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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dezzyblaze86" data-source="post: 239858" data-attributes="member: 49822"><p>Hello everyone, thank you for letting me join this group. I joined this group for two Reasons. The first reason is I would just simply love to have other people to talk to that share a common interest in these wonderful little creatures and everyone I know personally, are either afraid or think I'm gross or weird for liking arachnids. The second reason, is because I truly want to offer my little buddies the absolute best care and best quality of life possible and for that I may need some help from other like-minded souls  I'd also like to give a fair heads up that I write a lot. Like book worthy posts lol. With that being said, I need some help right now. I sought out these groups because I feel like my Mexican red rump tarantula is currently having some odd behavior and I'm worried. I had a tarantula as a kid that my father took care of. And now I am almost 40 and wanted to get one of my own and start a collection. Before I set out to buy one, I did 8 months worth of research on all different species of t's. I have 6 full to the brim marble notebooks jam packed with info about all 3 different types. Arboreal, terrestrial, and fossorial. When I felt I had gathered enough info and researched as much as I could I finally set out to purchase one. But I am no expert at all. Very far from it. About 3 weeks ago, I purchased my red rump from a local pet store that was pretty much a joke. All of the staff were friendly, but very young and knew nothing about the tarantula they were selling me. Couldn't tell me where he was sourced from. Couldn't tell me what instar he was at. Told me he had more molts to go and told me he was a female. However, he had very clear tibial hooks on his front legs so I knew that was incorrect. From the info I gathered, once they get tibial hooks it means they have reached sexual maturity. And once they reach sexual maturity they usually don't molt again. Not saying it's impossible but from what I've gathered it's unlikely. I also asked about temperature and humidity and received multiple different answers. I asked what his feeding schedule was (what day of the week and how many times a week and how many crickets they gave him each time) none of them could answer. I wanted a female because of life longevity but I felt really bad for him. His tank was filthy with carcasses all over it from past killed cricket and mold was growing in the corner by his water bowl. I don't think his tank had ever been changed. So as much as I'm no expert, I still thought he'd be better off with me then in the horrible conditions he was living in at said unnamed pet store. I have had him for 3 weeks. First two weeks he did not move. Stayed in one spot and wasn't very active. I chalked it up to the change of environment. Figured it was him settling in and possibly stressed from the move and change of scenery. He eats very well. I have no problems there. However, now he has been in a very weird position for about 3 days. He is laying on his side with his belly against the glass. He appears to be in a relaxed position but is very inactive almost lethargic and won't allow his body to touch the coco coir. I know their movement is limited when preparing for a molt and they usually lay on their backs as far as I know. But he is laying on his side balancing up on a foot or two. He's been like that for 3 days. I'm worried. I am also struggling with temp and humidity. I have a thermostat that also reads humidity. I keep my AC at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermostat in his tank reads 71. I bought a heat mat and attached it to the side of the tank. No change in temperature on the thermostat in his tank. So I bought a second heat Matt and also attached it to the same side of the tank right above the other but not overlapping. Now the tank randomly gets anywhere from 73 degrees to 78 degrees. It's not consistent. It fluctuates between those temps. As far as humidity, when I changed his substrate when I first got him I had to soak a cour brick. Once it expanded, I made sure it wasn't swampy or too wet but it was still somewhat moist. I keep a fresh water bowl in the opposite corner of his hide. His water is bottled water that I treat as recommended on the water conditioner that is for arachnids. I know they have book lungs and need humidity to breath properly. Even though the substrate is still somewhat moist and the coir shows condensation where the heating mats are, and even though I drop a little extra (not too much) around his water bowl and even though I misted the opposite corner from his hide, the humidity gage stays around 54 percent. I don't understand why I can't get this right. I really need some help. I really want to get this right for him. I know I haven't had him long but I ****ing love him already. I don't want anything to happen to him and I definitely don't want to be at fault if it does. He is really cool. I know it might sound weird or whatever, but watching him soothes me and brings me peace. I want him to be ok. I call him E.T. bc when I spot clean his enclosure after feedings he likes to boop fingers with me like he's trying to phone home lol. Almost like a little bitty high five. I just want to make sure he is ok. Can ANYONE please help me get this right for him. I will attach some pics. Please tell me if it is normal for him to be like this. He has been in this odd position for 3 days. His abdomen isn't shriveled and looks normal. He eats well and his next feeding is tomorrow. I have been feeding him 4-6 crickets every Thursday. Also, the tank next to him with the skull is the cricket tank. I've begun breeding crickets for him. Any info or critique or feedback would be very much appreciated. Please don't be mean though I am very well aware that I don't know it all which is why I am seeking your help. Sorry again for writing y'all a book. I'm just kind of internally panicking at this point.</p></blockquote><p></p>

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