C. versicolor sling died after 2nd molt

[Quintessence]

So my first T died two days ago and I can't figure out why. I got it back in Sept. and it seemed to be doing great until New Year's Eve (2 days ago). It first molted on Oct 14th and then again on Christmas Day.

For most of its time with me, it rarely ever ventured out of its webbing, except to drink when I would spray the sides of the enclosure every 2 or 3 days, and it only actually ventured out to the water maybe every 10-15 days to drink. The only insects it would feed on were the red runner nymphs I have. It would ignore or even flee tiny dubias and waxworms.

It had last eaten around Dec 10th or so, a single red runner every day for about 5 days straight. That was the best appetite I had seen from it since getting it. The molt on Xmas seemed to go just fine and happened completely within maybe the 5 or 6 hours I was gone that day.

On Dec 29th, I noticed that some of the sphagnum moss vines I had in its terrarium had become completely discombobulated somehow and I tried rearranging them to be more stable. This didn't really affect its web, which was anchored in the top corner of the terrarium. The next day, the T left its web and began exploring the new vine placement quite vigorously (more activity than I ever saw from it before). Then, it just posted up on the side of the terrarium, inches below its web. The next day, it didn't move which didn't strike me as odd considering how it was never much of an adventurer to begin with. However, the fact that it was chilling for so long outside of its lair concerned me a bit.

On New Year's Day, before work, I went to spray the sides of the cage with some water and when some of the mist touched its legs, it didn't move AT ALL. I waited a few min to see if it did anything, but nothing. So I gently prodded it with a tiny twist tie to get a reaction and again, nothing. So I tried with my finger and it fell limply off the side of the terrarium.

I gently picked it up and it didn't move at all or react in any way. I set it upright on a vine and it hasn't moved at all, so I'm pretty sure the little guy/gal is dead.

Any thoughts?

Here are some pics and specifics:

• My room stays at 68-70 degrees F
• about 25% humidity
• no direct sunlight nor a heat lamp

Terrarium before it built its web in the top, right, back corner


December 30th, 5 days after last molt


December 30th also, when it was exploring its slightly new layout



The exact place and position it seemingly died in

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Same thing happened to me many years ago I think it was a wet molt. The spider died shortly after molting. It was just getting its adult colors.

 

[SpookySpooder]

Pardon me if I'm just blind but... am I seeing a drastic lack of ventilation that could be contributing to stagnant airflow and an anaerobic environment?

 

[fcat]

Most of the time, misting is not enough for tarantulas. They need water dishes. Ironically, some species are known for refusing to use a water dish, and that's when you have to target water the webbing so a puddle forms.

If it's any consolation, I came home from a 36 hour shift to find an Aphonopelma sling in a half death curl. I checked on everyone before I left, for that one I wetted the moss and substrate (it was a sling under one inch, it has a dish but its buried atm). Sometimes they attain unique posturing that can appear to be a death curl, but I watered anyway, aiming for the molt mat and the Ts mouth. This poor thing sprung to life real quick (it was a false alarm, post molt yoga) and it draaaaaaaank. Legs were still see through. That fresh!

Also, don't give up on your T until it starts to smell. Rotate the enclosure down so you can get water to his mouth, and so run off doesn't saturate the substrate. if you have a dropper or syringe it's easier. Do this a few times a day until he starts to smell.

Watch his fangs for darkening. My wet molt they never darkened, or he died immediately after molting.

Just remember he's still very soft.

Pardon me if I'm just blind but... am I seeing a drastic lack of ventilation that could be contributing to stagnant airflow and an anaerobic environment?

Yikes, I had my brightness turned down, missed that.

I *think* I see a few slats in the shadow on the table but that would not be enough. :/

 

[Mirandarachnid]

I’m seeing what looks like some sort of screen on either side near the top, but I’m not sure that would be enough.

 

[ladyratri]

After with the ventilation comments. This species in particular is sensitive to stagnant air, and generally needs ventilation at the top and substrate level of the enclosure. That creates a little air cycle where as the stale air warms, it rises out the top, and that pulls fresh air in the bottom.

Definitely give this post a read:

Avicularia Husbandry?

Hi! I'm new to the forum and am unsure if this is the right place for this, but I was wondering if there's anything I should know in advance before purchasing an Avicularia genus? (specifically, I have my eye on some a. metallica slings) I've done some reading, but being that I've only ever had...

arachnoboards.com

 

[jbooth]

No way to tell for sure. I'd say for 25% it looks too dry in there, looking at substrate anyhow, but not enough ventilation is usually the cause. Misting just spikes the humidity to 100% then dries out, always have a water dish too... And not every sling makes it, learn what you can from it, but don't beat yourself up.

 

[Dorifto]

25% is very low, better to have some kind of permanent moisture source there.

Anyway never liked those enclosures, they are quite inefficient renewing the air. So it could have been anything.

Imho I'd add some holes or a big one (then glue a round grille on top) down low right above the substate level, and keep the soil partially moist. This will improve the ventilarion greatly (convection) and at the same time it will keep the entire setup humid enough to prevent any kind of issue related to hydration. You will kill to birds with one shot.

 

[viper69]

Set up is too large - how did it find food??

Could be poor airflow which is critical for Avics

Misting - bad idea

Is that moss dyed?? If so, that’s not good.

Lastly- they don’t all make it even in perfect conditions

99% of the time no one has a clue why a T died

 

[emartinm28]

I spy a Zilla MicroHabitat Arboreal I think.
At a glance (from google) these just don’t have the ventilation necessary for Aviculariinae. I couldn’t tell you for sure if that’s what killed the T (no one can) but these just aren’t suitable for them imo. Not even in the high desert where I live.

You also misted far too often (again, can’t say if this is what did the T in or not) misting at all is superfluous AT BEST but I do occasionally dribble a few drops on the web to allow the T to drink from there. If you have a water dish in the enclosure and the T has eaten at all recently, this is again superfluous AT BEST. The only context where I really do this is when I have a T in a long premolt. If the water is still there in a couple hours, then I say you added too much. Otherwise (and in general really) a water dish is plenty.

 

[Quintessence]

Pardon me if I'm just blind but... am I seeing a drastic lack of ventilation that could be contributing to stagnant airflow and an anaerobic environment?

The 1st shot showed the cage but the ventilation slits weren't very obvious. But yeah there is plenty of upper ventilation, but no lower ventilation.

I appreciate all the feedback and will read through it all tonight thoroughly when I get back from work!

I will try what fcat suggests and try dropping water on its mouthparts until it starts smelling (or comes back to life).

As far as misting and water, I would spray the vines until they were slightly damp (not sure if they are dyed) and mist its web every other day, lightly. Like I said, I would see the T come and drink off the sides of the enclosure every 10 days or so. I did keep a small water dish in there but it may have been too small. It was a standard pill bottle lid turned upside down (never used, so no drugs or substances to worry about) and I filled it every other day as well. When I would mist the terrarium and when I had time to spare, I would mist it pretty hard but leave the front door open for 20-30 minutes so that the substrate and vines could soak some water up but much of the excess would evaporate within 20ish. Then I'd close the door again.

I will drill some ventilation holes towards the bottom for future use (whether this one pulls a Lazarus on me or I get a new one). For what it's worth, I have several fans in my, essentially, studio apartment always running so there is always airflow throughout the place (the terrarium was always within 2 feet of one of the fans, but not in the direct airflow of it, off to the side). So I assume the airflow was at least decent.

I had a feeling the terrarium was too large, but I figured it would make a web and grow into the enclosure size with less stress of re-homing and rebuilding its web every so often. Generally I would pretty much tweezer-feed it by putting a red runner nymph inside its web with tweezers, right at the lip of one of the horizontal entrances, and the T would either pounce on it or move to the other side of its web if it wasn't hungry.

@emartinm28, where in Colorado are you? I'm just outside Breckenridge. What kind of enclosure do you use?

Again, thank you all for the feedback!

 

[Odontodactylus]

I have the same enclosures.

I still drilled 3 rows of 5 holes in the side of it. The vent holes at the top don't prevent stagnant air from the bottom, especially since heat makes air rise up so in reality what is really venting through? You want warm air to be able to flow in from the bottom and vent through the top, and in cold air's case, flow through the top and vent through the bottom.

I had terrible luck with C-versi and Avics, that 1 change was the turning point where now I have no problems and my C-versis have never been more vibrant and healthy.

Sit in your car, drive a mile with the windows closed, the window barely cracked, only the back windows down, and all 4 windows completely down, you'll know which feels less stuffy and want to simulate that for these guys.

 

[Smotzer]

It definitely for me would have too little ventilation for a C. versicolor or any other Aviculariinae. This would be my guess!