If your tarantula’s legs are curled tightly underneath its body (the "death curl") and its abdomen is shriveled or wrinkled like a raisin, it is likely severely dehydrated. If the legs are limp and the spider has fallen onto its back or side, it may have passed away.
To tell if your tarantula is dehydrated, check if its abdomen is noticeably shriveled or wrinkled like a raisin. Observe if the spider is sluggish or resting with its legs curled tightly underneath it, known as the "death curl".
Helping dehydrated spiders with water
I touched her gently and she moved a leg. So I grabbed a cotton swab and soak it in water, and offered it to her. She drank a LOT, and plumped right up. This also works for bees (NO sugar water) and other insects.
A tarantula can fall as little as 12 to 24 inches before the impact becomes fatal. Because their bodies are heavy and their exoskeletons are exceptionally fragile (especially around the abdomen), a short drop onto a hard surface can cause the abdomen to rupture, leading to rapid and fatal blood loss.
If they're dehydrated from not drinking then it's usually a shriveled abdomen like an old grape.
To quickly check if your tarantula is molting or dying, look at how it is resting: if it is flipped upside down or on its side, it is likely molting. If it is upright with its legs tucked tightly underneath its body, it is in a "death curl" and is dying or severely dehydrated.
To rehydrate a live tarantula, place it in an ICU container (a well-ventilated plastic tub) lined with deeply saturated, unscented paper towels. Make sure the towels are wet but contain no standing water. Leave the tarantula in this warm, humid, and dark environment for 24 hours.
Preserving a dehydrated Tarantula is fast and easy with Encapso® K silicone encapsulation rubber. When cured, Encapso® K looks just like water and will last a long time. This Non-Hazardous – 2 part silicone rubber is easy to use, UV resistant and cures without generating any dangerous heat or fumes.
To tell if a spider is starving, look at its abdomen (the rear body segment). A starving spider’s abdomen will appear shriveled, flat, or dramatically shrunken, often tapering to a sharp point. In contrast, a well-fed spider’s abdomen is plump, gently rounded, and often has visible "bulges".
Physical crushing (squishing), high-impact vacuuming, or professional-grade pyrethroid insecticides (such as bifenthrin) will kill a tarantula instantly. Household cleaners and aerosol bug sprays will also kill them rapidly, though they may suffer a prolonged death depending on the chemical and exposure.
Temperatures consistently below 65∘F65 raised to the composed with power F𝟔𝟓∘𝐅 (18∘C18 raised to the composed with power C𝟏𝟖∘𝐂) are too cold for tarantulas. While they can temporarily survive drops down to 50∘F50 raised to the composed with power F𝟓𝟎∘𝐅 (10∘C10 raised to the composed with power C𝟏𝟎∘𝐂), long-term exposure will cause their metabolism to slow down, potentially leading to sluggishness, halted growth, refusal to eat, and poor molting.
To tell if a spider is dehydrated, look closely at its abdomen (the back part of its body). A healthy spider's abdomen is plump and rounded. A dehydrated spider will display the following physical and behavioral signs:
A dead tarantula usually lies in an unmistakable position called the "death curl," with its legs pulled tightly underneath its body so it looks small and frail. Its abdomen may also appear shriveled or dehydrated.
A mildly dehydrated tarantula will often recover within 24 hours, but a couple of days might be necessary. Having a second clean container ready to move the tarantula into if the towel becomes dry or dirty is a good idea. Check on the spider a couple of times a day and move to clean container as needed.
Some tarantulas live on the ground under rocks, logs, or the shed bark of trees, and others live in webbed burrows in trees. These large spiders are solitary creatures, so there is only one spider per "house."
Adult tarantulas can safely survive for several months without food, and in some extreme cases, they have been known to fast for over a year or even up to two years. However, continuous access to a clean water dish is vital for their survival.
Yes, spiders can hear you talk, even though they do not have ears. They pick up sound waves in the air using the tiny, ultra-sensitive hairs on their legs and bodies. These hairs vibrate in response to your voice and transmit those signals to their nervous system.
Overfeeding a tarantula causes its abdomen to swell to disproportionate sizes. This excess weight makes the spider much heavier and clumsier, significantly increasing the risk of a fatal rupture if it falls. It can also complicate the molting process.
To survive and thrive, tarantulas need a escape-proof, well-ventilated enclosure, a deep layer of safe substrate for digging, a shallow dish of fresh water, a dark hiding spot, and a consistent diet of live insects. They are solitary, low-maintenance pets that do not require heating lamps or bright lights.
To determine if a spider is dead, check for tightly curled legs, lack of response to gentle air puffs or prodding, and whether it is just an empty shed exoskeleton (molt).
Squishing a spider is never a good idea because it can unleash hidden egg sacs, release foul-smelling pheromones that attract other bugs, and destroy a natural, free pest-control system that targets disease-carrying insects in your home.
Symptoms: For tarantulas kept under the wrong conditions, dehydration is the most common problem. Signs of dehydration are a shrunken abdomen with a wrinkled appearance and obviously undersized.
No, you should never directly spray or mist your tarantula. Direct spraying startles them, and they do not absorb water through their exoskeletons. Instead, provide a shallow water dish with fresh water and periodically moisten the substrate based on your tarantula's specific humidity needs.