Rosehair

[seduisant_sang]

I know you all must think me a complete idiot, for this is my third post in a row; but since it is on a different topic, I see no problems. I have a rosehair tarantula that I just purchased about 14 months ago. I feed her often, about every couple of days three crickets, and she has a healthy appetite. But she has not yet begun to molt, or even show any signs of doing so. I know this is a primarily reptile site, but I noticed a scorpion thread, so thought someone may be able to help me. Is it normal for rosehairs, or even tarantulas in general, to skip molts?

[Future_herp.]

I dont know about arachnids, but i know that with herps of all kinds, once they stop growing, they shed much less often

[seduisant_sang]

I would view that as valid; I have no way of knowing how old she is, as I didn't bother asking when I got her. But she seems pretty small; I have seen others of her species and they are usually relatively larger.

[tmfleo1]

check out this site


Rosehair
Grammostola rosea
These are some of the most common tarantulas sold in US petstores. They've recently undergone a host of name changes (from Phrixotrichus auratus to P.roseus and P.spatulata)
since there are many color variations and people thought they were different species. Most are brownish overall (their rumps look like little kiwis) with a coppery carapace that shines like a new penny. Others have a more brownish carapace and some are quite pinkish/red all over.

Range: Northern Chile (Atacama region), Argentina, and nearby areas
Habitat: Dry scrubland
Size: Medium tarantula. Fully grown, they're about 5" in legspan.
Attitude: Usually very docile and slow-moving, but some rare individuals can be snippity. The ones I have are the nicest tarantulas I've ever seen- none have even so much as flicked hairs at me. Their main defense seems to be slowly shrinking away. Just mind their moods and become familiar with an individual before trying to get it to walk onto your hand.
They mate quite easily, though the female is often aggressive toward the male after the act.
Getting a mated female to produce an eggsac, however, can be difficult.
Dwelling: Opportunistic spiders that may use a provided shelter. Often times, captive rosehairs will desire to sit atop a shelter rather than go in one.


The great variation in colors that led to many different species names. . . .

A leggy male rosehair
Due to people's ignorance, here's the disgusting environment many rosehairs live in for months in some petstores
Here's the ragged, starving female that came out of the cup to the left. She has since recovered. It's amazing how an animal that needs such a minimal amount of attention could be in such a state. . . .


Ideal Setup: Most adult rosehairs will get along swimmingly with very little. A 5 gallon container with a thin layer of substrate, a shelter, and a water dish works well. They like it dry, so don't bother moistening the substrate except upon its initial application.
Food: Any bugs that haven't been exposed to pesticides (2-5 crickets a week for adults). Many rosehairs are notorious for going on great fasts for no apparent reason. Some suspect they fast during the chilly winters in Chile (that pun had to be done, sorry), which is June through August, and may carry this trait with them to the northern hemisphere. I have one (in the top left picture on this page) that eats one or two crickets a month, and that after not eating anything for many months. If its rear stays plump, don't worry- it knows what it's doing.
As a side note, I have observed two Rosehairs secrete clear fluid from their mouth area, as if they were drooling. One was a male red phase and the other was a brown female with a coppery carapace. They appeared healthy and continued to get along fine afterward. They did not molt in the months following, consume more or less food or water, or do anything at all out of the ordinary. In both instances, crickets were placed in the tarantulas' containers just prior to the drooling.

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[seduisant_sang]

That information I knew already, though thank-you regardless for helping. Perhaps I need to feed her more often; she has always had a voracious appetite, maybe it's because she is hungry all the time.

[gjmccag]

Originally Posted by seduisant_sang

I would view that as valid; I have no way of knowing how old she is, as I didn't bother asking when I got her. But she seems pretty small; I have seen others of her species and they are usually relatively larger.

How big is she? do you have any pictures? I had a Rose hair tarantula for over ten years and when they get older or if they are underfed, which doesnt sound like the case, they shed rarely. Also, what kind of water source do you have? THey need humidity.

[tmfleo1]

here are some links to other site also that may help
http://www.tarantulas.com/
http://www.treespiders.co.uk/careshe...arantulas.html

[seduisant_sang]

Here is a picture of a tarantula almost identical to her size:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wecdsb.on.ca/232/LivingLab/animal%2520pictures/fluffysm.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wecdsb.on.ca/232/LivingLab/animal%2520bios/rosehairtarantula.htm&h=240&w=320&sz=13&tbnid=iMBaoeZXcd1G6M:&tbnh=84&tbnw=113&hl=en&start=3&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drosehair%2Btarantula%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN[/IMG]
I use a dish, about four inches around in every direction from the middle, with the traditional sponge. I mist her about once a day; I used to do more, but I had an arachnid expert tell me I didn't need to do so much.
As a side note, congradulations on keeping a rosehair so long! From what I understand, they typically live only 5-7 years.

[gjmccag]

i dont see a pic

[gjmccag]

The females live much longer than the males. The males live only about five years and the females can live much longer

[tmfleo1]

me either ? try going in the advanced posting anf upload the pics there if not to large

[seduisant_sang]

Copy and paste the address into your web browser, please. I am helping you help me!

[seduisant_sang]

Also, since both of you repliers have been so helpful; would you mind helping me with my savannah monitor? I notice that nobody has yet posted in that thread, but it is almost as important to me as my snake or tarantula. (Not quite, though, us two aren't presently very fond of one another)

[gjmccag]

That is definitely not a baby. It is hard to say if it is full size or not, mine was a little larger it think, but its been a while. If the tarantula seems healthy other than it not molting and eats half a dozen crickets a week, then i would not be to concerned. They shed when they need to and if it seems that it is healthy, it probably just isn't growing that fast.

[seduisant_sang]

Thank you; there's a load off my chest. I've been sort of detachedly worried about that awhile, it's nice to know there are no problems.

[tmfleo1]

(Not quite, though, us two aren't presently very fond of one another)[/quote]
we don't know each other except for this site.

well we all try and help each other out here on RTB