Gluing a tarantula's injury shut?

[Moakmeister]

I've never kept a pet tarantula before, but is it true that tarantula owners will actually put superglue in a crack in the exoskeleton? Correct me if I'm wrong, but superglue is toxic when it's inside the body flowiing around in the blood, right? I would think it would be terrible for a tarantula to have superglue inside it, especially since it has an open circulatory system and the blood splashes around all of its organs.

 

[Sarkhan42]

It's used by some as emergency sealant- many use cornstarch instead, but it is not toxic from what I know. In fact, superglue, ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, is thought to have been developed originally for medicinal purposes. Veterinarians actually use n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate in sealing the wounds of other animals as well, it just being slightly more pliable, as well as less irritating due to the fact that it does not release heat in binding or something along those lines, and so is better suited for vertebrates. I believe it is also anti bacterial in the veterinary form.

 

[EulersK]

On top of what has been said (great post, by the way), think of it this way. An actively leaking wound will almost certainly kill a tarantula. Better to try gluing it shut than doing nothing, even if the glue has the potential to be toxic.

Side note, somewhat related - with minor cuts, I almost exclusively use super glue on myself. Better than any bandaid. It stings for a quick second, then it doesn't hurt at all until it's healed completely.

 

[Nosiris]

Superglue isn't toxic to either invertebrates or humans, if used in a well-ventilated area. As previously stated, 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate is the variant specifically developed for medical use ('Dermabond') but as far as the anecdotal evidence I've seen on these boards is concerned, consumer superglue is very effective at sealing up Ts in an emergency.

 

[Teal]

Certain superglues being safe for use in marine fish tanks = safe for ANYTHING, because there is nothing more delicate than marine life in a home tank!

I have used super glue on myself and all my animals.