molting, or dead

[mr.spooky]

my OBT was fine when i looked at it last night, and when i checked it today, it looked like this... when it molted last time i dident see it,, so i dont know what a molting posture looks like. its legs are kinda up under it, and its more or less laying on its side. is it dead??

thanks
spooky

[mr.spooky]

forgot to add, if i kinda bump him, he dosent move.
thanks
spooky

[Skittles1101]

Ummm...generally they lay on their backs when molting

I think if you touch him he's either dead or very close. Legs curled up under them is generally described as the "death curl". OBTs are very flighty, I can't imagine him letting you bump him without moving at all. I go near mine and he runs like hell. Hopefully more experienced people will chime in, but I'm going with the death curl right now.

I've heard if you put them in a tupperware with a lid and put some damp paper towels as substrate and lock them in it, if the cause was dehydration they will sometimes snap out of it.

[heathers*bps]

I have absolutely no knowledge of spiders, but I do certainly hope your guy is ok

[mr.spooky]

thanks for the reply.... he never is on the ground, he usualy is in a web that hees built un the upper edge of the enclosure. i was thinking that maby he started to molt and fell. his substrate is moist.. i brushed him with the brush, and there was little movementbut his legs kinda spread open and retracted in,, but not under.....
thanks
spooky

[cmack91]

Dang dude, im hoping for you that its just an awkward molt and not a death curl

[Skittles1101]

I'd seriously consider a tarantula ICU. Here's a blog I found on it

Before that though, when was the last time it molted?

[mr.spooky]

seems like it molted about 3 or 4 weeks ago.
thanks

[mr.spooky]

if its molting, would it be a bad to put it in an ICU just incase,,,, and if so, would i lay it on its back?
i already have a ICU prepaired... also, there was a mealworm in there that i offered yesterday that was refused.
thanks
spooky

[Skittles1101]

Honestly, I don't think I'm qualified enough to make that judgement. I mean, you can wait to make sure it's not molting, but I'm afraid if it isn't molting then waiting could be lethal. I also don't know how an ICU would affect it if it is molting I really hope someone more educated with T's chimes in...I'll text a few experts and ask them...