BAD MOLT - Book Lungs

[Travis K]

So here's the deal. I have 4" Acanthoscuria borealis that molted and the molt didn't go so well, the abdomen was still attached. So I carefully pulled it off and everything came off great even the spinnerets, but the book lungs did not come out. I am thinking the T will perish eventually from this?

Does any one have any experience with book lung molts getting stuck and the T making it to the next molt. I would think that this would hinder the O2 exchange too much even given the small amounts of O2 that the T needs.

 

[Jackuul]

Are all the book lungs covered?

 

[Travis K]

I guess you could say covered, the old book lung didn't come out of any of the four lung openings, but all the exo around them came off.

 

[Jackuul]

Mybe put it in the ICU with a damp towel and they will work themselves off? I'm only going from the basic research I have done so far - I am in no way an expert on spiders. However I do know they need moisture during the molt, and I would therefore conclude that by having some moisture, and time, they might work themselves off (I dare not suggest you attempt to remove them as that could cause a heck of a lot of damage if they're attached hard)?

I'm sure someone who knows a lot more than I do can help if you could possibly get a picture.

 

[Moltar]

How long has it been? Perhaps you could gently remove the book old lungs with tweezers but... I dunno. I expect it won't survive in its current condition but not to a certainty. Hopefully we'll get some more posts here soon.

ICU may or may not help the book lungs, it certainly couldn't hurt it. I doubt they'll just work themselves out though.

 

[Jackuul]

How long has it been? Perhaps you could gently remove the book old lungs with tweezers but... I dunno. I expect it won't survive in its current condition but not to a certainty. Hopefully we'll get some more posts here soon.

If they're damp they might come off easier too, correct?

 

[Moltar]

Yes but will they come out without damaging the new ones? That would be my concern, that the act of removing them damages the soft ones underneath. I just don't know enough about the anatomy to be sure.

 

[Travis K]

Yeah, I tried to tweezer them out, but the exo just broke off in the tweezers.

 

[Jackuul]

I figure ICU and hope?

 

[Travis K]

At this point I don't think removing them is an option.

I am just curious as to survivability to the next molt.

 

[Aschamne]

I lost a P. murinus do to the book lungs not molting out. I know that is not what you want to hear, but I do believe that it is relevant to the post.

My sympathies,

Art

 

[Travis K]

I lost a P. murinus do to the book lungs not molting out. I know that is not what you want to hear, but I do believe that it is relevant to the post.

My sympathies,

Art

Eh, it wont break my heart. i think this is a great one to learn about this issue with, cause if it was any other then I would be a little disappointed.

 

[Jackuul]

Do you have access to an O2 tank? Perhaps, like those with lung issues* you could improve its oxygenation and keep it going until the next molt.

*several relatives of my stepfather have emphasema and COPD, and must use an O2 tank to increase their oxygen levels due to inefficient lung capacity and absorbtion

However, I know that your spider's are currently covered, as a last ditch, moisten it and then gently rub the area over the book lungs? If you can get just one free, it stands a better chance I should imagine.

 

[Travis K]

Do you have access to an O2 tank? Perhaps, like those with lung issues* you could improve its oxygenation and keep it going until the next molt.

*several relatives of my stepfather have emphasema and COPD, and must use an O2 tank to increase their oxygen levels due to inefficient lung capacity and absorbtion

However, I know that your spider's are currently covered, as a last ditch, moisten it and then gently rub the area over the book lungs? If you can get just one free, it stands a better chance I should imagine.

Um, the day I give my Ts O2 to save them is the day I check myself into the nutt house.

The old book lung will not come out and I am not going to attempt to remove them any further. I would assume that wetting the already screwed up lungs would make issues worse not better.

 

[Jackuul]

Is it still alive?

 

[Travis K]

Is it still alive?

Still alive. I will introduce some prey in the next few days and see what happens.

 

[BrynWilliams]

that's great news surely! Excellent that she made it!

 

[Jackuul]

I am glad to hear it is okay. If the old is still attached, perhaps its able to still get air to the new. Perhaps she'll make it to the next molt

 

[Travis K]

I think it is too early to assume it is in the clear. It really hasn't been that long to know for sure.

Also I noticed yesterday that the abdomen is slightly misshapen

 

[xhexdx]

Well I imagine if she can make it to the next molt (she may try and force one, so keep that in the back of your mind), she may be able to molt it out and be done with it.