Death curl dehydration and recommendations?

[Just Notu]

I'm new to caring for turantulas and although I do lots of research to prepare, nothing can compare to experience.
I had an opportunity to get gooty sapphire slings. Lost one already and have the other in icu. He went into a death curl hours after I had last checked on him. No life at all but after misting him several times , he began showing some life. After transferring to icu, I thought the move took his life as he went lifeless again. He's in a small container with wet paper towels and a water dish sitting on a low heat pad to bring temp up. After about 20 minutes of leaving him alone in darkness, I found him on the side wall.
Now that he's showing life again I have hope he's able to survive but my question is should I offer a meal and or how long should I wait?

 

[Demonclaws]

Pictures of the spider and enclosure please...
Things that you described may be different from the what is actually happening

 

[Arachnophoric]

We need pictures of the enclosures and T. Were the slings offered water dishes in their enclosures? Slings cannot drown and should be offered a water dish (a soda bottle cap will do just fine).

I'm assuming by "gooty sapphire" you're referring to P. metallica? These are very much not good Ts for someone inexperienced. Fast, potent OWs, and as far as I understand one of the more sensitive/fragile Poecis.

 

[Theneil]

Pics ASAP please. Almost every "ICU" i've seen posted up has been significantly lacking ventalation, turning it instead into a coffin...

 

[Arachnophoric]

Pics ASAP please. Almost every "ICU" i've seen posted up has been significantly lacking ventalation, turning it instead into a coffin...

This x1000. ICUs are mostly (if not only) useful in cases of dehydration, but the ICU cup needs to have ample ventilation or else it can end up killing your T even faster with stuffy, overly humid conditions.

 

[Theneil]

When did you get the slings and when did they go down hill?

How are you taking care of them?

So many questions... We need a lot more to go off of in order to help.

Also, as long as the room it is in is mid 60s or up, remove the heat pad. More likely to cause issues than solve them
.. Sorry for so many messages. Brain isn't working at 100% right now. Keep thinking of more stuff right after i post...

 

[lostbrane]

I would say no worries, we need this information to help them. Even if it comes out in multiple posts. Hopefully they get us the photos ASAP and a good chunk of these questions should be answered.

 

[Just Notu]

Showing lots of life now. Moving around as I get near. Having trouble loading pics but will. Ventilation verse too much humidity is another concern next. Good news, he's alive and seemingly doing well for the moment.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

This x1000. ICUs are mostly (if not only) useful in cases of dehydration, but the ICU cup needs to have ample ventilation or else it can end up killing your T even faster with stuffy, overly humid conditions.

I don’t Think icu ever saved a T for me. Gotta give some bigger Ts multiple water dishes Incase they throw bolas in there.

I can’t afford a camera or dlsr I just phone iPhone camera now.

 

[Just Notu]

And yes I know a gooty is not for amateurs. I'm not new to exotic pet care, even some rare and high maintenance and didn't want to pass the opportunity on these. I know experience is best and that's why I'm here now. Looking for help and to educate myself better to save this beautiful creature.

 

[Arachnophoric]

I don’t Think icu ever saved a T for me. Gotta give some bigger Ts multiple water dishes Incase they throw bolas in there.

It saved my first T back when I first started keeping, a P. irminia sling that I had forgotten to water before going on a week-long vacation. She was on the brink of death, but that combined with carefully supplying water to the base of her fangs brought her back. The only time I've ever had to use one, thankfully.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

ICU is excellent for rehydration, I think it helped me once or twice. I just forgot should start keeping notes.
I check my Ts almost every day now always worried they will trash the water dish.

 

[Just Notu]

Have it on a heat pad over two cooking g pot pads to prevent over heating but you can see the moisture building up. seems to be responding well to the treatment. There's several pin holes in the cup to help ventilation but again the next concern....what is too much humidity for a period of recovery and should I offer a pinhead? He ate last yesterday.

 

[Arachnophoric]

And yes I know a gooty is not for amateurs. I'm not new to exotic pet care, even some rare and high maintenance and didn't want to pass the opportunity on these. I know experience is best and that's why I'm here now. Looking for help and to educate myself better to save this beautiful creature.

And this is case and point why you should have gotten experience BEFORE getting them. P. metallica isn't going anywhere, isn't "rare" and would still be in the hobby (at a cheaper cost too) if you had waited a couple years and started with something more suited to your experience level. If you had taken the time to learn how to swim before diving in the deep end, you probably wouldn't have 1 dead and 1 dying sling. I sincerely hope for your T's sake you do learn fast, because these guys grow quickly and aren't messing around when it comes to their venom toxicity and willingness to use it if they feel threatened. Luckily P. metallica seems to be one of the shyer of Poecs and more likely to hide than fight, but there are outliers.

Just because you have experience with other exotics doesn't mean that you should jump in the deep end with another kind; that's like saying since you've owned tortoises, you should be fine buying a reticulated python as your first snake. There's a LOT of misinformation out there that'll sooner kill your T than if you lit the enclosure on fire yourself. There are sites that'll tell you to chase humidity and temperature numbers that are just entirely wrong. And considering that there are so many hardier, cheaper, beginner friendly Ts that are just as beautiful as P. metallica, I'm so confused as to why newbies are so attracted to P. metallica. Yes, they're blue, but so are several NWs that'd be far more suited for a newer keeper; P. sazimai, C. cyaneopubescens, D. diamantinensis... the list goes on.

If I sound frustrated, it's because I am. I am not trying to be mean to you, but you state that you know nothing can substitute for experience and yet you got these spiders that are out of your experience range anyway, nearly killing both of them in the process.

Have it on a heat pad over two cooking g pot pads to prevent over heating but you can see the moisture building up. seems to be responding well to the treatment. There's several pin holes in the cup to help ventilation but again the next concern....what is too much humidity for a period of recovery and should I offer a pinhead? He ate last yesterday.

Your T is going to die in that cup. Get it off of the heat pad, there is way too much water in that. Do not offer food at this point, if it ate yesterday it does not need it right now.

 

[Just Notu]

And this is case and point why you should have gotten experience BEFORE getting them. P. metallica isn't going anywhere, isn't "rare" and would still be in the hobby (at a cheaper cost too) if you had waited a couple years and started with something more suited to your experience level. If you had taken the time to learn how to swim before diving in the deep end, you probably wouldn't have 1 dead and 1 dying sling. I sincerely hope for your T's sake you do learn fast, because these guys grow quickly and aren't messing around when it comes to their venom toxicity and willingness to use it if they feel threatened. Luckily P. metallica seems to be one of the shyer of Poecs and more likely to hide than fight, but there are outliers.

Just because you have experience with other exotics doesn't mean that you should jump in the deep end with another kind; that's like saying since you've owned tortoises, you should be fine buying a reticulated python as your first snake. There's a LOT of misinformation out there that'll sooner kill your T than if you lit the enclosure on fire yourself. There are sites that'll tell you to chase humidity and temperature numbers that are just entirely wrong. And considering that there are so many hardier, cheaper, beginner friendly Ts that are just as beautiful as P. metallica, I'm so confused as to why newbies are so attracted to P. metallica. Yes, they're blue, but so are several NWs that'd be far more suited for a newer keeper; P. sazimai, C. cyaneopubescens, D. diamantinensis... the list goes on.

If I sound frustrated, it's because I am. I am not trying to be mean to you, but you state that you know nothing can substitute for experience and yet you got these spiders that are out of your experience range anyway, nearly killing both of them in the process.




Your T is going to die in that cup. Get it off of the heat pad, there is way too much water in that. Do not offer food at this point, if it ate yesterday it does not need it right now.

And this is case and point why you should have gotten experience BEFORE getting them. P. metallica isn't going anywhere, isn't "rare" and would still be in the hobby (at a cheaper cost too) if you had waited a couple years and started with something more suited to your experience level. If you had taken the time to learn how to swim before diving in the deep end, you probably wouldn't have 1 dead and 1 dying sling. I sincerely hope for your T's sake you do learn fast, because these guys grow quickly and aren't messing around when it comes to their venom toxicity and willingness to use it if they feel threatened. Luckily P. metallica seems to be one of the shyer of Poecs and more likely to hide than fight, but there are outliers.

Just because you have experience with other exotics doesn't mean that you should jump in the deep end with another kind; that's like saying since you've owned tortoises, you should be fine buying a reticulated python as your first snake. There's a LOT of misinformation out there that'll sooner kill your T than if you lit the enclosure on fire yourself. There are sites that'll tell you to chase humidity and temperature numbers that are just entirely wrong. And considering that there are so many hardier, cheaper, beginner friendly Ts that are just as beautiful as P. metallica, I'm so confused as to why newbies are so attracted to P. metallica. Yes, they're blue, but so are several NWs that'd be far more suited for a newer keeper; P. sazimai, C. cyaneopubescens, D. diamantinensis... the list goes on.

If I sound frustrated, it's because I am. I am not trying to be mean to you, but you state that you know nothing can substitute for experience and yet you got these spiders that are out of your experience range anyway, nearly killing both of them in the process.




Your T is going to die in that cup. Get it off of the heat pad, there is way too much water in that. Do not offer food at this point, if it ate yesterday it does not need it right now.

So what would you recommend for housing currently? I understand what you see shouldn't be for long and that's why I'm asking for help. So far he's come back from no response to reacting to my approach. I think his recovery has been amazing and looking for further help to keep it going in the right direction.

ICU is excellent for rehydration, I think it helped me once or twice. I just forgot should start keeping notes.
I check my Ts almost every day now always worried they will trash the water dish.

What steps did you take that helped. So far so good but want to continue his rehabilitation without further complications such as too much humidity now that he's responding and gaining strength

 

[Arachnophoric]

So what would you recommend for housing currently? I understand what you see shouldn't be for long and that's why I'm asking for help. So far he's come back from no response to reacting to my approach. I think his recovery has been amazing and looking for further help to keep it going in the right direction.

I'm glad he's doing better, but I seriously think he's going to go downhill if you keep him in that cup. The paper towels should be damp, not so wet that they're literally dripping and getting the T soaked as well.

I'd still like to see the setup you had the T in prior to it nearly dying. That being said, at the size your T appears to be, he'd be fine in a 16oz delicup. You'll want to have good ventilation, a couple inches of damp, not wet substrate (cocofibre, plain topsoil, things of that nature). You can let it dry a little, and just pour some water directly into the substrate when it starts getting too dry. Misting is useless and just upsets the T. You'll want something for it to climb/web on, a small slab of cork bark is fantastic as it doesn't mold and provides a lot of anchor points to web on. If you're feeling creative, you can even decorate it with fake plants to make it prettier. My ornata sling made herself a little dirt-curtain burrow against the base of the cork bark in her enclosure, but frequently stretches out along the surface near the top. And, very important; offer a water dish. As I mentioned before, a bottle cap will work just fine for a small sling.

This is a setup for an Avic (courtesy @cold blood ) but this is essentially the same idea in what you'd want for your sling.

 

[lostbrane]

I've seen people use 16 oz deli cups, or an acrylic enclosure. Make sure you have ventilation holes poked through (if the enclosure didn't already come with sufficient ones)
You'll want coco fiber or top soil as a substrate, with a small water dish (plastic bottle cap works great), and a small slab of cork bark for a hide.

I certainly hope that the spider makes it out ok. It's been a rather rough start. As stated previously, definitely not a good beginner t. Please read up all you can here on the boards so that you can ensure the successful life of this tarantula, should it make it.

(Sorry didn't see you post Arachnophoric)

 

[Just Notu]

I'm glad he's doing better, but I seriously think he's going to go downhill if you keep him in that cup. The paper towels should be damp, not so wet that they're literally dripping and getting the T soaked as well.

I'd still like to see the setup you had the T in prior to it nearly dying. That being said, at the size your T appears to be, he'd be fine in a 16oz delicup. You'll want to have good ventilation, a couple inches of damp, not wet substrate (cocofibre, plain topsoil, things of that nature). You can let it dry a little, and just pour some water directly into the substrate when it starts getting too dry. Misting is useless and just upsets the T. You'll want something for it to climb/web on, a small slab of cork bark is fantastic as it doesn't mold and provides a lot of anchor points to web on. If you're feeling creative, you can even decorate it with fake plants to make it prettier. My ornata sling made herself a little dirt-curtain burrow against the base of the cork bark in her enclosure, but frequently stretches out along the surface near the top. And, very important; offer a water dish. As I mentioned before, a bottle cap will work just fine for a small sling.

This is a setup for an Avic (courtesy @cold blood ) but this is essentially the same idea in what you'd want for your sling.

Thanks for the advice.
You did come across a bit abrasive regarding my amateur experience but I do understand as I'd want to sat the same thing regarding reptiles as I have more experience with. This isn't my first tarantula but is my first sling and it's unfortunate I chose this species. From just life experience please understand attacking someone for the situation they're in regardless of what it is, doesn't help. Asking questions and providing suggestions or direction to assist is the first priority. Abrasive attacks only frustrates people more. I do respect your point and truly appreciate the help.
Pics of original enclosure coming. Bottle cap water dish is perfect I agree. I do believe my error is relate to humidity and dry substrate.

 

[Just Notu]

Originally enclosure.

 

[cold blood]

I'm new to caring for turantulas and although I do lots of research to prepare, nothing can compare to experience.
I had an opportunity to get gooty sapphire slings

Here's the issue with research, 90% of what is out there, is bad or false information, misleading at best.....and unless you have experience, you won't be able to discern the correct from the incorrect, and will undoubtedly soak up the bad info like a sponge...which appears to have been the case. So research can be tricky for beginners, glad you found AB, this is one of those rare good sources....possibly the best source.

Ventilation verse too much humidity is another concern next.

Case in point, you clearly devoted your research to the wrong places.

Humidity is not a concern, you should never be measuring it or really even paying attention to it, these aren't reptiles or amphibians......they really don't require specific temps or humidity ranges....in fact, any t can be kept in any humidity and temp ranges can be from 70-95 for almost all ts.

Its really as simple as keeping the sub, or part of the sub damp and providing drinking water. When the sub dries, add water.

And yes I know a gooty is not for amateurs. I'm not new to exotic pet care, even some rare and high maintenance and didn't want to pass the opportunity on these. I know experience is best and that's why I'm here now. Looking for help and to educate myself better to save this beautiful creature.

If you are not new to exotics, you really should have been able to make a better decision. This is like saying, I just got my first snake, I just couldn't pass on the spitting cobra....but I have experience with mantids and cichlids.

Have it on a heat pad over two cooking g pot pads to prevent over heating but you can see the moisture building up.

You are gong to kill this sling without significant alterations. You have no reason to be adding additional heat.

To safely use a heat pad, you would want to heat a larger enclosure and place the sling enclosure within it. Direct heat s a bad idea...dong this turns a dangerous direct heat, into a safer secondary heat. But you shouldn't even need to consider that until winter.

....what is too much humidity for a period of recovery and should I offer a pinhead?

What you have would qualify. Err on the side of dry over wet. Pokies tend to be pretty drought tolerant and deal well with a wide range of conditions, but the enclosure its in right now is nothing but a death trap....better suited for a salamander than any t.

Never feed a t that is in obvious peril. Its like seeing someone having a heart attack and offering them a cheeseburger in the midst of the attack...recovery first, feeding second.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but the best advice anyone could give would be to get a better beginner species and learn the basics first....there are hundreds of good ones....get the P. metallica later, its not going extinct in the hobby (in fact its only becoming more readily available and cheaper).....you will literally have the chance to get one any time you want in the future.

Best of luck, I hope your t pulls through. And I hope the info you gained in this thread is taken to heart and helps you and the t out.

From just life experience please understand attacking someone for the situation they're in regardless of what it is, doesn't help

You shouldn't see anything here as any kind of an attack, its just truthful help from passionate people. We are all on the same team here, we all ultimately want the same thing, that is for you to succeed...... I applaud your positive attitude and understanding so far