Help I'm a newbie

[hdeason]

I have 2 Aphonopelma sp. One of them, the smaller one has flipped onto his back and nothing is happening. He has been on his back since about 10am and it is 7pm. I'm a bit concerned. He has one leg straight out and the rest were curled but are no longer. Any advice????

 

[Scorpendra]

It's molting. Don't disturb it

 

[hassman789]

If it's on it's back it is probably molting. DO NOT touch it, even if it takes a long time. Let it be for now and we will see what happens! Good luck!

 

[hdeason]

Newbie

Thanks guys, I hope he is just molting........

 

[Hentzi]

Any updates?

 

[kingston]

any photos to show us?
it can be a great help if you have a photo

 

[kjm]

I remember when I got my first T and the first time it molted. I freaked out as well; I actually thought it was dead at first.

Good luck to you!!!!

 

[hdeason]

He hasn't moved at all.............his abdomen is deflated..........I think he is dead

 

[kingston]

no extra movement or something that can tell its alive?
post a pic so we could see

 

[losct2381]

Pictures and he's not dead until he smells. Leve him or her alone

 

[hdeason]

It is starting to smell some, like when he is done with mice.

 

[Robertb]

How long has he been in that position? Do you have other pics?

 

[losct2381]

That actually looks like it molted already look around in corners or under stuff see if u find anything else could be it molted and hid and u didn't notice it try to take a better pic of the abdomen if it's still their if its not then the t is probably already molted and hiding.

 

[hdeason]

He has been like that for 24 hours.

 

[hdeason]

I looked all over the enclosure to see if he had molted already, no bueno!

---------- Post added at 10:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 AM ----------

FYI, the cricket in the photos is dead. Otherwise I would have freaked out!!

 

[Murq]

You should maybe take that cricet out of there? It might start eating your T...

 

[malhomme]

It is starting to smell some, like when he is done with mice.

A lot of people think that feeding vertebrate prey to tarantulas will cause bad molts b/c of too much fat and calcium. Just something to consider if he has died during a molt. :-(

 

[losct2381]

Damn man just wait another 24 if nothing I say it's dead. That's rare for them to die on their backs. Usually they curl up into a ball while right side up. But if it starts to smell bad or is smelling bad already it prob dead

---------- Post added at 03:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 PM ----------

Damn man just wait another 24 if nothing I say it's dead. That's rare for them to die on their backs. Usually they curl up into a ball while right side up. But if it starts to smell bad or is smelling bad already it prob dead

 

[hassman789]

Sorry, but I agree wait another 24 hours to make sure. I had a T die before it even started molting. Found it hanging upside down (I would assume it was going to molt, it was an avic) and it just stayed upside down for days and never moved again, I guess somtimes they can just randomly die from a molt, it happens.

 

[advan]

Looks like a MM trying to molt again. I see a hook in the third pic. If he is mature then he has a very slim chance. Sorry.