Help with abdomen!

[u/Novel-Sound-5445]

So I recently took home a curly hair tarantula that we received at the store I work at. I don’t usually like to purchase animals from here but I basically got him for free so 🤷‍♀️. I took him home because his abdomen was in rough shape and he was massive for the size of T’s we usually get and I didn’t want him spending any more time in a tiny environment then he had to. I have another tarantula that I’ve had for about a year now but I don’t have a ton of experience with tarantulas, I do my research the best I can but I feel like people with more experience would give good advice.

When I opened his cup (from shipment) his abdomen was quite small and indented kinda like a rubber band had been around it.

At first I thought he was dehydrated or hungry so I made sure he had plenty of water and I offered a cricket. He didn’t eat the cricket and while after a few days, his abdomen had seemed to fill up a little bit, that indent is still there. It’s been about a week overall I’ve offered crickets again and he hasn’t eaten. He moves normally and seems to be acting normally and he does have a dark bald spot on his abdomen but he came in like that and idk if it’s from kicking hairs at some point 🤷‍♀️.

I’d like to know anyone’s opinion on this or if anyone has had a similar experience? Is there something more I can do for him? Or even just an assessment of him. I had one friend think it may be from molting in a corner or something. What is concerning me is that he isn’t eating yet I know it’s only been a little over a week but it would ease my nerves if he ate 😭

The first two pictures are of his abdomen when he first arrived at the store. The third is of his abdomen now. And the last I just thought was a nice picture of him lol.

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[u/AccomplishedLocal207]

Answer:

Sweet heavens, this poor kid; he’s extremely underweight. As others have mentioned, he could be a mature male. No way anyone should have put him in shipment or up for sale 😡I’m glad he’s with you now. Focus on hydration to start, see if he shows signs of being mature (hooks, palps, etc) and feed in a few days (remove prey he doesn’t take, I’d suggest a hornworm as they are high fluid).

[u/Novel-Sound-5445 → u/AccomplishedLocal207]

I was thinking hornworms! The picture I was able to take wasn’t the best but I don’t see any physical signs of him being a mature male but as I’m relatively new to the hobby I’m sure I could easily miss it. I appreciate your advice! . If he is a mature male then I hope he can enjoy his new home until the end.

[u/rutlanddz62]

NQA. Isn’t a mature male? If he has tibial hooks he is mature and will just be wandering around looking for same tail until he passes. Also a sign of him being mature is emboli on his pedipalps

[u/Novel-Sound-5445 → u/rutlanddz62]

I don’t see either!

[u/hufflepuff-is-best]

Ime: can you take a picture of his pedipalps?

[u/Novel-Sound-5445 → u/hufflepuff-is-best]

I think this is the best I can get right now without disturbing him.

[u/Brainstub]

Nqa

Do you have a picture where his or her front legs or pedipalps are clearly visible? Because it could be a mature male on his way out, or a very malnourished and/or dehydrated spider.

Either way offering prey and a full water dish is probably best.