Sana
Arachnoprince
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2014
- Messages
- 1,139
I'm sure most everybody has heard about the recent health issues @MrsHaas p. subfusca is having after overheating while being shipped. If not, here's a link to the thread.
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/help-me-save-my-p-subfusca-and-e-murinus.285848/
I started thinking about it again looking for any ideas we hadn't tried. Somehow my brain jumped to heat stroke in humans lowering electrolytes. Down the rabbit hole we go.
Could a tarantula be low on electrolytes? I know this sounds nuts but in TKG3 there is a reference in the section on the digestion that makes me think it might be possible. On pg. 51 it suggests that the function of coxal glands is to secrete salt that is injected into prey to help maintain fluidity of their food and might help maintain the salt levels of the tarantula. It refers to a paper in 1991 by Butt and Taylor. I googled the paper and was lead to this link.
https://www.researchgate.net/public...rrhothele_Antipodiana_Mygalomorpha_Dipluridae
So maybe a tarantulas electrolytes could be low with severe dehydration. If that's possible then could the electrolytes be replaced the same way as in a human with something like Pedialyte? I know that it sounds insane but what would it hurt at this point to try administering something like that? Maybe @Leonardo the Mage's mom (http://arachnoboards.com/threads/successful-veterinary-care-of-a-tarantula.286079/) would have a suggestion on the most effect way to administer electrolytes to tarantulas?
As an interesting side note, while I was looking at the physiology section I was reminded that the circulatory is pumping from the top of the spider down (page 46). Would a spider's blood pressure be higher laying on it's back, further stressing it's other systems and making it weaker?
Does anyone know a lot about tarantula physiology? Could it be possible to help her?
Edit @cold blood @Poec54 @Blue Jaye @AphonopelmaTX @louise f
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/help-me-save-my-p-subfusca-and-e-murinus.285848/
I started thinking about it again looking for any ideas we hadn't tried. Somehow my brain jumped to heat stroke in humans lowering electrolytes. Down the rabbit hole we go.
Could a tarantula be low on electrolytes? I know this sounds nuts but in TKG3 there is a reference in the section on the digestion that makes me think it might be possible. On pg. 51 it suggests that the function of coxal glands is to secrete salt that is injected into prey to help maintain fluidity of their food and might help maintain the salt levels of the tarantula. It refers to a paper in 1991 by Butt and Taylor. I googled the paper and was lead to this link.
https://www.researchgate.net/public...rrhothele_Antipodiana_Mygalomorpha_Dipluridae
So maybe a tarantulas electrolytes could be low with severe dehydration. If that's possible then could the electrolytes be replaced the same way as in a human with something like Pedialyte? I know that it sounds insane but what would it hurt at this point to try administering something like that? Maybe @Leonardo the Mage's mom (http://arachnoboards.com/threads/successful-veterinary-care-of-a-tarantula.286079/) would have a suggestion on the most effect way to administer electrolytes to tarantulas?
As an interesting side note, while I was looking at the physiology section I was reminded that the circulatory is pumping from the top of the spider down (page 46). Would a spider's blood pressure be higher laying on it's back, further stressing it's other systems and making it weaker?
Does anyone know a lot about tarantula physiology? Could it be possible to help her?
Edit @cold blood @Poec54 @Blue Jaye @AphonopelmaTX @louise f