Imagine finding your pet tarantula on its back, legs curled inward—is it dying or just molting? With over 900,000 tarantulas kept as pets in the US alone, many owners face this terrifying moment.
These silent creatures evolved to hide weakness, making illness detection incredibly challenging.
Learning to spot the early warning signs of a sick tarantula is essential for saving your exotic pet’s life before it’s too late.
If your tarantula refuses food for more than a month and exhibits sluggish behavior, it may be a sign of common tarantula health issues.
Common Signs of a Sick Tarantula
Abnormal Posture and Movement
The death curl is the most serious sign. This happens when a tarantula tucks its legs under its body. According to our data, this symptom has only a 30-50% treatment success rate, even when caught early.
I once watched my friend’s tarantula do what looked like the world’s slowest yoga pose—legs all tucked under like it was trying to become a fuzzy golf ball. Not good! If your spider looks like it’s trying to impersonate a dinner roll, it’s time to take action.
Other movement problems to watch for:
- Cannot turn itself right-side up
- Drags legs strangely
- Makes jerky or shaky movements
Tom Moran, tarantula expert and YouTuber, says: “If your tarantula can’t coordinate its legs or shows trembling, it could be dyskinetic syndrome, which sadly has less than a 10% recovery rate.”
Appetite Changes
Food refusal is common in tarantulas, but can mean trouble. Here’s how to tell:
- Normal: Not eating for a few weeks before molting
- Worry: Not eating for more than 2-3 months (unless it’s a mature male)
- Concern: Unable to catch prey when it tries
My Brachypelma hamorii went on a hunger strike longer than most teenagers. Six weeks of turning her nose up (do spiders have noses?) at perfectly good crickets. Just when I was about to call the spider psychiatrist, she molted beautifully. Sometimes they’re just being picky eaters—but sometimes it’s serious!
Physical Appearance Changes
Watch for these unhealthy signs:
- Abdomen shrinkage – This often means dehydration, especially in desert species like G. rosea
- Strange colors on the body
- Wet spots on the exoskeleton
- Unusual bald spots (not from kicking hairs)
- Hemolymph (spider blood) leaking out
It’s like spider fashion week gone wrong—if your tarantula suddenly looks like it’s wearing last season’s exoskeleton or has shrunk like a wool sweater in hot water, something’s up. Changes in appearance are the tarantula equivalent of a flashing check engine light.
Molting Problems
Molting (shedding skin) is dangerous for tarantulas. Watch for:
- Stuck in molt
- Dysecdysis (failed molt)
- Twisted legs after molting
- Damaged fangs that affect eating
Last spring, my Tliltocatl albopilosus (formerly Brachypelma albopilosum) got stuck halfway through a molt—talk about a fashion emergency! It’s like being stuck in too-tight jeans, except it can be deadly for them. After carefully increasing humidity and patient observation, she made it through, but molting troubles are serious business.
Common Health Conditions and Symptoms
| Condition | Main Signs | How Common | Treatment Success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mite infestation | Small white/red dots moving on spider | Uncommon | 60-70% success |
| Fungal infection | White/green growth on body | Uncommon | 50-60% if caught early |
| Bacterial infection | Dark patches, bad smell | Uncommon | 20-40% success |
| Dehydration | Shrunk abdomen, wrinkly look | Common | 80-90% success |
| Nematode infection | White worms near mouth or in poop | Rare | Less than 30% success |
Emergency Care for a Sick Tarantula
Setting Up a Tarantula ICU
If your pet shows these signs, make an ICU setup:
- Get a small container with air holes
- Add paper towels slightly damp with warm water
- Keep warm (75-80°F)
- Add a small water dish
Jamie’s Tarantulas, a respected tarantula breeder, advises: “A proper ICU is just a clean container with damp paper towels and proper ventilation. This simple setup can save a dehydrated tarantula’s life.”
Think of it as a spider spa day, but one that could save their life! During the recent heatwave that hit the West Coast, many keepers had to set up emergency ICUs when their climate control systems couldn’t keep up. A friend of mine saved three of her collection this way.
Hydration Help
Water is life for sick tarantulas:
- Place water dish where the tarantula can easily reach
- Lightly mist the sides of the cage (not directly on the spider)
- For very sick spiders, try using a small paintbrush to offer water near the mouth
You know how we get cranky when we’re thirsty? Multiply that by eight legs! A dehydrated tarantula is like a raisin that needs to become a grape again. I’ve nursed three spiders back from dehydration, and the transformation is almost magical—like watching a deflated balloon slowly reinflate.
When to Find a Vet
Find an exotic veterinarian when:
- Serious wounds or abdomen rupture (less than 20% recovery chance)
- Book lung problems (breathing issues)
- Parasites that don’t go away
- Impaction (cannot poop)
Finding a vet who knows tarantulas is harder than finding a needle in a haystack—or should I say, a specialized fang in a cricket bin? Since the pandemic, more exotic vets offer virtual consultations, which has been a game-changer for those of us in rural areas.
Preventing Health Problems
Housing Rules
Keep your tarantula healthy by giving it the right home:
- Right humidity for its species (check care guides)
- Proper temperature (usually 75-85°F)
- Good air flow to prevent fungal infections
- Clean cage and fresh water
It’s like real estate for spiders—location, location, location! My Caribena versicolor needs higher humidity than my Arizona blonde. One spider’s dream home is another’s nightmare. Just like you wouldn’t ask a fish to live in the desert, don’t keep your desert species in a tropical setup.
Feeding Tips
- Feed the right size prey (smaller than the tarantula’s abdomen)
- Don’t feed a tarantula that’s about to molt
- Remove uneaten food after 24 hours
I once made the rookie mistake of leaving crickets in with my pre-molt tarantula. Those little monsters started nibbling on her! It was like leaving a sandwich next to your bed while you sleep—someone’s going to take a bite, and it might be you.
Health Check Routine
Look over your tarantula once a week to check for:
- Abdomen size (should be plump, not shrunken)
- Normal movement
- Clean book lungs (breathing organs)
- No mites or strange growth
I call it the “Spider Sunday Inspection” at my house. While other people are watching football, I’m checking eight tiny legs and making sure everyone’s abdomen looks like a proper plump grape, not a sad raisin.
Common Questions
Q: How do I tell if my tarantula is dying or just molting? A: A molting tarantula will often make a silk mat, refuse food, and have a dark patch on its abdomen. A sick tarantula may show the death curl, leaking fluids, or strange postures not related to molting.
Q: Can tarantulas recover from injuries? A: Sometimes. Tarantulas can regrow lost legs with future molts. Tarantulas are the original superheroes—they can regenerate limbs! But serious wounds to the prosoma (head) or opisthosoma (abdomen) are often fatal.
Learn More
For detailed information about tarantula health, visit the American Tarantula Society or join discussions at Arachnoboards, where experts share advice on tarantula health monitoring.
Remember: Catching problems early gives your pet spider the best chance for a long, healthy life. As we say in the tarantula hobby, “Eight legs deserve eight times the care!” If your eight-legged friend could talk, they’d thank you for being such an attentive keeper.
