Dang..

[ZergFront]

Well...this sucks. Two of my really large MF Zoropsis spinimana (both been with my MM) are sick. I think I know why, but I don't know why it would just be those two since all the Zoropsis go in the same cubboard and all are fed the same cricket colony. I didn't smell anything peculiar in their containers either when I checked.

Yesterday, there was an unpleasant odor in the bathroom so I used FeBreeze (not thinking that since it was in another room the door closed that it would do any damage) :wall: but now that I think of it, even if the stuff didn't waft into my room, I don't remember washing my hands after putting the spray away. I could have easily contaminated a cricket I fed them. Would kind of explain why it was just two bugs.

Another scenario it could be a parasite. If they do die in ICU, I was thinking I'd submerge them in water and see if a worm crawls out like I've seen in YouTube videos with earwigs and spiders. Anyone know of other ways besides doing a blind autopsy to draw out worms?

Both the spiders twitch and don't walk real good. One flails wildly like it's having a seizure and then curls up. They seem to have little control over their fangs, too.

 

[revilo]

hi,

just a mind :

sounds like a neuronal damage caused through the spray, so your idea seems realistic to me.

to the worms : i only heard the same like you - cut the oxigen off and they come out...

bye, oli

 

[mosca]

Sorry to hear that. I can't offer any more advice but the febreeze does sound likely. I hope they get better.

 

[buthus]

Chemical damage maybe. Ive had sudden poison problems from wild caught and store bought crickets in the past. Curling up, spasms, deaths, so on...

 

[ZergFront]

Well, one looks like it may make it. I put the ICU (salsa container/luke warm, moist TP) inside one of the cricket bins that has the muscle-relaxant heat pad but one has died. She was almost covered in her own poo when I picked her up.

The second female is still kind of spazzy and off-balance so I'll give her another day or two to hopefully recouperate. FeBreeze never again...

 

[cacoseraph]

i generally feed out using tweezers for just this reason

i try not to directly touch feeders or the food i am feeding them

 

[The Spider Faery]

Another thing to consider is if you're feeding your feeders vegetables, make sure they are thoroughly washed, as pesticides can linger on them, or use organics or a premade cricket food.

 

[davisfam]

i generally feed out using tweezers for just this reason

i try not to directly touch feeders or the food i am feeding them

We do this as well for the same reason and just simply because I sometimes find myself forgetting to wash my hands before feeding time.. but none the less, it's still unfortunate and we're very sorry to hear about your spidiies!