Michelle Reveles
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2022
- Messages
- 26
I understand this is a possibility. In my case, since I haven't sprayed any kind of pesticide and am not aware of any exposure, although I know it is possible since I do go out in public and live in close proximity to others, what can I do to prevent any more deaths? Just make sure to wash hands thoroughly before touching anything tarantula related?Bad luck would be one death. Two is more likely a pattern.
So in cases like these where there is a string of deaths after they molt, I almost always default to pesticide exposure of some kind as it makes the most sense. One of the most common pesticides used today in the home is methoprene, which is a flea/tick treatment and has a rather insiduous method of action. It's a growth hormone analog meant to disrupt the next molt of the exposed invertebrate. Your tarantula can be exposed and be a "dead bug walking", just waiting for it's next molt weeks if not months down the road. Methoprene is water soluble, and has a half life between 1-28 days depending on exposure to sunlight, so it sticks around for awhile.
IMHO, an entirely possible scenario is a keeper pets someone's dog recently treated for fleas, didn't wash their hands prior to husbandry (or did but re-exposed themselves by handling contaminated items like keys or a phone), changed their spray bottle from mist to stream, contaminating the nozzle in the process, and exposed their collection to the pesticide, not fully realizing this has happened until weeks or even months down the line when specimens start dieing off.
My neighbors are a few feet away. I used to have my tarantulas close to the fireplace, which we never use. I moved them because some air from the outside does come through the fireplace and it was also close to a vent. I was worried about the tempt fluctuating too much where they were. But now they are in a spot that isn't next to any vents or windows, so now I'm worried about lack of ventilation.One of my fears is that a neighbor sprays and it comes in my window. If you live in any type of multi family dwelling situation (apartments, condos, duplex) or a tightly packed area where your neighbors are just a few feet away, that could be a possibility.