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Bears33 Jul 23, 2009 11:25 AM

I got a rose hair in March of this year and it is my first tarantula. I fed her two crickets every other day with no problems during feedings. It has been three weeks since she ate and I am getting worried about her. Is she about to molt? Is she sick? If anyone could help me I would very much appreciate it.

Replies (3)

Krawll Jul 26, 2009 01:50 AM

Yes tarrantulas will ignore food when they are close to molting.

The first time my T. molted, he stoped eating completly for 3 weeks before the molt, then for another week after the molt.
So yeah they will normaly stop eating for about a month total.

Right now mine has been ignoring food for about 2 weeks and a half so i'm expecting a molt soon . He also made himself a web witch is something he only does before molting. Since yours is a terrestrial species, she may not make any webs but she's probably not moving alot in the enclosure. If you gave her something that she can use as a burrow, she's probably spending alot of time in it . And since you said she didn't eat in 3 weeks then i'm guessing she will molt in less than 4-5 days.

Don't try to handle her after a molt and don't move anything for a full week and also don't put any crickets inside the enclosure for at least 5-6 days because she needs that time to make her new skin dry and harden up. They are very fragile after molting and yes they will even be scared of a cricket lol. They could be damaged very easily. After that week she'll eat like a pig lol so you can give her 3-4 crickets for her first meal and then go back to normal .

Hope this helps a bit

have a nice day

Krawll.

Bears33 Jul 29, 2009 07:58 AM

Thanks a lot Krawll, everything was very helpful. She actually does have a small burrow and she does spend most of her time in it. She is still rejecting crickets so if she is going to molt I wish she would hurry up. Take it easy and I appreciate your help.

wolfpackh Jul 29, 2009 12:42 PM

rose hairs can go months without eating. most tarantulas can. pre-molt is often one reason and sometimes they just aren't hungry. so long as your spider looks plump and healthy then no worries. otherwise , you will go bananas worrying about it.

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