Help! I'm not sure what is going on!

[psychdoc]

I have an unsexed GBB measuring 5 cm who is acting weird. I've had him/her for 3 months & he/she is yet to moult. He has been fed and watered and pampered like my kids. In the past two week, he/she has shrunk & seems limp & listless. The only variable is the vivarium temp may have gotten as low as 60 for 1-2 days. Is this a moult? Is he/she dying? Help?

 

[Josh]

Can you post a photo of her and her setup? What you're describing is a bit weird. I'm not sure what could be going on. I don't think those temps would make her act like she is especially if it was just a day or two...

 

[psychdoc]

Here are the pics. The quarter is to help with size.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...uthkey=!AFaJc0vhzJgmGBs&v=3&ithint=photo,.jpg

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...uthkey=!ADAeH50fKbPsJjk&v=3&ithint=photo,.jpg

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...uthkey=!AD7SuVnBMeGYxp0&v=3&ithint=photo,.jpg

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...uthkey=!AN2-sO0dz-AW-N0&v=3&ithint=photo,.jpg

 

[psychdoc]

 

[Nada]

doesn't look like it's ready to molt just yet, may however be the beginning of pre-molt. S/He's not knuckling nor does s/he look dehydrated. Slow down on feeding, and just watch. If its abdomen starts to darken that's is a sign of pre-moult.

 

[psychdoc]

Newbie question: what's knuckling? Odd observation: s/he will occasionally use one of it more posterior legs to scratch it's carapace.

 

[Nada]

Knuckling is when the tarantula curls all it's legs beneath it. as if it were a hand making a fist. It's something dying tarantulas do.

 

[psychdoc]

Thanks Nada!

 

[psychdoc]

Looking better. Has a black spot on rump but I seem to remember one there all the time.

 

[Nada]

she looks fine, not quite at pre-molt but could be close. just make sure she has water available, and give her some space. What is that substrate btw?

 

[psychdoc]

Coconut husk.

 

[psychdoc]

In RE space? She has a piece of bark in her area and has a very nice burrow in it, but stays on the other side cramped against wall & bark. She's just weird= she has a bed but won't sleep in it. She hasn't been in burrow in weeks.

 

[psychdoc]