Should I worry?

[Sonicookie]

Today my G. Rosea was standing next to the water dish (not uncommon), not moving (also not uncommon), but didn't respond when I poured in some water. The pose seems a bit loose. She definitely needs to be fed but I think the abdomen size is okay. It just seems like something is off. I'm about to go to bed. Any suggestions? I don't have crickets right now but I think I could get some tomorrow. This is my first tarantula so I don't know too much yet, I'd feel awful if something happened that I could have prevented.

 

[Sonicookie]

Update: She's moved to the corner. I'm relived. For the future, what are some signs (besides death curl, erratic movements, and small/wrinkly abdomen) should I look for? And, do tarantulas sleep?

 

[Arachnoclown]

I've got a few hundred Ts that dont move when I fill their water dishs.
Shes just chillin....
I've got Brachypelma hamoriis that dont move for weeks, they just sit in the same spot.
Just go get some feeders meanwhile and see if it will eat.
In a pinch you can feed them raw chicken...

 

[RonC]

Just don't leave crickets in with your T for more than a few hours. Not eating is a sign of pre-molt. From my understanding they don't actually sleep. You can startle them because they don't see very well, even worse pre-molt.

 

[MassExodus]

When they do that, you should touch one fang with a fingertip. It's the only real way to tell if they're alive. Srsly.

 

[Sonicookie]

I've got a few hundred Ts that dont move when I fill their water dishs.
Shes just chillin....
I've got Brachypelma hamoriis that dont move for weeks, they just sit in the same spot.
Just go get some feeders meanwhile and see if it will eat.
In a pinch you can feed them raw chicken...

That's good to know, I almost always have raw chicken around. It seems a little bit silly now to worry, but I'm often afraid that I'm doing something wrong (I've had various dreams about her dying).

 

[Sonicookie]

When they do that, you should touch one fang with a fingertip. It's the only real way to tell if they're alive. Srsly.

She usually pounces on and sometimes bites things that unexpectedly touch her (although my only real experience is with crickets). Could I use something like a plastic spoon instead?

 

[Tortoise Tom]

She usually pounces on and sometimes bites things that unexpectedly touch her (although my only real experience is with crickets). Could I use something like a plastic spoon instead?

No. This test absolutely must be done with a bare finger.

Just ask our good friend @Shampain

 

[RonC]

Most of us have a small paint brush for nudging our little ones along.

 

[Rs50matt]

No. This test absolutely must be done with a bare finger.

Just ask our good friend @Shampain

I feel like it'll take very little effort to bring this up in every thread posted

 

[Dave Jay]

She usually pounces on and sometimes bites things that unexpectedly touch her (although my only real experience is with crickets). Could I use something like a plastic spoon instead?

By now you would have realised that they are joking about touching her fang with a finger of course! If you get too worried you can gently blow on her, use a spray bottle near her or touch a back leg with a paint brush, these should get some reaction, but sometimes not. Pre-moult can certainly be a time when they are sluggish and reluctant to move, I'm sure you're worrying about nothing though.