would suggest ditching the heat mat. If it gets to low 60's F just heat the room. No reason for a hygrometer either. With very few exceptions it's irrelevant
Some species need bone dry ( Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens and avicularia) and some need damp ( T stirmi, T blondi). Most others (Brachypelma, Grammastola etc) have no humidity requirements. My rule of thumb is if I am comfortable then the spiders are too
I have had tarantulas go 5 months without water (always supplied but no evidence of use). Also saw a 6 month fast by a tiny sling. Not saying you shouldn't attempt to feed or water but tarantulas have evolved to go on very little.
I would suggest ditching the heat mat. If it gets to low 60's F just heat the room. No reason for a hygrometer either. With very few exceptions it's irrelevant
Some species need bone dry ( Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens and avicularia) and some need damp ( T stirmi, T blondi). Most others (Brachypelma, Grammastola etc) have no humidity requirements. My rule of thumb is if I am comfortable then the spiders are too 
I will echo this statement, I will just add that the moisture in the substrate is important, but the humidity in the air is not. G. pulchripes like dry substrate and a water dish.
- Messages
- 1,197
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- South Wales
Everyone has given spot on advice. Ditch the heat mat immediately or you could end up with a dead t.
Moulting tarantulas need to drink extra water, but a heat mat attracts them and they can sit by it for so long, that by the time they need to drink, they are too dehydrated to move to their water dish.
As you see evidence of movement you've probably caught it in time. With the heatmat gone and the burrow cooling down, your t should now be ok.
Keep a close eye and any concerns ask the forum.
Moulting tarantulas need to drink extra water, but a heat mat attracts them and they can sit by it for so long, that by the time they need to drink, they are too dehydrated to move to their water dish.
As you see evidence of movement you've probably caught it in time. With the heatmat gone and the burrow cooling down, your t should now be ok.
Keep a close eye and any concerns ask the forum.
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- 980
- Location
- Preston,UK
Hi
Its very likely she is coming for a drink when you not arround.She can tare the silk curtain drink and web again in less than 30 min and you will never know she been out.I cought my T.Albopilosus do that few days ago.
Regards Konstantin
My T is about 1 year old. Heatmat unplugged now
My T is about 1 year old, and tye heatmat has been unpluggedHow big is the spider? I have 2. One is 5"+ and never even hides or digs. She's always out in the open. My other one is always in its burrow. That one is probably 1-2". They display a range of behaviors depending on size.
I have had tarantulas go 5 months without water (always supplied but no evidence of use). Also saw a 6 month fast by a tiny sling. Not saying you shouldn't attempt to feed or water but tarantulas have evolved to go on very little.
I would suggest ditching the heat mat. If it gets to low 60's F just heat the room. No reason for a hygrometer either. With very few exceptions it's irrelevant
Yes the heatmat is now gone, the temperature dropped to 19 degrees celcius (with heatmeat it was 21 as in the photo indicated) but still no sign of movement
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- 1,197
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- South Wales
Trouble is I've got no way of knowing how accurate your temp guage is or what the temperature reaches inside that burrow seeing as the mat was positioned underneath, which is strongly advised against. 19 Deg C isn't too low a temperature anyway.
Shall I try to dig her out, or it's better if I don't? To be honest, I touched her leg a bit with the tweezers, at first she didn't move, but then she turned and faced the tweezers
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- 1,197
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- South Wales
Then she's fine! Rest assured she will come out when she's ready and I'm sure you have a nice full water dish ready and waiting for when she wants it.
Yes, water dish always full for when she decides to stop the quarantine but thanks for the info
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- Kentucky
Just leave her alone. As you said: she moved. She is fine...nothing to worry about. I think the heatmat did not do any harm, since you had it on for a year. 19°C is ok and so is 22°C...
- Messages
- 1,197
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- South Wales
No no he didn't had heatmat for a year, My T is about 1 year old, heatmat was approx from last Oct/Nov or something like thatAgreed. He had the heatmat for a year?! I missed that bit of info..
Ok I will leave it then, but the heatmat was not for a year. About 5 months I think
