foot/toe stuck in screen lid

[cloudy]

So i just went to check on my B. smithi and she is now dangling from the top of the tank with what looks to be 1 foot/toe caught in the screen top. All the other legs are going 90 mph trying to get free from this position. I don't wanna lift the lid cause I'm afraid it will cause it to fall even further, but if i let it fall naturally she would land directly on her rock hide.. it's only a few inches (3-4) but idk what i should do.. I'm freakin out and looks like she is too. help!

Edit: upon further inspection it looks like the foot is more stuck TO the screen rather than IN the screen. while the rest of the spider just hangs there.

 

[Big Red TJ]

So i just went to check on my B. smithi and she is now dangling from the top of the tank with what looks to be 1 foot/toe caught in the screen top. All the other legs are going 90 mph trying to get free from this position. I don't wanna lift the lid cause I'm afraid it will cause it to fall even further, but if i let it fall naturally she would land directly on her rock hide.. it's only a few inches (3-4) but idk what i should do.. I'm freakin out and looks like she is too. help!

Edit: upon further inspection it looks like the foot is more stuck TO the screen rather than IN the screen. while the rest of the spider just hangs there.

Take the lid off and help her off gently. be very careful...screens are bad by the way.... if you *must* use screen, the best kind to use is any kind of dipped screen, like galvanized. Their tarsal claws don't get caught as often in those as compared to normal mesh screens.

EDIT - the best thing you can do is just turn the screen upside down so the tarantula is the right side up, and allow her to free herself if it's possible. If not the best thing you can do is gently try to free her tarsal claws, but just be very gentle.

 

[Faing]

So i just went to check on my B. smithi and she is now dangling from the top of the tank with what looks to be 1 foot/toe caught in the screen top. All the other legs are going 90 mph trying to get free from this position. I don't wanna lift the lid cause I'm afraid it will cause it to fall even further, but if i let it fall naturally she would land directly on her rock hide.. it's only a few inches (3-4) but idk what i should do.. I'm freakin out and looks like she is too. help!

Move the rock hide if need be, don't let her fall and get her off the screen (carefully, lift it a little if you need to in order to maneuver). It's not hard to put some paper towels or something soft under her. Or use your hand under her if you think it'll be okay and aren't afraid of her. Just find a way to get her 'un-stuck' and fix the prob. good luck.

 

[xhexdx]

If the lid is just something that lifts straight off without latching in any way, gently lift it and move it so she will land in the substrate if she falls. Then try to lower her either to the substrate or provide a catch tank (or deli cup) for her to climb into. She should be able to let go of the lid herself, she just needs support from underneath.

 

[Big Red TJ]

Can we get a status update??? is she ok???:? :? :?

 

[cloudy]

okay got her down safe and sound. I was just afraid lifting the lid would "cause" her to fall.. but she was really stuck so i was able to flip the lid upside down as suggested. but guess what?? she's climbing the walls again lol.. I guess she didn't learn her lesson ;P thank you thank you for the fast replies :worship:

 

[xhexdx]

Is the substrate too moist? They prefer it dry.

Also, if it's late at night (you're in the same time zone as I am, I think), then she is probably doing her normal tarantula nocturnal thing.

It's fun to peek in my spider room at night and see all the activity.

 

[Big Red TJ]

Is the substrate too moist? They prefer it dry.

Also, if it's late at night (you're in the same time zone as I am, I think), then she is probably doing her normal tarantula nocturnal thing.

It's fun to peek in my spider room at night and see all the activity.

Agreed what is the substrate like????

 

[cloudy]

Dry as a bone.. I just over fill the water dish once a week for the little humidity needed. It's almost naturally humid in my house. Oddly enough though.. at night she usually goes to her hide, and sits out in the open during the day. Strange because I know they are nocturnal. BTW. the sub I use is 50/50 potting soil peat combo

 

[cloudy]

what do you use besides the screen tops?? Like some plexi with holes or something? This top was given to me with the smithi who btw is a climber.. so If I need a better set up I would like to know what the best would be. She is currently in a 10 gal with the metal screen top.. I can take a picture if need be. I just need to know she is safe when she goes on her climbing adventures hehe

 

[Big Red TJ]

what do you use besides the screen tops?? Like some plexi with holes or something? This top was given to me with the smithi who btw is a climber.. so If I need a better set up I would like to know what the best would be. She is currently in a 10 gal with the metal screen top.. I can take a picture if need be. I just need to know she is safe when she goes on her climbing adventures hehe

We keep are B. Smithi in a sterlite tub lots of ventilation. and she does well....not great for display but she is happy...

 

[cloudy]

We keep are B. Smithi in a sterlite tub lots of ventilation. and she does well....not great for display but she is happy...

ahh okay I'll definatly look into something better suited and safer. Thank you for the advice.

 

[ametan]

Ugh.

This happened to my G Rosea last night. I have no idea how long it was hanging there before we got home. I've got an Exo-Terra with front-opening doors as well as the screen top so luckily I could just put a towel on my hand (in case it got defensive because of being scared) and lift up the T from underneath. It worked immediately. Scared the crap out of me, though.

(P.S. I know this is a dead topic, but I had to vent about it somewhere. Better than starting a brand new topic on it, no?)

 

[Kirsten]

I was leery of screen tops for this very reason until I learned how to remedy it. I took construction paper and cut it to fit inside the lid;I accordion folded it and punched holes down the length on both sides and unfolded it. Next, I just taped it to the edges inside the lid and, voila...plenty of ventilation with no foot/claw catching. Theoretically, a foot could still catch on the screen inside one of the holes, but what are the chances,really...? May sound silly, but I learned it on another place and tried it.

 

[alex12holms]

bearded dragon taming

I got a bearded dragon a while ago and it is almost 2 now. i had it since it was a baby but never handled it that much. now, when i want to play or put my hand in his cage he starts freaking out and hissing and puffing up. I really want a happy friendly bearded dragon and was wondering how to tame him to be more realxed and friendly. Hope it is not to late!

 

[ametan]

I got a bearded dragon a while ago and it is almost 2 now. i had it since it was a baby but never handled it that much. now, when i want to play or put my hand in his cage he starts freaking out and hissing and puffing up. I really want a happy friendly bearded dragon and was wondering how to tame him to be more realxed and friendly. Hope it is not to late!

I would say you should ask some people under the heading of "Not So Spineless Wonders" or find a herp enthusiast board.

The best I could tell you would be the way I trained mine and that was the same way you would with a parakeet. I don't have enough experience to feel confident in instructing another. But look at the bright side, bearded dragon bites are more 'cute' than painful.

 

[ametan]

I was leery of screen tops for this very reason until I learned how to remedy it. I took construction paper and cut it to fit inside the lid;I accordion folded it and punched holes down the length on both sides and unfolded it. Next, I just taped it to the edges inside the lid and, voila...plenty of ventilation with no foot/claw catching. Theoretically, a foot could still catch on the screen inside one of the holes, but what are the chances,really...? May sound silly, but I learned it on another place and tried it.

I'm a visual person. Do you have any pictures you could share of what you're explaining?

 

[Kirsten]

Maybe this will explain, but I really suck at paint... and resizing...

 

[ametan]

Thanks! lalalalala making it longer so it will let me post lalalala

 

[Kirsten]

Thanks! lalalalala making it longer so it will let me post lalalala

Yeah, I've done that...

You seriously understood my super and ultra precise and technical directions...? You are a genius!