Actual cracks on legs

[Cason Schexsnayder]

Guys please help im afraid shes only partially molting or maybe something is wrong. I googled cracks on legs and it brought me to an older post on this site. And I didn't see the cracks on the t on that posts pic like I do on mine... My wife called me in sounding panicked and i came rushing in to see my Ms. Butterscotch hanging onto the screen lid to her enclosure. Upon slowly helping her down I went and washed up to my elbows and took her out to spend some time with her and just noticed she has cracks on her legs. Since I'm here already, she's always had those dots on her abdomen since I got her, is that normal? Please help? I'm really worried

 

[Poonjab]

Dude... those aren’t cracks, they’re part of the Tarantula. Secondly, remove the mesh lid and replace with drilled acrylic, as your T can get stuck and die in the mesh. Third, don’t take your T out to spend time with you, it’s not a dog. There is no Benefit to the tarantula.

 

[Liquifin]

Absolutely normal and a lot of tarantula species will have some sort leg pattern or whatever you want to call it. So no need to worry as it's just a normal feature on most species of tarantula.

Last word of advice, mesh screen lid is a red flag for tarantulas and should be replaced if possible.

 

[moricollins]

1. What cracks are you referring to? I don't see any

2. What "dots" are you referring to?

3. Your Tarantula didn't need an exercise break to spend time with you.

4. Replace the screen lid with plastic/glass with ventilation holes.

Can you post pictures of your entire setup?

 

[RezonantVoid]

Literally almost every tarantula species on the planet has those markings on the legs. In fact, most primitive spiders as whole have them.

Screen lids are a recipe for disaster, as many T's get their feet stuck in them and can lose their limbs. But the fact she was climbing in the first place may suggest something is wrong with your enclosure and she is trying to look for a more suitable environment.

And finally, PLEASE dont take a tarantula out of its cage to handle. It may be hard to accept, but its basically like taking a fish out of water- its selfish and only stresses or harms the animal.

This is because of 2 reasons; tarantulas lack a brain capable of forming a bond with an owner and they have insanely vibration-sensitive foot hairs to help detect prey. This means when they walk on you, they can feel your pulse and discern that what they are walking on is alive. In their eyes, anything alive that is larger than themselves is a threat, meaning they are in constant alarm when being handled. Many times handling results in the spider either jumping unexpectedly to its death or biting the holder without warning

 

[Cason Schexsnayder]

thanks for getting back to me so soon guys, the dots I was referring to are on her abdomen and are on... a very shiny patch? (Best way I can describe it im sorry) the cracks on her legs are right below the first join (the patella), if you zoom in, you can see beneath her exoskeleton. Thanks so much for the info about the mesh, i never knew. I'll show her enclosure (she's huddled next to the pad) but I've had her for years and she's never climbed up before, that was extremely unusual. (And I've had her for about 6 years now, i've only taken her out about 3 times not related to changing her dirt.)

upon further examination, I know i can see beneath her exoskeleton and its visible in my first picture if you zoom in.. But also I think maybe the water from her water bowl spooked her maybe? She often tends to web her bowl and it siphons the water out into the dirt around the bowl and it was just filled today. If it wasn't that I don't know what else it could have been.

 

[Poonjab]

thanks for getting back to me so soon guys, the dots I was referring to are on her abdomen and are on... a very shiny patch? (Best way I can describe it im sorry) the cracks on her legs are right below the first join (the patella), if you zoom in, you can see beneath her exoskeleton. Thanks so much for the info about the mesh, i never knew. I'll show her enclosure (she's huddled next to the pad) but I've had her for years and she's never climbed up before, that was extremely unusual. (And I've had her for about 6 years now, i've only taken her out about 3 times not related to changing her dirt.)

I’m not gonna razz you, but your setup isn’t ideal. Too much height that could lead to a fatal fall, among other things.

 

[Frogdaddy]

Buddy, you've got to put a lot more substrate into that enclosure. I can't believe that T hasn't fallen to it's death already. I also echo everyone's advicd about replacing that screen top.

I've zoomed in and I don't see any cracks. Are you talking about the joints between leg sections?

 

[Cason Schexsnayder]

I’m not gonna razz you, but your setup isn’t ideal. Too much height that could lead to a fatal fall, among other things.

Well like what else man? Feel free because I'm just trying to do right by her so I can continue my journey with Ms. Butterscotch. Her enclosure has been good for 6 years, whats wrong with it other than the lid?

Buddy, you've got to put a lot more substrate into that enclosure. I can't believe that T hasn't fallen to it's death already. I also echo everyone's advicd about replacing that screen top.

I've zoomed in and I don't see any cracks. Are you talking about the joints between leg sections?

Yeah man, right at the joint above the patella, if you zoom in, you can see a darker grey beneath the hair. Like between the light brown markings, its like i can see beneath the exoskeleton.

 

[SethM16]

thanks for getting back to me so soon guys, the dots I was referring to are on her abdomen and are on... a very shiny patch? (Best way I can describe it im sorry) the cracks on her legs are right below the first join (the patella), if you zoom in, you can see beneath her exoskeleton. Thanks so much for the info about the mesh, i never knew. I'll show her enclosure (she's huddled next to the pad) but I've had her for years and she's never climbed up before, that was extremely unusual. (And I've had her for about 6 years now, i've only taken her out about 3 times not related to changing her dirt.)

I don't think your heating pad is necessary on your enclosure. The T in your photo looks like a G. rosea but I could be mistaken. Either way its highly unlikely that your T needs any sort of heat source on its enclosure and it could be detrimental to the spider. They are drawn to the heat and could bask in it till it nearly cooks itself to death. I've read multiple other cases of it happening. The general rule is that if you're comfortable with the temperature, then your T is too. That is assuming you keep your house at a reasonable temperature. There are a few other things that I'm sure many others will mention.

 

[Cason Schexsnayder]

I don't think your heating pad is necessary on your enclosure. The T in your photo looks like a G. rosea but I could be mistaken. Either way its highly unlikely that your T needs any sort of heat source on its enclosure and it could be detrimental to the spider. They are drawn to the heat and could bask in it till it nearly cooks itself to death. I've read multiple other cases of it happening. The general rule is that if you're comfortable with the temperature, then your T is too. That is assuming you keep your house at a reasonable temperature. There are a few other things that I'm sure many others will mention.

Thanks man, I didnt know that, but I have the heating pad because I live in a drafty old house in Minnesota. Where its very common for the Temps outside to reach -40° with a wind chill of -65° (Fahrenheit) and my sister often times turns off the heater in the middle of the night bc her room is basically the hottest place in the entire house and gets majority of the heat. As im typing this, its 48°F outside.

Here's a better full body pic of her and the pad is only a small 120vac, 60hz, 4w one. I can literally hold my hand on it and only feel warm, not hot. (You can see the shiny patchy dot looking area on her abdomen well here)

 

[DaveM]

Here's a better full body pic of her and the pad is only a small 120vac, 60hz, 4w one. I can literally hold my hand on it and only feel warm, not hot. (You can see the shiny patchy dot looking area on her abdomen well here)

That's normal for Grammostola species. We call it a "mirror patch" -- search these forums for many mentions. They are normally very shiny in that area.

 

[moricollins]

Lots lots lots lots more substrate.

Right now, if this was a 10 year old child, you've given the kid the ability to climb the equivalent of a 50 foot tree.

 

[Cason Schexsnayder]

That's normal for Grammostola species. We call it a "mirror patch" -- search these forums for many mentions. They are normally very shiny in that area.

Thanks so much for the info about her mirror patch, it had always kind of worried me. But am I just crazy? Y'all are telling me if yall zoom in on the first pic I shared. Look above the patella and below the first joint, literally between the light brown stripes (markings). Y'all are telling me you can't see a light grayish stuff beneath the exoskeleton?

Lots lots lots lots more substrate.

Right now, if this was a 10 year old child, you've given the kid the ability to climb the equivalent of a 50 foot tree.

Thanks man, any specific type to recommend? We plan on using multiple bags of this...

 

[moricollins]

Thanks man, any specific type to recommend? We plan on using multiple bags of this...

Topsoil works, coco fibre/coco coir also works. Anything with no fertilizers or pesticides.

 

[Cason Schexsnayder]

So upon looking more into her species, unlike other t species ive seen, it seems common to have slits between the markings, albeit the width seems to differ between the grammostola roseas on an individual basis. Thanks for putting up with my worries lol.

 

[SethM16]

Thanks man, I didnt know that, but I have the heating pad because I live in a drafty old house in Minnesota. Where its very common for the Temps outside to reach -40° with a wind chill of -65° (Fahrenheit) and my sister often times turns off the heater in the middle of the night bc her room is basically the hottest place in the entire house and gets majority of the heat. As im typing this, its 48°F outside.

As I said, I wasn't really aware of your living situation but that makes sense. I'd say as long as your room is anywhere from about 67-74 degrees, you T will be fine without the heat pad. If you find that the room often drops below this temperature, I'd look into getting a space heater and putting it near the T's enclosure. Good luck, I'm glad you are making these adjustments for your T, I'm sure it will really appreciate it.

 

[Baby T]

I'm only chiming in to agree with everyone else and stress the importance of having more substrate in there. Also if that's a rock in there, even if it's plastic, your T could fall from that mesh lid and really hurt itself on there... And yea no more bonding sessions!!
Otherwise your T looks healthy and if you've had her for 6 years then well done sir

 

[justanotherTkeeper]

Everyone has chimed in with their help and recommendations, and although OP asked pretty much a "basic knowledge" question, I still applaud you for coming forward and asking. Lots of new and/or inexperienced keepers who don't want to appear ignorant will sometimes scour forums like this to answer their own questions (I am guilty of doing this!), and hope to better their own keeping habits. Like they said in school, "There are no stupid questions" .... but someone had to ask the first time, right?

Novice keeper or not, it shows great character when you come forward with concerns for your t's health. Unfortunately many.... erm... asshats would see a potential issue with their T and either ignore it, or toss the critter away. Thank you for wanting the best for your tarantula. I hope you have gained some valuable information from the community here, and I hope you continue your education in tarantula husbandry. Your T will thank you