Big Rosie: no feeding since molt 6 weeks ago

NYCspiderGuy

Arachnoknight
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Jan 14, 2005
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Been away for several weeks and before leaving a large rosehair molted - bought about a year ago and no idea of history - but did not want to feed too soon, so let it wait 3 weeks until return.
All tanks were cleaned and fresh water sources cleaned and extras added for the duration, so did not want to have possible crix running around/dying in one and rotting away, so all fasted.
When I got back most ate readily as expected - and first molt in my possesion this rosehair ate like a monster, and regular as clockwork.
Not an aggressive T; but voracious eater normally ready to leap across cage for prey. 'Bout six weeks now, and this T has eaten nothing since molt.
I KNOW that rosies are unpredictable, but does this have something to do with maturity?
 

Cirith Ungol

Ministry of Fluffy Bunnies
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Dec 22, 2004
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Hard to say what it has to do with. Maybe you find some clues re-reading the rosea sticky.
 

solaceofwinter

Arachnobaron
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Oct 7, 2005
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546
mine is doine the same thing. big rose hair female, just molted first time in 4-5 years will not eat. im going to crank up the heat very soon, remove all crickets and let her go about month and a half and try again. get metabolism up and offer no food she'll get hungry soon enough. :)
 

NYCspiderGuy

Arachnoknight
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Jan 14, 2005
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I did read the stickies but have not seen anything definitive...

One more strange thing: about a week ago this rosehair was webbing away on the substrate in the spot it has been hanging out and stretching/drying out(?) since molt, and built a kind of second layer to the floor web that already existed for some time.
OK - here is the odd part - the spider worked its' way in between the "sheets" and positioned itself UPSIDE-DOWN... on its' back... inside the little web-envelope. As if it would molt again or something. Stayed there a while, then came out maybe an hour later. Is this a sperm-web?
I have not noticed pronounced pedipalp-hooks or "boxing gloves" look, but this spidey is hidey and I don't often get a good view lately... since I was away for a while, have not been checking as usual.
Just want to try to connect observations to expected behavior - plus originally gave this T a girl's name, so bets/jokes riding on revelation that it is a mature male.
With rosehairs, the joke is always on us!
 

Cirith Ungol

Ministry of Fluffy Bunnies
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Dec 22, 2004
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Definitely sounds like a sperm web. That could also be the reason for the bad apetite. Good thing though is that rosea males get quite old in comparison.
 

Windchaser

Arachnoking
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Dec 13, 2004
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Sounds like a classic sperm web. I suspect you have a mature male on your hands.
 
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