It is. With a very heavy heart. That I announce the passing of my beloved Abdomegaphobema mesomelas.
The species is difficult to keep in captivity because of their unique care requirements: humid and several degrees below room temperature. I had a system involving ice packs and a beach cooler, but I was always flying by the seat of my pants with it. I was lucky that it worked for as long as it did. It's hard to say what the cause of death was. I assumed she was sluggish and not eating due to premolt, but it's always possible there was some type of bacterial infection. This is a devastating loss for me, she was my #1. We had a really good run. Almost 8 and a half years. Not quite her full lifespan, but my family's never had a dog live that long. If each one of those was an empire unto themselves, so was she.
Honestly though, I don't think I would keep this species again. It's one of my favorite species, if not my actual favorite. But I needed a whole elaborate system to care for her properly, and the only feedback on whether or not it was even working was if she was still alive. I always felt anxious going on vacation and either bringing her with me (which was its own can of worms) or leaving her in the care of my sister. A sexed female of this species would be insanely expensive these days anyway. Like, I shit you not, I saw a 3" female listed for over a grand on Morph Market. So in more ways than one, this tarantula was irreplaceable to me.
She was so beautiful.
