Is my Lp ill?

[AndyBunn]

I have a male lasiodora paraybana who's about 3 years old. He had a moult in November and I've noticed that he seems to be struggling to kill and feed. I offer him black and brown Crickets, Mealworm, medium sized Locusts, dubia roaches and once a wax Worm.
He's fed no problems in the past but now I'm not so sure.

Also his abdomen doesn't look right.

I'll attach some photos though they aren't the best.
Does anyone here know what's going on here?


Many thanks

Andy and Del toro

 

[SpoodDude]

Hard to tell from the pix provided but may have had a rough molt. Can he hunt and eat at all or is he not able to? If he continuing to eat Id just wait it out. Just stay on top of your humidity and make sure the water dish stays full.

 

[AndyBunn]

Hi SpoodDude.

He catches prey OK just seems to struggle killing them. I fed him a couple of black Crickets and the one he caught was able to get free.

I will try to get some better photos.

 

[Enn49]

I'm sorry to say but I think he may be nearing the end of his life. His age and behaviour are clues.

 

[Frogdaddy]

Hi SpoodDude.

He catches prey OK just seems to struggle killing them. I fed him a couple of black Crickets and the one he caught was able to get free.

I will try to get some better photos.

Black crickets as in wild caught crickets?

 

[Enn49]

Black crickets as in wild caught crickets?

In the UK you can buy both brown and black crickets that are bred for livefood.

 

[AndyBunn]

Yes they are captive bred black Crickets

 

[AndyBunn]

I'm sorry to say but I think he may be nearing the end of his life. His age and behaviour are clues.

I thought that Lasiodora paraybana males lived much longer than 3 years?

 

[Frogdaddy]

In the UK you can buy both brown and black crickets that are bred for livefood.

And you guys have locusts as well. Must be nice.

 

[AndyBunn]

I'm sorry to say but I think he may be nearing the end of his life. His age and behaviour are clues.

I thought that Lasiodora paraybana males lived much longer than 3 years

 

[SpoodDude]

Hi SpoodDude.

He catches prey OK just seems to struggle killing them. I fed him a couple of black Crickets and the one he caught was able to get free.

I will try to get some better photos.

Is he mature? Hes about the right age When did he molt last?

 

[AndyBunn]

Here's some better pictures of Del toro, my Lp.

 

[AndyBunn]

He had his last molt 1st October 2020. I got him as a spiderling 1st July 2017.

Ive read in lots of different places that males can live up to 14 years.

 

[Casey K.]

Usually when their abdomens start to wrinkle up like that it is because they are dehydrated. Make sure he has a water dish in there with fresh water (big enough for him to drink from). Tarantulas get most of their hydration from the food they eat but if they aren't eating then the water dish is where they go. That's why its so important to have one in your tarantulas enclosure no matter how often you feed them.

 

[Enn49]

He had his last molt 1st October 2020. I got him as a spiderling 1st July 2017.

Ive read in lots of different places that males can live up to 14 years.

Does he have hooks on his front legs, a sure sign he's mature?
My lad was just 2 years old when he matured and 3 when he died.

 

[AndyBunn]

Usually when their abdomens start to wrinkle up like that it is because they are dehydrated. Make sure he has a water dish in there with fresh water (big enough for him to drink from). Tarantulas get most of their hydration from the food they eat but if they aren't eating then the water dish is where they go. That's why its so important to have one in your tarantulas enclosure no matter how often you feed them.

Hi Casey K

He does have a water dish in his Vivarium and he does drink from it. It was pretty dry here when he last molted but when I fill up his water dish I overflow it.

I really don't understand what's going on with him.

 

[AndyBunn]

Does he have hooks on his front legs, a sure sign he's mature?
My lad was just 2 years old when he matured and 3 when he died.

I don't see any hooks and his pedipalps haven't enlarged.

 

[Suzjohn]

Perhaps you don't have a male. Have you been able to see if the fangs are alright? Hope your T is feeling better.

 

[AndyBunn]

Hi Suzjohn

He's been drinking and killing prey though he still finds it difficult from watching him. This morning I gave him a black Cricket and he immediately leaped on to it and sat on it for at least 10 minutes. When he moved away the cricket was still a live. Usually its all over.

When the cricket moved he grabbed it again.

I just hope he holds out to the next moult and that sorts out any problems.

Merry Christmas to you and your tarantulas