C Lividus dehydration

[miyu]

I got a CL from a store- it was the only one of its group not doing well. I have a female that’s been great for the last 2 years and was hoping to raise this one to breed her. I took him home not realizing exactly how bad he was doing. I should have because it got stuck on its back when he was moved for sexing.

When I got home It was obvious he was not okay. His butt is very small and shriveled. I immediately placed him face down into water. If this was all I wouldn’t be here though. When placed in the water he didn’t drink like I’ve seen them do. The water visibly ever so slightly goes down and there was none of that action happening here.

I left him alone to take in the new humidity and when I returned 12 hours later he had crawled to the whole other end of the enclosure, the higher side and away from the water. I assumed he maybe didn’t like standing water as a burrower and there was plenty of wet moss up there so I moved the dish to the top and put some rocks and a moss directly in the water.

Im starting to suspect he didn’t molt his sucking stomach but as I don’t have the molt there’s no way to tell unless and until he eats or molts without.

I’ve kept the enclosure extra moist by draping a damp towel half over the lid as the cage he’s in has a plastic slat top that lets out too much moisture otherwise and I live in a desert. When me or my RM shower we bring him and leave the door cracked so it’s not too sauna like. My house usually stays in the 70’s but in short bursts I turn my heater on low- all my T’s love it and come out whenever I do so I gave him a place of honor closest to the heater and monitor him the whole time it’s on.

He’s not very reactive except when I tried to flip him to make sure his mouth didn’t have any signs of nematodes. It didn’t and it was the most he’s moved. He at least had enough energy to force himself back right side by gripping the tongs.

TLDR; It’s been about 48 hours since I brought a dehydrated T home. Does he seem to have a chance? If yes how long is the longest you’ve had to baby a dehydrated T? Mind you the shop has a policy that if it dies before 2 weeks I can trade him back for a live one so it’s not that much of a waste for anyone but me and my time is worth very little.

 

[Ratmosphere]

You say "he", is it a mature male? He may be at the end of his life.

 

[miyu]

You say "he", is it a mature male? He may be at the end of his life.

Nope juvenile (still has immature coloring)

You can see the color here and his general setup now. It still has the very female looking coloring so far but he’s probably around half the size my adult female is.

 

[Ratmosphere]

You may want to clean up that water bowl first, remove the contents and add fresh water.

 

[miyu]

You may want to clean up that water bowl first, remove the contents and add fresh water.

The water has been changed but like I said above he avoided the bowl as soon as he could walk even a little so I put rocks and moss in hopes to encourage more drinking as a fossorial species. On top of that the moss is freshly washed. When I placed him over the water he stayed high up but in the dirt he will place his mouth down. When placed over fresh water he stayed high up and as soon as he was left alone would leave. Just peeked at him again and he’s chosen to be in the moss next to the bowl.

Please read all of a post before answering.

 

[Ratmosphere]

I did read the whole thing...twice to be exact.

 

[miyu]

I did read the whole thing...twice to be exact.

He’s seemingly avoiding the water. The rocks and moss was because after 12 hours he moved away and after another 30ish he still had very little energy, low enough he’ll let me maneuver him and he can’t go very fast. But he was adamant about not putting his mouth in the water any more. Not as much as being flipped but you know “you can lead a horse to water,’ and all.

The water was room temp. He’s not as vehement about being near it but he wasn’t interested in fresh water. Changes were made to account for odd behavior. Literally never had a dehydrated T avoid water, wouldn’t have come here otherwise. I could add a second water dish but I doubt he’ll be any more accepting of it.

The avoidance of standing water is why I came here for help- it’s super weird. All the rest of my T’s have clean water dishes, even ones that try to bury it. But if a T is sick and stressed and won’t drink then something needs to change.

I’ve cleaned the water dish every 12ish hours to be extra safe. So before I leave for work and again when I get home. I only moved the moss into the water about 3 hours before posting this and he’s moved closer to the dish since but not into it like I’d prefer.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

You can see the color here and his general setup now. It still has the very female looking coloring so far but he’s probably around half the size my adult female is.

That enclosure looks like a hot mess. What exactly are you using for substrate? It looks like a marshy swamp. Why is the waterdish stuffed with all that crap?

I read your first post. It could be a sucking stomach issue it could also be something else entirely.

You have no idea how it was treated by the previous store/employees/person. You also do not know it's lineage. You'll be left guessing it's either going to make it or not. Have you offered it any food?

 

[Ratmosphere]

Really odd that he is avoiding the water.

If it was any other T I'd recommend pinch grabbing it and dropping water into it's mouthparts... but that's risky with this one.

Try pre-killing a cricket and getting the guts on the mouthparts of the T.

 

[miyu]

Really odd that he is avoiding the water.

If it was any other T I'd recommend pinch grabbing it and dropping water into it's mouthparts... but that's risky with this one.

Try pre-killing a cricket and getting the guts on the mouthparts of the T.

I tried mashed dubia around hour 26 but he wouldn’t have it. I know though that sometimes if they’re too dehydrated they literally can’t eat.

I think another issue with this is because he’s new I can’t gauge any pre vs post dehydration personality. Maybe he’s getting better but his butt doesn’t look any less wrinkled than it did at hour 0 if I’m being honest.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

It's not necessarily something it wants. I don't think it's desiccation or it wouldn't be moving at all.

Has it been defensive, threat posing or bolting? The abdomen does not look all that bad from the photo.

Really all you can do is offer fresh water and food. Unless you raised this from a sling which you didn't you'll be guessing how it was cared for before you.

You could try to pry some info from where you got it if they will even know 100% or willing to share.

 

[miyu]

That enclosure looks like a hot mess. What exactly are you using for substrate? It looks like a marshy swamp. Why is the waterdish stuffed with all that crap?

I read your first post. It could be a sucking stomach issue it could also be something else entirely.

You have no idea how it was treated by the previous store/employees/person. You also do not know it's lineage. You'll be left guessing it's either going to make it or not. Have you offered it any food?

it’s just reptisoul and from the side it’s only wet on top there’s moss and tumbled rocks. The image was after a misting.
I offered food and he could not grab it. I made cockroach soup and he would not touch it.

it’s meant to be a short term stay for this particular issue so I wasn’t too into making it pretty- just good for retaining moisture.
There were 4 from the same stock <EDIT>. I have the breeder info from the store as they keep that on file thanks- this seems to be an issue that may have been from shipment tho the others were doing much better. My other CL is doing great so I do in fact know how to keep them when they’re healthy.

Also like I’ve reiterated- the moss and rocks were added bc the T was literally avoiding the water.

How about you try to read instead of acting uppity?

 

[Arachnophobphile]

it’s just reptisoul and from the side it’s only wet on top there’s moss and tumbled rocks. The image was after a misting.
I offered food and he could not grab it. I made cockroach soup and he would not touch it.

it’s meant to be a short term stay for this particular issue so I wasn’t too into making it pretty- just good for retaining moisture.
There were 4 from the same stock <EDIT> . I have the breeder info from the store as they keep that on file thanks- this seems to be an issue that may have been from shipment tho the others were doing much better. My other CL is doing great so I do in fact know how to keep them when they’re healthy.

Also like I’ve reiterated- the moss and rocks were added bc the T was literally avoiding the water.

How about you try to read instead of acting uppity?

How about you read the Forum Rules.

If you can't take criticism then crawl back under your rock and play make believe.

Making a claim you have no way of proving is foolish. For all we know you could of done something to harm this tarantula and pretending you have no clue of what's going on.

 

[miyu]

It's not necessarily something it wants. I don't think it's desiccation or it wouldn't be moving at all.

Has it been defensive, threat posing or bolting? The abdomen does not look all that bad from the photo.

Really all you can do is offer fresh water and food. Unless you raised this from a sling which you didn't you'll be guessing how it was cared for before you.

You could try to pry some info from where you got it if they will even know 100% or willing to share.

no threat displays- too weak. It was in a cup with coco fiber and cork but I don’t know how they were delivered to the store. There were others from the same batch and they were all okay. I’m guessing he went in without enough water or maybe molted without enough moisture. His legs are a little crooked and his slowness is reminiscent of DKS which I know dehydration mimics.

Neither living nor prekilled prey held his interest.

How about you read the Forum Rules.

If you can't take criticism then crawl back under your rock and play make believe.

Making a claim you have no way of proving is foolish. For all we know you could of done something to harm this tarantula and pretending you have no clue of what's going on.

literally bought him the other day but okay.

you’re kind of a child aren’t you? Can you take criticism? If someone isn’t being a <EDIT> I don’t mind listening and learning but you don’t have a single thing to offer besides pettiness.

I’ve got my hole thanks, crawl back into yours now little flea.

Ignored.

literally bought him the other day but okay.

you’re kind of a child aren’t you? Can you take criticism? If someone isn’t being a <EDIT> I don’t mind listening and learning but you don’t have a single thing to offer besides pettiness.

I’ve got my hole thanks, crawl back into yours now little flea.

Ignored.

Literally the point of having your questions answered is that the person answering is doing so in good faith. People like that really just make these boards look bad. Can’t say how many people in other forums see this place as the last resort because people like this go unchecked and are allowed to hurl abuse at others and then cry about being attacked.

Assuming someone has purposely hurt their pet they presumably paid for and enjoy is kinda dip behavior. It’s disheartening to see people who may have the knowledge to help be too rude to be able to use it effectively.

if I’ve overwatered it’s because I live in the middle of a desert and in a few hours it will be dry because again- middle. of. desert.

I’ve had spiders for only 4 years but I’ve been avidly reading everything I can find, watching videos, comparing info here to other places. They’re one of the best creatures I’ve ever enjoyed the company of. I would never assume another person had purposely harmed something that is likely beloved to them.

anyway derailing to say I’ve never been more sad for the state of the arachnoboards than I am now.

don’t care that my setup was roasted- it’s just something I threw together. It’s the foregone conclusion that I didn’t know my buyer or where my T’s come from that rubbed dirt in my craw.

Don’t make personal assumptions and focus on the information provided.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

literally bought him the other day but okay.

you’re kind of a child aren’t you? Can you take criticism? If someone isn’t being a <EDIT> I don’t mind listening and learning but you don’t have a single thing to offer besides pettiness.

I’ve got my hole thanks, crawl back into yours now little flea.

Ignored.

And you expect us to go off your claim of good husbandry with only one pic. That one pic told me all I needed know, bad husbandry. The fact you put rocks in it's enclosure, drowned the top layer of substrate in water instead of the lower levels, ( basic husbandry) and a waterdish with tons of crap shoved in it.

No......I don't trust your husbandry nor your claims

 

[viper69]

I’d return it as it sounds like they sold you a defective product.

Also, @Arachnophobphile is the last person on this forum one would claim is acting “uppity”

S/he asked you some questions- why? because you posted, readers have little data to go on, so in their efforts to help you for free, are asking more questions.

There’s no need to be defensive, the forum here is for the trading of information not emotions.

It seems you were sold a product in poor health; go back to the store and resolve it is my suggestion. Start with a healthy T and move on from there or better yet look for someone who has a male.

 

[miyu]

I get the setip isn’t great and I understand that. Provide examples of what to do and not what not to do because I’m not sure how to best set up for a dehydrated T. this setup is reptisoil and moss. Yea the water bowl has moss and rocks- this was recent to see if it makes him less inclined to move away from the water source and so far yes. I can add another but he’s oddly avoidant of the still water. Dunno what that means tho.

Additionally ask questions and don’t assume anything not said please.

 

[viper69]

I get the setip isn’t great and I understand that. Provide examples of what to do and not what not to do because I’m not sure how to best set up for a dehydrated T. this setup is reptisoil and moss. Yea the water bowl has moss and rocks- this was recent to see if it makes him less inclined to move away from the water source and so far yes. I can add another but he’s oddly avoidant of the still water. Dunno what that means tho.

Additionally ask questions and don’t assume anything not said please.

Not all Ts will drink from a dish, or do so rarely. Can’t say what’s up with your T, but I’d return it

 

[cold blood]

Nope juvenile (still has immature coloring)

You can see the color here and his general setup now. It still has the very female looking coloring so far but he’s probably around half the size my adult female is.

Color and size would not be what one would use to make such a determination....males can mature quite small.

You need to look at the undersude of the pedipalps for emboli.

 

[Matt Man]

Color and size would not be what one would use to make such a determination....males can mature quite small.

You need to look at the undersude of the pedipalps for emboli.

I had an 2 H. pulchripes males mature while they were still in 4" x 4" sling cubes. Molted and were probably 2-2.5" DLS and hooked out. Both went to breeding programs, one was ate as he approached, I think the other paired before meeting his doom.
Life ain't easy when you're small and the gals that are ready are big and hungry