HELP! Tailless Whip Scorpion turned black + whips look "deformed"

[Ratfluffz]

Hi. About four days ago I woke up to find my P. whitei turned black and his whips were all strange-looking, as if they were twisted. I assumed that maybe he was just getting ready to molt so I let him be, but he still hasn't molted and I'm getting worried. I've been spraying/misting his tank 1-2 times daily, and I feed him crickets and he eats them, so he's not starving or dying of thirst or anything. I know he's alive because he's moving and acting normal, he just doesn't look normal. I'm not sure if he's sick or dying or something, but I'd appreciate if someone could help me with this. Thanks.

 

[fcat]

Any changes since last night?

 

[Ratfluffz]

Any changes since last night?

No, he still looks the same, except last night he ate a cricket, so I don't think he's molting.

 

[fcat]

Well it wouldn't hurt to post a few more pictures...one of his entire setup, and if you get any better ones with optimal lighting.

I will admit I don't know much about TWS. Are you confident with your husbandry parameters or are you new to keeping him? I wouldn't mist a vegetable in an enclosed glass box lacking ventilation, but again I don't know TWS. Just tarantulas, where moist substrate is more effective and not as fleeting as misting (which evaporates in a few minutes).

Is it possible it suffered a traumatic injury? I just searched a few posts here and I am seeing smaller enclosures, and keepers suggesting they need room to molt and climb but really don't move much.

Personally, eating is the best sign and is my cue to worry less. I'd be looking forward to the next molt as well, but now is your time to get the parameters right to make the environment conducive to a smooth molt...any physical issues at this point you may not be able to avoid.

 

[Ratfluffz]

I sadly can't take more pictures right now because I'm at a friend's house, but his set-up isn't really good either. My dad won't buy a vertical tank because "they're too much money". I believe everything else besides the tank is fine, but I do need to change his substrate soon. For the traumatic injury thing, it may be possible he fell off the plant, but I'm not sure.

 

[alex666]

How are the temperatures/humidity? Does he have other surfaces besides the leaves? How long have you had him?

You can just use styrofoam for them to climb on if money is an issue or you're dependent on like you family for the purchases. Not to assume though just without seeing the rest of the cage, those leaves aren't ideal for them

You're certain he was p. whitei? Some species turn black as adults like p. maesi I believe. There's a million kinds of these things and I am not an expert though lol. But if he hasn't molted i dont think the color would change suddenly like that

 

[Ratfluffz]

How are the temperatures/humidity? Does he have other surfaces besides the leaves? How long have you had him?

You can just use styrofoam for them to climb on if money is an issue or you're dependent on like you family for the purchases. Not to assume though just without seeing the rest of the cage, those leaves aren't ideal for them

You're certain he was p. whitei? Some species turn black as adults like p. maesi I believe. There's a million kinds of these things and I am not an expert though lol. But if he hasn't molted i dont think the color would change suddenly like that

Hi! I actually just found his molt hiding underneath one of the plants a few days ago and realized that he just had a bad molt. I'll see if i can grab some styrofoam from my basement. Thank you!

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

Hi! I actually just found his molt hiding underneath one of the plants a few days ago and realized that he just had a bad molt. I'll see if i can grab some styrofoam from my basement. Thank you!

This was the only possible answer.

The only things your animal *needs* are a vertical climbing surface (styrofoam is perfect, they love it), moist substrate, restricted ventilation, and enough vertical space to moult. If your enclosure is sufficiently tall, it doesn’t have to be vertically oriented. It looks as though your animal *would* have plenty of space to molt IF you removed the plants and replaced them with a vertical climbing structure like styrofoam or cork bark. If you’re using styrofoam, just give it a good flush and wipe with water (no scented, oily, or harsh chemical cleansers), dry it off, and you’re good to go.

edit to add: your animal may or may not have some trouble hunting depending how messed up the whips are. If it seems to be struggling, you can hobble its prey.

 

[Ratfluffz]

Yeah, I removed one of the plants and am planning to add styrofoam into his enclosure. For the hunting, he just successfully caught a cricket yessterday despite one of his whips falling off - probably got it caught on something because it was so deformed. I think he's gonna be perfectly fine since he's still moving around and eating. Thank you for the advice!!

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

Yeah, I removed one of the plants and am planning to add styrofoam into his enclosure. For the hunting, he just successfully caught a cricket yessterday despite one of his whips falling off - probably got it caught on something because it was so deformed. I think he's gonna be perfectly fine since he's still moving around and eating. Thank you for the advice!!

They’ll drop whips if they’re too badly damaged - if the other is badly damaged too it might drop that one. Good to hear it’s successfully hunting and eating, should make it through to another moult that will hopefully be more successful.