Chilean rose not eating.

[slither9192]

My chilean rose hair hasn't eaten in the last two weeks. I put 3 crickets in her cage once a week but the last two weeks she hasn't taken them. The temp is 68. Is that too low?

[SPJ]

These are famous for going on fasts.


Remove the uneaten crickets and bring the temp up to about 75.

Don't be surprised if this goes a month or more without eating and then suddenly starts eating like crazy again.

The Chilean rose is the BP of the T world.

[slither9192]

LOLya I haven't left the crix in for more then a day I always take them out. She still looks healthy. So I will bump the temps up and see if she eats. And I know what you mean by eat like crazy. When she ate she would take 3 in her fangs at the same time.

[waldo]

I've had rosies stop eating for 3-4 months before, no worries as long as she isn't losing weight.

[Shadowspider]

Ditto to what has already been said. If the spider is an adult, they can fast for upwards of a year or more with no ill effects.
Just keep her water dish clean and full, offer one or two crix a week and see if she's interested, if not, no biggie.

[Schlyne]

She might also be going into premolt, which means she generally won't eat for a while.

[slither9192]

I don't think she is going into premolt. But what would be the signs of it? Also I have had her for almost a year and she hasn't molted yet. Do they normally molt every year once they are full grown?

[Shadowspider]

Generally, yes.
If it's been nearly a year without a molt, it probably is pre molt.
If the spider's colors are very dull looking, that's one sign. Eventually it will probably seal its self inside it's hide to molt, but that could still be months down the line.

[Mina]

I've heard of rosehairs fasting for years at a time. Don't let it worry you. As long as your rosie has a full water dish, and a full looking abdomen that does not look shriveled or wrinkled, it is fine. One of the most telling signs for me with a rosie that it is going to moult is that the mirror patch on the abdomen starts looking like a peeling scab.

Even after yours looks like that it could still be months before anything happens, rosies do everything slowly. I personally love them, but they are the champions at the waiting game.