avicularia metallica wont move and in the same spot for three days, is he alive?

[cobwebweaver]

Hello,
I have a 1/2 inch avicularia metallica sling that I have had for the past 4 months, it has been fairly active and eating well until recently. The last three days it has found a spot on the ground and has remained there indefinitely without moving an inch, its legs are not curled under so I assume it is still alive, although I'm unsure? After growing concerned, I carefully tried to touch him with absolutely no movement at all, not even a partial twitch of the leg. My question is, is this common behavior or is my tarantula dead or dying How would I know for sure or do I simply wait for an answer? I have kept consistent humidity with good ventilation and an adequate supply of water, so I am certainly confused. All replies are greatly appreciated.

 

[andrewz17]

Check my post I just made, I had the same problem, and apparently it is normal

 

[Hobo]

Hello,
I have a 1/2 inch avicularia metallica sling that I have had for the past 4 months, it has been fairly active and eating well until recently. The last three days it has found a spot on the ground and has remained there indefinitely without moving an inch, its legs are not curled under so I assume it is still alive, although I'm unsure? After growing concerned, I carefully tried to touch him with absolutely no movement at all, not even a partial twitch of the leg. My question is, is this common behavior or is my tarantula dead or dying How would I know for sure or do I simply wait for an answer? I have kept consistent humidity with good ventilation and an adequate supply of water, so I am certainly confused. All replies are greatly appreciated.

This part sounds worrying. Avics don't generally go on the ground, let alone stay there for days, even as slings. Even slings in premolt will have at least some reaction when disturbed.
Also note that a death curl doesn't always happen when they die.

Whether it's dead or not, there's not much you can do except leave it until it starts to stink/rot, or starts moving again/molts.

 

[Embers To Ashes]

usualy I would say wait, but since it has been three days I think you should do something. Especialy since it is on the ground.

My avic slings have only been on the ground once, and that was when my mom let my T room get 110 degrees while I was away. They where smart enough to borrow and I (thankfuly) had about two inches of damp sub and they survived.

If it is not hot and your T is on the ground, it does not look good. I would gentaly scoop him up in a spoon and place him in an ICU, but I dont know if that would help.

 

[cobwebweaver]

I moved him to ICU, but no improvement. He has sadly passed on, Avics are tough under 1". I believe he is a victim of DKS or specifically SADS (Sudden Avicularia Death Syndrome). Alot, of people would recommend Avics for beginners, personally I would recommend staying away from slings and stick with juveniles or adults.

 

[loudan]

dang bro sorry for ur loss,i found out mine passed today also,it was on the ground for like 2 days ina molt, it was a successful one but he was dead on top of his old molt poor thing, i think it might of ben a wet molt? hope he didint suffer any.

 

[skar]

I moved him to ICU, but no improvement. He has sadly passed on, Avics are tough under 1". I believe he is a victim of DKS or specifically SADS (Sudden Avicularia Death Syndrome). Alot, of people would recommend Avics for beginners, personally I would recommend staying away from slings and stick with juveniles or adults.

Don't let one bad experience get you down. I personally love getting them all as slings, plus you can excusably feed more often

 

[BrettG]

Personally I do not believe in SADS or any of that stuff. I have literally had thousands of Avicularia slings the past 2 years,and only have had maybe 5 die due to bad molts or just being weak.Even the tons I sold to the lps are doing great every time I stop in to get feeders.The only avic's I have lost were all WC Petco garbage that were either dehydrated to the point of no return,or were full of mites.