Did I do something wrong? :(

[x_raphael_xx]

He will not fall apart, but you would need first to "set" it then let it dry out in a space where bugs/flies cannot get to him. Be mindful as well that it is going to stink for a while. I usually work with molts which are a lot more difficult to work with but also do my males when dying of old age. I'll show you a few of my work this evening

I've got him in a tub with some silica beads, so that will hopefully dry him out. How long do I leave him? A couple of months?
I have a back room I can leave him in if he gets too smelly.

 

[Oursapoil]

I've got him in a tub with some silica beads, so that will hopefully dry him out. How long do I leave him? A couple of months?
I have a back room I can leave him in if he gets too smelly.

You will need first to set it properly, because once it is dried out there is no more adjusting that can be done.
Let me see if I have a few pictures on my phone to show you as example.

 

[Oursapoil]

Hoping this helps

 

[x_raphael_xx]

They all look awesome!
I've set him in a relatively natural pose and popped him on his styrofoam on top of the beads.
Fingers crossed it will work.
The more I look at the pedipalps, they more bulbous they look.

 

[Noodlelove]

Here's my 3" female. She looks a lot lighter than yours. Could just be a camera thing though.View attachment 60768

Oh my, I'm in love.

 

[Oursapoil]

Here is the latest mature male I am drying out as well as my old male H. mac. I also zoomed in the palpable bulbs.

 

[Noodlelove]

Betelgeuse the H.maculata arrived 27th August, and hasn't eaten a thing. I've tried live and pre-killed prey.
Shes usually in her web tunnel, but she has been moving around as shes webbed and pooped, she was just never out when Iwas around. As far as I know she'd been drinking as I'd have to replenish the water often.
Yesterday she was walking around the enclosure and I tried feeding her. She would grab and hold the prey, but not bite and eventually let go. I left the cricket in, and she seemed to be satlking it the rest of the night.
This morning she was out but scuttled for cover as soon as I spotted her.
This evening I found her in a death curl.

I don't know if it was a sucking stomach issue, I haven't had a molt from her. She was a replacement for another on a past order that arrived in death curl (no blame on the vendor, everything else I've bought has been great).

Sucks
View attachment 60762
View attachment 60763

 

[Noodlelove]

Betelgeuse the H.maculata arrived 27th August, and hasn't eaten a thing. I've tried live and pre-killed prey.
Shes usually in her web tunnel, but she has been moving around as shes webbed and pooped, she was just never out when Iwas around. As far as I know she'd been drinking as I'd have to replenish the water often.
Yesterday she was walking around the enclosure and I tried feeding her. She would grab and hold the prey, but not bite and eventually let go. I left the cricket in, and she seemed to be satlking it the rest of the night.
This morning she was out but scuttled for cover as soon as I spotted her.
This evening I found her in a death curl.

I don't know if it was a sucking stomach issue, I haven't had a molt from her. She was a replacement for another on a past order that arrived in death curl (no blame on the vendor, everything else I've bought has been great).

Sucks
View attachment 60762
View attachment 60763

She's so cute. I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Poppy2020]

Here is the latest mature male I am drying out as well as my old male H. mac. I also zoomed in the palpable bulbs.
View attachment 60797View attachment 60798View attachment 60799

That first guy looks like the Alien—

 

[Noodlelove]

That first guy looks like the Alien—

Agreed 100%. The second one was pretty cute though, even with a little tarantula toe claw it reminded me of a little cute thing.

 

[x_raphael_xx]

Meet Betelgeuse II a present from my bf
He's a speedy little bugger

 

[x_raphael_xx]

Finally decided Betelgeuse had been drying out for long enough.
Not bad for my first attempt. I’m going to add a label with his name and genus, but my label writer is currently out of tape.

Took the opportunity for a couple macro pics of his pedipalps while I was unpinning him.
They do look kinda bulbous.