Fungus on tarantula

[Akay91]

Anyone have any idea on what this is? Fungus or mold? Apparently there is a worm in the enclosure with the same substance on it.

 

[jbooth]

Sure looks like it. I'd keep that far away from everyone else... at least until you figure it out. Maybe the T was sitting still long enough where it was growing and it isn't "on" the T...

 

[Sugarpill]

Very interesting, almost looks like moss. I’d also definitely keep it far away from anyone else in my collection until I figure out what’s happening..

 

[viper69]

Sure seems it - need a higher mag

 

[cold blood]

looks like it rubbed up against something moldy

 

[Akay91]

Sure seems it - need a higher mag

What is a mag?

 

[cold blood]

What is a mag?

magnigication....of the photo

 

[Akay91]

I'm not sure if there is any on the substrate. It's not my T. I've never seen this but I've only been keeping a year. I did have some flower pot fungus in my adult t albo enclosure I lowered it humidity and it stopped growing.

Sure seems it - need a higher mag

I'll see if I can get one from her

 

[fcat]

Is the worm dead btw?

 

[The Snark]

Fungus or mold

Both quite similar. But what you are seeing on the animal is the fruiting body or sporagium. The actual organism is invisible, be it mycellium or hyphae, most likely living in or under the exoskeleton. From the general appearance and spread, it's a mold. Easy enough to test. Swab the fuzz with a clean q-tip then look at it under magnification. If the swab has some of that same color, it's a fungi, myceta or mycota.

 

[l4nsky]

Do you have pics of the full enclosure?

 

[Akay91]

Is the worm dead btw?

They did state the worm was dead and only in there for maybe 24 hours.

Do you have pics of the full enclosure?

I don't but I'll ask for one!

Both quite similar. But what you are seeing on the animal is the fruiting body or sporagium. The actual organism is invisible, be it mycellium or hyphae, most likely living in or under the exoskeleton. From the general appearance and spread, it's a mold. Easy enough to test. Swab the fuzz with a clean q-tip then look at it under magnification. If the swab has some of that same color, it's a fungi, myceta or mycota.

Thank you I will relay this information and keep it in my memory bank!

 

[l4nsky]

I don't but I'll ask for one!

That'll help. Honestly, it kinda just looks and reads like someone dropped a mealworm covered in the fine oat meal they're sold in on top of the tarantula, but it's hard to tell scale or see if the powder is anywhere else in that picture.

 

[Dry Desert]

Thank you I will relay this information and keep it in my memory bank!

If the mealworm had been dusted in calcium powder prior to being placed in the enclosure then some may have become damp and rubbed off.

Try some Q tips with tepid water and see if it comes off.