A chalcodes too weak to move? Dying? :(

[tetracerus]

Tonight, when I went to refill my chalcodes' water dish, I noticed she was in the exact same position as three days ago -- same legs up on the glass in the same places. Normally this alone wouldn't be alarming. I dropped in a mealworm in front of her and got no reaction at all. The worm burrowed almost entirely so I gingerly dug it out. Still no reaction from her at all even while I'm digging in front of her.

Stating to worry, I gently nudged her back legs with a brush. It's hard to describe the motion: for a few seconds she sort of squirmed with her body as if trying to move away but her legs swept around on top of the substrate without traction. It looked like she was too weak to crawl or support herself. Her whole body was already resting on the substrate to begin with. None of her legs were curled inward so it didn't seem like dehydration.

For background, she is a wild caught adult female A chalcodes who was already 5.5" when I found her in Nov 2015. Her only molt with me was May 24, 2016. The molt confirmed she is a mature female. Given how slowly Aphonopelma grows, I would be surprised if she were in pre-molt. Also, see the picture below. She doesn't look like she's in pre-molt. Two weeks ago, she ate all three large crickets I gave her.

I removed her from the tank so I could better check for injuries or other problems. She put up no resistance at all when I moved her (and she's usually a relatively feisty chalcodes who likes to kick hairs). After inspecting, I could find no cuts, no leaking areas, no visible injuries. I checked the chelicerae and saw one tiny white thing move and then disappear into the hairs (possible mite?) but no others so it doesn't seem like an infestation. I'd read on AB that most mites are harmless but I don't have much experience with them.

She readjusted her legs a little after I put her in the small container to inspect but otherwise didn't move. This is what she looks like right now, except she's sitting in the dark.

Could the weird scrabbling motion be DKS? Or could she just be really old? I'm extremely attached to her since she was my first T so it breaks my heart to see her like this.

 

[mconnachan]

If she's wild caught there's no way to tell how old she is, that could be why she's acting like this, strange though after feeding 3 weeks ago, the mite you saw really shouldn't be a problem as you said it's not an infestation. It doesn't sound like DKS though. TBH it could be old age, I hope she makes a speedy recovery, keep us posted, wishing you and your A. chalcodes all the best hope she pulls through. I wish I could have been more helpful.

 

[nicodimus22]

she is a wild caught adult female A chalcodes who was already 5.5" when I found her in Nov 2015.

Wow, that's a big one...most seem to top out around 4.5-5 inches from what I've read. Given her size and the glacial growth rate of the species, it's possible that she's very old. I hope she recovers for you!

 

[jaycied]

Being that size and wild caught it's possible she's just old and tired. Best of luck to you.

 

[Moakmeister]

5.5 inches is bigger than most chalcodes, so it's possible that she might be very old. I would not recommend an ICU. Instead, gently turn her over and drip some water onto her chelicerae. The drop will shrink slowly as she drinks it. Keep giving her more water until the drop stops shrinking.

 

[ErinM31]

It's been a bit more than a year since her last molt, although this isn't normal premolt behavior and if she is old, I would expect her to go two years between molts... I wish I could be more help! I think keeping her hydrated and perhaps with a bit more humidity than usual in an ICU where she has enough room to molt (just in case) is the best that can be done.

I know it is very sad to lose a T, especially those we've grown particularly attached to, but whenever her time comes (hopefully a long time from now), I hope that you can take comfort in that because of you, she was able to spend her final years in peace and comfort and not end as prey. I was very sad to lose my female Euathlus sp. red after just a few months to old age when I had expected to have her for years. She moved less and less and became less adept at catching prey and then in her final days would have periods where she seemed to weak to move about and I would just place her at the water dish.

Keep us updated and I hope that she recovers soon!

 

[boina]

Just because the (in)famous ICU has been mentioned I want to say that I've really no idea why anyone would want to rip a likely very old and weak tarantula out of her familiar environment to place her in an ICU. It just seems kind of cruel to me. There is nothing that you can do for her in an ICU that you couldn't do in her enclosure, like give her a little more moisture if you think it's necessary. Personally I don't think it is, because there's no indication the T is dehydrated.

Anyway, I can't come up with any other solution than old age either, but I wish you and your tarantula the best of luck.

 

[Ghost56]

Just because the (in)famous ICU has been mentioned I want to say that I've really no idea why anyone would want to rip a likely very old and weak tarantula out of her familiar environment to place her in an ICU. It just seems kind of cruel to me. There is nothing that you can do for her in an ICU that you couldn't do in her enclosure, like give her a little more moisture if you think it's necessary. Personally I don't think it is, because there's no indication the T is dehydrated.

Anyway, I can't come up with any other solution than old age either, but I wish you and your tarantula the best of luck.

Agree. Don't put her in an ICU.

 

[KezyGLA]

I had thhe same experience with one of my old chalcodes. She was WC and easily over 5" in DLS too. She met her demise around a year after I received her. I put it down to old age.

I cant give you any suggestions of how to help. Though I really hope she pulls through

 

[darkness975]

Seems like old age to me as well.

Sorry to say.

=/

 

[ErinM31]

Just because the (in)famous ICU has been mentioned I want to say that I've really no idea why anyone would want to rip a likely very old and weak tarantula out of her familiar environment to place her in an ICU. It just seems kind of cruel to me. There is nothing that you can do for her in an ICU that you couldn't do in her enclosure, like give her a little more moisture if you think it's necessary. Personally I don't think it is, because there's no indication the T is dehydrated.

Anyway, I can't come up with any other solution than old age either, but I wish you and your tarantula the best of luck.

That's a good point. I was thinking just in case she might need to molt that extra humidity might help but the symptoms don't seem to point to that. ICU is really only probably needed in the case of injury or to help in hydrating a very dehydrated T (maybe not necessary in the latter case). I agree that it is best to let pets pass in peace in their familiar surroundings if there isn't anything that can be done to help. That is how I let my Euathlus T's go.

 

[tetracerus]

Everyone, thank you so much for your responses! I placed her back in her tank and raised the humidity. Seems like the general consensus is that she's simply old. I will update with any developments in the situation. Hoping for the best!

 

[nicodimus22]

I placed her back in her tank and raised the humidity.

It's a desert species. I wouldn't do that.

 

[tetracerus]

It's a desert species. I wouldn't do that.

I only moistened some of the substrate near her mouth since she doesn't seem able to walk over to her water bowl. The tank is well ventilated and the rest of the substrate is still dry. Don't worry, it's not a sauna in there.

 

[spotropaicsav]

Some people say it's a privilege to grow old, hang in there. She is lovely, hugs

Everyone, thank you so much for your responses! I placed her back in her tank and raised the humidity. Seems like the general consensus is that she's simply old. I will update with any developments in the situation. Hoping for the best!

 

[Trenor]

Everyone, thank you so much for your responses! I placed her back in her tank and raised the humidity. Seems like the general consensus is that she's simply old. I will update with any developments in the situation. Hoping for the best!

I hope she pulls through. Best of luck.

 

[tetracerus]

Update: Shortly after placing her back into the tank, she wiggled into her burrow. Every few days, I checked to see if she showed any signs of dehydration and dripped some water into the burrow on the side closer to her mouth.

I can't tell you when exactly she passed away but her legs never did curl at all. They remained extended around her, two legs up against the tank wall, in the exact same position she settled into two weeks ago. No smell, no small swarming scavengers, just a sad deflated abdomen.

In some ways, it's at least a little comforting to know she spent her final days in the familiarity of her burrow.

RIP Snickerdoodle, my very first tarantula

 

[KezyGLA]

My condolences

RIP Snickerdoodle

 

[spotropaicsav]

Update: Shortly after placing her back into the tank, she wiggled into her burrow. Every few days, I checked to see if she showed any signs of dehydration and dripped some water into the burrow on the side closer to her mouth.

I can't tell you when exactly she passed away but her legs never did curl at all. They remained extended around her, two legs up against the tank wall, in the exact same position she settled into two weeks ago. No smell, no small swarming scavengers, just a sad deflated abdomen.

In some ways, it's at least a little comforting to know she spent her final days in the familiarity of her burrow.

RIP Snickerdoodle, my very first tarantula

I'm sorry to hear. RIP

 

[Lunitar]

Sorry to hear it. But just imagine how long that little guy was around. Sounds like he left in peace.