CANNOT lose this one....

[MrsHaas]

So, ...my h pulchripes was on his back for hours last night and I woke up this morning and he was back on his feet but no molt! I realized then that He hadn’t even laid down a molting mat but he’d been on his back for HOURS and his legs seemed to be pulsating like normal during the molt. But when I woke up an and went to check he was wobbly and lethargic but had no signs that he had ever even tried to molt. Stuck him in an icu... even tho arid Ts don’t do well in ICUs usually I’m told. Before I left for the day I was advised by a friend to put him back in his drier original enclosure. Left him there and got him now and he was in a semi death curl. Stuck him back in ICU and he seems to be doing ok again...? Gonna leave him in the icu in my linen closet where it’s dark and warm and leave him there for s but - in case it could be a dehydration issue. Super confused but I simply cannot lose this one. I lost my other h pulchripes sling prior to this juvie and they are too expensive to keep replacing but they are like a MUST HAVE in my collection imo. And advice or helpful comments??

 

[Ran]

Since he responds to the ICU I would leave him in there as long as needed...

 

[Devin B]

Based on all the bad things I've heard about ICU's it might be better to increase the humidity in its enclosure and make sure it has plenty of water.

 

[efmp1987]

ICU is detrimental to T's in general:

1. The exoskeleton is water-resistant, so the humidity will do nothing but harm a dry-loving species. Whats worse than actually subjecting a tarantula having issues to an environment even healthy individuals find unfavorable?
2. What really softens molts is the oil in detergents, but oil doesn't turn into vapor - you have to dab it on the spiders' affected parts for it to take effect. So the ICU's humid air, which is water-based (and not oil-based) will yet again do nothing.
3. If a tarantula got stuck in it's molt, its always better to wait 24-48 hours (depending on the size of the tarantula) before attempting to assist physically - the underlying exoskeleton will be soft and prone to tearing.

Get it out of the ICU.

 

[sasker]

What really softens molts is the oil in detergents, but oil doesn't turn into vapor - you have to dab it on the spiders' affected parts for it to take effect.

I have really never heard about dabbing oil on tarantulas with molting difficulties. Is that a revolutionary technique I have never heard about. Sorry, I am sceptical about this option. OP, how do you keep your tarantula? Does it always have access to a full water dish? Have you tried putting its mouth parts into a shallow dish to see if it drinks at all?

 

[efmp1987]

I have really never heard about dabbing oil on tarantulas with molting difficulties. Is that a revolutionary technique I have never heard about. Sorry, I am sceptical about this option. OP, how do you keep your tarantula? Does it always have access to a full water dish? Have you tried putting its mouth parts into a shallow dish to see if it drinks at all?

Ofcourse you will not have heard of it. Thats just the condition for it to work. But not oil itself, I said oil component of detergents.

 

[viper69]

Oil on Ts...Is this a cooking class?

 

[sasker]

But not oil itself, I said oil component of detergents.

Detergents as in cleaning materials?! Please, next time add a troll emoticon. You really got me there!

 

[efmp1987]

I apologize for trolling. I only based it from a Vet book.

 

[MrsHaas]

I have really never heard about dabbing oil on tarantulas with molting difficulties. Is that a revolutionary technique I have never heard about. Sorry, I am sceptical about this option. OP, how do you keep your tarantula? Does it always have access to a full water dish? Have you tried putting its mouth parts into a shallow dish to see if it drinks at all?

 

[MrsHaas]

We increased his temp a bit. Dry substrate but has a full water dish always. I just looked at him 5 mins ago and he was like this:





Then I picked up the enclosure and slightly pressed my finger onto the plastic touching him and he uncurled and is now like this:






He’s still like the above. It’s like he’s switching constantly from being 1/2 dead and fully alive??

 

[ShyDragoness]

I'm not a professional or an experienced keeper- but you should probably leave it well alone while it does its thing and hardens up(if I am correct in assuming that from those images he molted successfully?)

 

[efmp1987]

I'm not a professional or an experienced keeper- but you should probably leave it well alone while it does its thing and hardens up(if I am correct in assuming that from those images he molted successfully?)

He needs to note the color of the fangs if it indeed molted.

 

[MrsHaas]

He needs to note the color of the fangs if it indeed molted.

Agreed!!!! His chelicerae are a dark brown we’ve been curious ab his fangs...

 

[MrsHaas]

Omg u gotta be kidding, the Hp is on its back again trying to molt wtf?!

 

[sasker]

I apologize for trolling. I only based it from a Vet book.

Hmm...interesting. Still, I would not want to expose any of my tarantulas to any household chemicals. The article handles moulting problems with invertebrates in general, not tarantulas specifically. If I had an invert with a naturally shorter life span that has moulting problems, such as an assassin bug or a stick insect, I would consider this solution as the animal would probably die anyway. But the moulting process for tarantulas is IMO a bit too tricky for that. The more you tamper with moulting spider, the lower the chance of survival.

 

[MetalMan2004]

I apologize for trolling. I only based it from a Vet book.

View attachment 255396


View attachment 255397

I’d be interested to know what book that is from and how it has managaed to stay a secret for so long around here. I suppose if one of my Ts were in a dire situation I’d be open to trying it.

Hmm...interesting. Still, I would not want to expose any of my tarantulas to any household chemicals. The article handles moulting problems with invertebrates in general, not tarantulas specifically. If I had an invert with a naturally shorter life span that has moulting problems, such as an assassin bug or a stick insect, I would consider this solution as the animal would probably die anyway. But the moulting process for tarantulas is IMO a bit too tricky for that. The more you tamper with moulting spider, the lower the chance of survival.

I believe by “detergent” they mean something along the lines of Dawn dish soap, not ammonia or crazy cleaning chemicals. Dawn is about as safe as household soaps can get. Its what I use to wash out old enclosures anyways. I’m sure my Ts have at least come into contact with the residue from the soap at some point with no ill effects.

 

[sasker]

not ammonia or crazy cleaning chemicals.

Aha, so not these spray bottles with funky blue fluids to clean your windows, got it!

 

[efmp1987]

The practice of using soap detergent is actually widespread. Some T keepers use a diluted solution to soften and prepare rigid exuviae for sexing.

 

[efmp1987]

I’d be interested to know what book that is from and how it has managaed to stay a secret for so long around here. I suppose if one of my Ts were in a dire situation I’d be open to trying it.

clinical veterinary adviser for birds, reptiles, invertebrates etc. Its on amazon. But its expensive and not worth to purchase for a few pages involving bad molting.

I believe by “detergent” they mean something along the lines of Dawn dish soap, not ammonia or crazy cleaning chemicals. Dawn is about as safe as household soaps can get. Its what I use to wash out old enclosures anyways. I’m sure my Ts have at least come into contact with the residue from the soap at some point with no ill effects.

Correct. As noted, its really the water-soluble fat component that does the trick.