What is wrong with this Male B. Smithi ? (MOVIE)

I have this mature male B. Smithi, that I received for breeding. Ever since I have got him, he has been acting strange. He can't move around on his legs. It is like he is paralyzed somewhere. He can move his legs but not use them to move him from one place to another. Also his abdomen looks like is glued to hi carapace, as I have not seen it move in any directions. His body sits flat on the dirt while he tries to move around by waving his legs. I don't know much about him, other than he has recently molted ( a possible molt problem ?) and he does eat. I was wondering if anyone had anything like this happen.

Here is the first movie of him moving (with my help) ~ 6MB

Here is the second movie of him matting (even though I don't call it mating) ~ 4MB

for how long have you had him? Did he moult under your care?

thats wild, i have no idea, hwo long has that been going on for?
Maybe a nerve problem? Any recent molts?
Do T's get degenerative disorders?

Cirith Ungol said:

for how long have you had him? Did he moult under your care?

Click to expand...

I've had him for about a week now. He did not molt here.

That's really wierd!!

No idea but first thought was also that it might be a nerve problem. If he is like this you shouldn't put him in for mating because a) he won't do it and b) he just might get eaten.

The problem is he must be mature - which means he won't moult again, so any damage is irreperable! I doubt he'll come out on top, but who knows.

How was he packed and transportet to you?

I wonder if he could have been injured during shipping? Was there any signs of damage to the container when you received him?

I dont know about anyone else, but those videos were heart breaking That mating one made me want to cry! (here I am, 6ft 3" and 23 years old!)

Maybe you'd like to try searching dyskinetic syndrome?

It's probably not related, but you never know. Good luck!

Cirith Ungol said:

That's really wierd!!

No idea but first thought was also that it might be a nerve problem. If he is like this you shouldn't put him in for mating because a) he won't do it and b) he just might get eaten.

The problem is he must be mature - which means he won't moult again, so any damage is irreperable! I doubt he'll come out on top, but who knows.

How was he packed and transportet to you?

Click to expand...

His previous over has matted him with 2 females. So I decided to give it a try with my females.

The package did not have any signs of damage when it arrived. It was packed well.

that is really sad! i am welling up! (i am an emotional cripple) i have no idea and have never seen anything like that before good luck with him

I'm all out of ideas and suggestions! I'm sorry for you and the poor T-guy!

Cirith Ungol said:

I'm all out of ideas and suggestions! I'm sorry for you and the poor T-guy!

Click to expand...

Thanks. I feel really bad for him. I am going to take care of him though, as he does eat.

surena said:

Thanks. I feel really bad for him. I am going to take care of him though, as he does eat.

Click to expand...

Well, only thing I can I can hope for is that a miracle happens and that he somehow calms down over time. But that poses the question - how long time has gone since his last moult?

Cirith Ungol said:

Well, only thing I can I can hope for is that a miracle happens and that he somehow calms down over time. But that poses the question - how long time has gone since his last moult?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure. I don't know much about his past. I am guessing maybe 2 to 3 months since his last molt, but that's a guess based on his coloration.

For whatever reason my computer won't let me view the videos - saying that Real Player needs updates, but those updates aren't available?

I've heard speculation that such things can be caused by air fresheners or other such sprays/chemicals. Do you know if he has been exposed to anything like that?

Since I can't see the video, I don't know if it is the same thing, but here's something that may be similar:
http://www.the-t-store.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=3989

becca81 said:

For whatever reason my computer won't let me view the videos - saying that Real Player needs updates, but those updates aren't available?

I've heard speculation that such things can be caused by air fresheners or other such sprays/chemicals. Do you know if he has been exposed to anything like that?

Since I can't see the video, I don't know if it is the same thing, but here's something that may be similar:
http://www.the-t-store.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=3989

Click to expand...

Yes the symptoms are similar to the on in the link. I'm not sure if he has been exposed to air fresheners before. He has not been exposed to them here at my house as I keep my spider room clean of such things. (nothing can escape or enter the room)

becca81 said:

For whatever reason my computer won't let me view the videos - saying that Real Player needs updates, but those updates aren't available?

I've heard speculation that such things can be caused by air fresheners or other such sprays/chemicals. Do you know if he has been exposed to anything like that?

Since I can't see the video, I don't know if it is the same thing, but here's something that may be similar:
http://www.the-t-store.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=3989

Click to expand...

Hi,

I should open with windows media player

Cheers

Shaun

What about old age..
just plain approaching the end..???

Hmmm...

It was my male, I sent it. He is a fresh molt and is woking off his first sperm web. I bred him with a similar sized female, NP. It was a quick and easy affair. She was receptive and he was motivated. A week later I put him in with my giant female. She was receptive until she saw that he was smaller and weaker. At least thats how it looked to me. the connected, started to rear up and he was having trouble pushing her back. At that point she seemed to get pissed off and decided it would be better to eat him. I separated them but not before he took a fang to a joint on him #1 right leg as you loot at him head on.

Here is what might be the problem, I can't be sure. After I separated them I saw the blood leaking out of the joint. I also saw some what looked like blood, assuming spider blood is a clearish to whitish fluid, on top of his carapace. Just a small drop. I thought shit, he took a fang just to the right of his eye lump on the same side as the #1 leg. I put him in his cage, and took some paper towel and sopped up the wet spot by his eyes and could not see a hole. The wet spot did not return, his leg leaked a bit for a fw mins than it seems to coagulate and seal up.

He continued to eat and seemed to be no worse for wear other than being more jumpy that usual. He was always an uppity, I need to get out of my cage, type of male. I assumed that was normal for males on the hunt for love.

Anyway, it looks now that he might have took a fang to something that helps control the rear end of this body. Not good. maybe it will heal up in a month, if its inside, time will tell. Hes taking food, thats excellent. Just let him hang out a week or 2 and see what happens. maybe he will heal up enough to get off a mating or 2, he looks like hes still motivated.

If it gets to the point that he cannot move and hes not taking food, just toss him in the freezer and send him back. I'll mount him in a riker or maybe standing

Good luck.

A tarantula's hemolymph ("blood") does not possess the same clotting agents that our blood does and their exoskeletons, if damaged, do not "heal" without going through another molt.

Surena, just to be on the safe side, I'd keep him away from your collection until you know more about what's going on.

My heart goes out to you and your smithi, that's one sad sight. Hopefully this can be resolved.

I never thought I would be that affected by seeing a video of a spider. Ahh the things you learn when you keep spiders.