P. Metallica concerns

[Pheonixx]

Hey all,
I have had a P. metallica for a while now and it has not molted yet. It's a sling, maybe 1". I have offered foor daily and it wont touch it. When i first got it it would destroy pinheads. now it wont touch them, nor larger food. I dont see any blackening of the abdomen nor any behavior that would suggest molting soon, other than the not eating thing. The sling seems happy and content, just no eating. the abdomen is not terribly small but not very plump either. I havent seen any food disappear in probibaly 2 weeks.


any thoughts?

[LaRiz]

You probably won't notice the abdomen darkening up in Poecilotheria metallica, the way you would a new worlder. Look to the sternum. I've noticed metallica darken up pretty good there in pre-molt. Of course this is a lot more obvious in 'slings than in sub-adult to adult.
john

[GoTerps]

If a metallica of that size is not eating, expect a molt.

[Pheonixx]

well yes Eric i suspect a molt, but a sling of this size would normally have molted by now. I've never seen a sling go off food for more than two weeks (actually closer to almost 3 weeks)

[Ultimate Instar]

I'd try different prey items, if possible. IME, Ts will show some food preferences at different stages of their lives. Given the value of this particular species, trying out a few different food items is well worth the trouble.

Karen N.

[Windchaser]

well yes Eric i suspect a molt, but a sling of this size would normally have molted by now. I've never seen a sling go off food for more than two weeks (actually closer to almost 3 weeks)

I recently had a P. regalis s'ling go for almost a month without eating. I have also had some very small (1/4" to 1/2") G. rosea s'lings go for about 2 months. These little G. rosea s'lings last molted late December. I also have a G. aureostriata that has sealed itself in a burrow for the last two months. It is amazing how long some of these s'lings will go without food.

[Pheonixx]

i hope that it is just a picky eater. I dont want to lose this one.

[Daywalker]

Hey all,
I have had a P. metallica for a while now and it has not molted yet. It's a sling, maybe 1".

how long have you had it ?

[Pheonixx]

about 2 1/2 months.

[Windchaser]

i hope that it is just a picky eater. I dont want to lose this one.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I have one at home that didn't eat for a while either. It did molt and wasn't eating anything I offered it. I put it in a smaller container and it finally ate.

[Pheonixx]

it is currently in a 50 dram vial.

[Windchaser]

it is currently in a 50 dram vial.

That certainly isn't too large. You could always try increasing the temperature a little to increase the metabolism.

[Fred]

i hope that it is just a picky eater. I dont want to lose this one.

Yeah, especially if it's a P metallica. You should post some pics if possible.

[Tony]

My metallica exhibited the same behaviour. After several weeks I began to worry. I mean the one molted up to 5-6 weeks after the other two !
T

[Pheonixx]

i cant post pics because my camera is on its way back to samsung for a warranty replacement. but i can say that with almost 60 T's they have their own room, which is kept at around 80 degrees. and at night i run a humidifier. the humidity in the room sits around 60-70%.