My tarantula is acting differently???

[Haileeamethyst]

Hello, I am a semi-new tarantula owner and I have a Curley haired tarantula named lalaith. She is usually very calm and let’s us take her out of her enclosure every once in a while and just kinda chills on our shoulder for a while. Lately she’s been moving really fast for some reason. We thought she might just be hungry since it was the day before feeding day. After she ate we gave her a couple of days and I tried to take her out again and she just ran up my arm and down my back very quickly again. She has been eating very well and has a water bowl and hide and a good setup, I’m not sure what’s going on and why she’s acting like this all of a sudden. Any advice?

 

[octanejunkie]

Tarantulas are not a handling type animal. They don't crave contact or attention and can view our interest in them as risk; for all they know we might be trying to eat them! They may run, or become defensive if they feel threatened. Although every individual has a different temperament, it may change at any time.

It is generally recommend not to handle them. Hope that helps

ps. welcome to the forum!

 

[menavodi]

May be you can show us a picture of your setup?

 

[Arachnoclown]

Premolt....tarantulas get flighty when they grow a new exoskeleton. Their vision is even worse then it was before. Not just that but all their other senses also. Just let it be and all will be fine.

 

[PanzoN88]

Tarantulas are not a handling type animal. They don't crave contact or attention and can view our interest in them as risk; for all they know we might be trying to eat them! They may run, or become defensive if they feel threatened. Although every individual has a different temperament, it may change at any time.

It is generally recommend not to handle them. Hope that helps

ps. welcome to the forum!

I will echo this statement

 

[octanejunkie]

I will echo this statement

It's like déjà vu all over again!

 

[Haileeamethyst]

Okay thanks! I understand that she’s not meant to be out all a lot but I got some more substrate to add into her enclosure and I need to be able to take her out to add it in! It could definitely be premolt because I noticed a small patch on her abdomen without hair and color, but she’s still been eating. I’ll attach a picture of her abdomen and her enclosure. Also before anybody comments on the heating pad, I know I don’t need one but my roommate/landlord keeps our house at 60 degrees so I thought a small one would help. Thanks!

 

[octanejunkie]

That tank is super tall and you really don't want more vertical climbing height than 1.5-2x the Ts DLS (diagonal leg span) - if you keep that tank you need to fill it 2/3-3/4 of the way full with substrate, or fill the bottom of the tank with [something] to raise the floor level, requiring less actual substrate material

Best to heat the room or area than a heat pad

 

[Haileeamethyst]

Like I said, my roommate is my landlord so it’s not possible to raise the heat which is why I got a heat pad. She seems to like it though. Also I said that I want to add more substrate but am scared to take her out because she’s flighty. My question was about the flightyness and premolt (and the patch in the picture) and I specifically mentioned the two things that you brought up....people always do this on here haha