please give any suggestions on how to get a near starved/dehydrated tarantula back to health

Has not eaten in months, and will not molt
her opisthosoma(abdomen) is shrunken beyond belief!!
she will not drink even with her prosoma submerged in a shallow water bowl, and will not eat anything offered dead or alive...
I have tried ICU conditions
:igiveup:

surely someone can come up with an idea no matter how crazy it sounds - I WILL try everything!!


even if I :eyepoke: she refuses...

Hey Dale,

Sure its a female? sounds like a male on his way out to me...

How old is it? Photo maybe? Hope someone here can help you out

Unfortunately rufilata's have this thing about them I have found.
Also lost a female last year that just refused to eat or drink and eventually died.
Have 2 females currently that eat when they feel like it, but never get quite as fat as a fasciata or regalis would. Just seem to be picky eaters and I hardly ever see my adults take food.
Was really frustrating watching my female die after a year or so of no eating or drinking.
Good luck.

stickman wrote:
please give any suggestions on how to get a near starved/dehydrated tarantula back to health ...

1. What species is it?

2. How long have you had it?

3. Do you know how old it is?

4. How big (diagonal leg span, please) is it?

5. "ICU conditions?" Did you actually try an ICU or just some hypothetical version of one? I've seen some enthusiasts try to fabricate their own version and miss the mark entirely.

6. Are you sure it's a female? What you describe could as easily be explained by a mature male that has reached his end.

WE NEED PHOTOS! Especially of its front end from in front (as opposed to from above) and from the side.

sad day she passed away yesterday in my hands (was hand dripping water onto mouthparts as she would not drink from water bowl)

SHE was a 17cm total legspan definate female Poecilotheria rufilata

Stanley I used your ICU method in you Tarantula keepers guide revised edition

I am busy Dissecting her in the laboratory at university (Im studying zoology) searching for nematodal infection

will post pictures from dissection microscope with an update...

Sorry to hear! It really sucks loosing a T...