Conserned about possible illness

[Amy Hinkley]

7 1/2 year old female Rosie has been refusing to eat for a week now. Her abdomen is shrinking and she doesnt venture off her house. Have presented her with crickets but she has refused them. i will post pictures of her as soon as i can get my photos uploaded.

 

[Amy Hinkley]

took these just the other day.

 

[Meludox]

Abdomen looks like a healthy size to me. Grammostola rosea's are notorious for fasting for long periods of time. A week is nothing for her. She doesn't look to be in heavy pre-molt, but that could also be a reason for not eating.

 

[Amy Hinkley]

ty! I typically feed her a dozen crickets every 3 months so she hasnt eaten since Nov. thats y i am concerned about her refusing to eat.

 

[Tomoran]

Yup, I have to agree with @Meludox; she looks like she is in really good shape. Does she have water available to her? Like she said, this species has a reputation for its fasts, some of which are very long. There was once a "contest" on another board where folks were trying to see whose rosie had fasted for the longest. I think the "winner's" T hadn't eaten in over a year. If you're in a locale where it gets cold for the winter, this species will often start a fast during the colder months, so it's possible this is what you're experiencing. Or, it could be premolt. When was her last shed?

If she hasn't fasted on you yet, you're one of the lucky ones!

 

[Meludox]

My Rosie fasted for 6 months after I got her before eating one ****roach that pushed her into pre-molt for two months. She certainly likes to keep me waiting.

 

[Amy Hinkley]

I recently had to change the sponges in her water bowl as i didn't realize they were deteriorating so I originally became concerned she was dehydrated but she was spotted by my mother in law drinking as soon as we changed it out.

she has averaged 1 molt every year to year and a half. The longest she has gone was 6 to 9 months in between feedings but that would b after i fed her a dozen or so crickets. I am also concerned about a spot on her abdomen. It was never there before and then about a month ago it showed up. Is this normal? I have a close up picture of the spot posted.

 

[Tomoran]

My Rosie fasted for 6 months after I got her before eating one ****roach that pushed her into pre-molt for two months. She certainly likes to keep me waiting.

Oh, man...I bet THAT caused some stress! Man, that would have driven me nuts!

I'm fortunate in that my girl has (knock on wood!) NEVER fasted in 20 years!

 

[Tomoran]

I recently had to change the sponges in her water bowl as i didn't realize they were deteriorating so I originally became concerned she was dehydrated but she was spotted by my mother in law drinking as soon as we changed it out.

she has averaged 1 molt every year to year and a half. The longest she has gone was 6 to 9 months in between feedings but that would b after i fed her a dozen or so crickets. I am also concerned about a spot on her abdomen. It was never there before and then about a month ago it showed up. Is this normal? I have a close up picture of the spot posted.

Oh, about those sponges...throw them out! Years ago, they would tell folks to put sponges in the water dishes. Unfortunately, all they do is breed bacteria and put your tarantula at risk. I've had mine for 20 years now, she's never had a sponge, and I've personally witnessed her drink out of the water dish many times. I would just throw away the sponges, clean the bowl, and give your girl fresh water.

The time between molts gets longer and longer as the T matures, so it could be quite some time between sheds. Mine just molted for the first time in about 7 years (boy, was THAT an event. ).

I think the spot you're looking at might be a "mirror patch" or a patch of urticating hairs on the Ts abdomen that catch light differently.

 

[Amy Hinkley]

I will pull the sponges out tomorrow. I have been trying to leave her alone the last couple of days in case she is in premolt. i just never witnessed any changes before when she would molt. i would just wake up and there would be a molt laying on the floor and shes hiding in her den.

 

[Tomoran]

I will pull the sponges out tomorrow. I have been trying to leave her alone the last couple of days in case she is in premolt. i just never witnessed any changes before when she would molt. i would just wake up and there would be a molt laying on the floor and shes hiding in her den.

Awesome! If you're worried that she's not in premolt and want to make sure she's not ready to eat again, you can always drop a cricket in every two weeks to see if she eats it. If she doesn't, pluck it out and try again in another couple of weeks. Just don't leave it in overnight, in case she flips for the molt.

 

[Meludox]

Oh, man...I bet THAT caused some stress! Man, that would have driven me nuts!

I'm fortunate in that my girl has (knock on wood!) NEVER fasted in 20 years!

20 years and not a single fast?! I think you just might have the most perfect (or strangest) rosie ever.

 

[Tomoran]

20 years and not a single fast?! I think you just might have the most perfect (or strangest) rosie ever.

I'm so bummed. I feel like by admitting that, I have likely incurred the wrath of the Rosie Gods and she'll never eat again. lol

Yes, she is truly something else.

 

[Amy Hinkley]

the cursor is pointing at the spot i am concerned about

 

[Tomoran]

It's a little difficult to tell, but it looks like it's pointing right to the mirror patch. Is it good-sized?

 

[Meludox]

I agree, it looks like a mirror patch. Or perhaps a small bald patch from flicking hairs?

 

[Amy Hinkley]

ive never witnessed her flicking hairs before

 

[Scoolman]

Normal, healthy looking rosea. Tarantulas will use thier urticating bristles to line their lair and create a defense perimeter; especially when premolt.

 

[Amy Hinkley]

Still refusing to eat and still has not molted but she has covered her entire terrarium in webbing, hoping this is a sign on her molting (but she ahs never done this before)