Am I paranoid or is my Aphonopelma Chalcodes sling deathly ill?

[Rosa1]

Aphonopelma Chalcodes molted a little over two weeks ago, and I noticed that since she's molted she hasn't been the same. She seems to be unable to walk properly and struggles to maintain balance. I'm not sure if it's something that went wrong with her molt, I gave her plenty of water and made sure to refill her water bowl everyday. The only thing I can think of is the substrate being too moist? other than that I honestly have no idea what's wrong with her. I provided some pictures and a video below.


LINK TO VIDEO: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CuC8gNBDPjCHHp86VeRS7lS2GISf3ust/view?usp=sharing
(The video file wont load for some reason but here is a video link)

 

[Ratmosphere]

Have you used any cleaning supplies near the tarantula? Do you light candles/incense in the vicinity of the tarantula?

 

[Rosa1]

Nope. I don't have any incense or candles. I've used maybe a disinfecting wipe to clean the surface of the table but that was ages ago

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Nope. I don't have any incense or candles. I've used maybe a disinfecting wipe to clean the surface of the table but that was ages ago

I viewed the video and to me IMO I agree with @Ratmosphere

It does look like it has been exposed to something. Too moist of sub will not produce that type of body twitching that I ever witnessed.

Do you have dogs or cats? If yes were they recently treated for fleas?

 

[Rosa1]

Nope no indoor dogs or cats. I only have two dogs that are outside dogs, maybe my sling got exposed to fleas? We don't let the dogs inside for that very reason but on the rare occasion that we let them in for a few minutes my door is never unlocked.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Nope no indoor dogs or cats. I only have two dogs that are outside dogs, maybe my sling got exposed to fleas? We don't let the dogs inside for that very reason but on the rare occasion that we let them in for a few minutes my door is never unlocked.

No not fleas but flea medication or put simply pesticides as that is what it is.

Where did you acquire this sling and how long have you had it?

Do you have neighbors that live real close?

This tarantula has been exposed to something. Since I obviously don't live there you are going to have to narrow it down to the possibility of what it is

 

[Rosa1]

No not fleas but flea medication or put simply pesticides as that is what it is.

Where did you acquire this sling and how long have you had it?

No medication or spray has been in my house for a long time. I got this sling at a local reptile convention about two years ago. It has molted perfectly fine and healthy till now.

Update: It can support it's body now but Its doing very strange movements.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Update: It can support it's body now but Its doing very strange movements.

For a sling to behave like this after two weeks since it molted tells me there's a possible exposure to something.

I'm guessing here, I'm going off the video. Since it molted have you had the chance to view it's mouth area?

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I suspect that it has something to do with the recent molt. A lot can go wrong, even internally. Has the spider been able to eat or drink?

 

[Rosa1]

It has not eaten since it's molted, I've put a cut superworm in its enclosure but it's shown no interest in it. It has drank water previously. An important thing I forgot to mention was that its twitching wasn't as bad as today, the first week of its molt it was completely fine and drank, the second week started with some light twitching but nothing crazy, today it has been at its worse.

 

[Rosa1]

For a sling to behave like this after two weeks since it molted tells me there's a possible exposure to something.

I'm guessing here, I'm going off the video. Since it molted have you had the chance to view it's mouth area?

I just talked with my dad and he says he lit some incense in the kitchen, which is not close to my room, but I'm guessing that's what happened its the only explanation sadly

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I just talked with my dad and he says he lit some incense in the kitchen, which is not close to my room, but I'm guessing that's what happened its the only explanation sadly

It could be the root cause or maybe not. A. chalcodes is a hardy T. I don't know but if it coincides when your dad lit the incense then that might be the culprit. I'm only speculating here too

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I don’t think incense in a different room, burnt once would create something that extreme, but I agree it looks like either exposure to poisons or an internal molt issue. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot you can do. Did you change anything inside the enclosure recently? Possibly pet the dogs and then do T maintenance without washing your hands in between? All we can really do is speculate, sadly. I saw you wrote you refill the water dish daily, but is it empty in the picture? Last thing I can think of, did you, or could someone else have, handled her?

 

[viper69]

Nope no indoor dogs or cats. I only have two dogs that are outside dogs, maybe my sling got exposed to fleas? We don't let the dogs inside for that very reason but on the rare occasion that we let them in for a few minutes my door is never unlocked.

Not fleas

Saw vid- something is up, consistent with exposure to chemicals MAYBE.
Will tell you for a fact, if your neighbor sprays his lawn, that alone can kill your T. It’s happened to a board member here.

 

[TheraMygale]

I have incense on regulary. I also cho specific incense. I am aware lf the risks. But this is not affecting my tarantulas. I know it could affect a tarantula.

personaly, if it was exposed to something, i dont think its the incense. Unless it was this super toxic plant.

might even have been something from before. A bad feeder. Or a molt issue.

if you’re lucky, its just having a harder time and will recuperate.

figuring out what caused this is hard.

The video does show very strange movement. Nothing i have witnessed in my post molts.

i really hope it makes it

 

[FatBadBay]

I have the same issue going on with my h sp Columbia. Ever since it molted, it hasn't eaten and is also doing the odd leg twitching. It was super active with a great feeding response until the molt.

I haven't changed or added anything to its enclosure and none of my other Ts are showing these signs. Just the one. That's why I'm guessing it was something with the molt.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

It could of been a bad molt but it could also be injured as well from handling.

Watching the video it looks like exposure to something or internal injury like dropped or it fell. We are just left guessing. We are not in that household nor have we been monitoring it there from time of molt to currently to know all the facts.

 

[Brewser]

Water, Feed and allow to Rest / Recuperate Quietly and Undisturbed.
I Hope She makes a Full Recovey in the Near Future.
Keep A B updated,
Best Regards,

 

[Rosa1]

I don’t think incense in a different room, burnt once would create something that extreme, but I agree it looks like either exposure to poisons or an internal molt issue. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot you can do. Did you change anything inside the enclosure recently? Possibly pet the dogs and then do T maintenance without washing your hands in between? All we can really do is speculate, sadly. I saw you wrote you refill the water dish daily, but is it empty in the picture? Last thing I can think of, did you, or could someone else have, handled her?

I don’t think incense in a different room, burnt once would create something that extreme, but I agree it looks like either exposure to poisons or an internal molt issue. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot you can do. Did you change anything inside the enclosure recently? Possibly pet the dogs and then do T maintenance without washing your hands in between? All we can really do is speculate, sadly. I saw you wrote you refill the water dish daily, but is it empty in the picture? Last thing I can think of, did you, or could someone else have, handled her?

I refilled her water bowl after taking the picture. I always make sure to wash my hands after petting my dogs but there could very well be a chance I didn't and continued with T maintenance. I don't handle any of my tarantulas and my family is afraid of them so I doubt that would be a possibility.

It could of been a bad molt but it could also be injured as well from handling.

Watching the video it looks like exposure to something or internal injury like dropped or it fell. We are just left guessing. We are not in that household nor have we been monitoring it there from time of molt to currently to know all the facts.

There's really only a few possibilities since I don't handle my tarantulas. My sling usually sticks to the ground often and I haven't had an issue with a fall, but maybe it's time I made the substrate higher. I don't think it's low enough for significant damage like this but better safe than sorry

Water, Feed and allow to Rest / Recuperate Quietly and Undisturbed.
I Hope She makes a Full Recovey in the Near Future.
Keep A B updated,
Best Regards,

Thank you

 

[Arachnophobphile]

There's really only a few possibilities since I don't handle my tarantulas. My sling usually sticks to the ground often and I haven't had an issue with a fall, but maybe it's time I made the substrate higher. I don't think it's low enough for significant damage like this but better safe than sorry

I hope your T pulls through best wishes

We are left just guessing what the causes are. Either way hope for a speedy recovery for your tarantula.