Help with juvenile T rescue!!

[Ifoundmyspider]

Hello everyone,

To make a long story short, my wife told me to go check out this massive dead spider in our driveway a week and a half ago. Much to my surprise, the spider wasn't dead, it was on its back...and it was a juvenile tarantula. I'm in California and we have wild tarantulas that migrate our way this time of year.

So, being the kind soul I am and thinking I don't want to let a little tarantula freeze to death, I brought him/her in, placed in a cup, placed inside the warm house in a dark place and left it alone. I initially thought my pest control would kill it and that's why it was belly up, but after asking my technician he said it's been too long since my last spray and it shouldn't affect the spider.

So with that hope in mind I bought a small little terrarium (basically a small rodent transport cage) and some tarantula substrate and gave it a comfier home. About 4-5 days went by and I noticed it was moving faster and faster and a lot more mobile than it initially was, so I introduced two small crickets and it didn't eat. I left them in there for 2 days and removed them after it did not eat them. Well, 3-4 days ago I came home from work and looked at "Harry" and he was on his back. Of course I freak out as someone that's never housed a T before and I learn about the molting process. So I don't panic and just make sure the humidity stays up.

Well, it is still on its back 3-4 days later now. It is alive, I almost feel like the abdomen is slightly larger but can't be 100% sure, it is definitely alive because it loves its legs slowly if it feels vibration. I even noticed a little bit of poop behind his abdomen. So from my research the molting process should've completed a while ago. I really want to save this guy and release when the weather gets warmer, but I'm losing hope.

Any suggestions from the pros? I think it is a juvenile, maybe 3 inches across from diagonal legs. Thanks in advance.

Jason

 

[Chris LXXIX]

If you can, please upload a couple of pictures (of the spider, mostly, but also of the enclosure) because that would be of great help, man.

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

Hello everyone,

To make a long story short, my wife told me to go check out this massive dead spider in our driveway a week and a half ago. Much to my surprise, the spider wasn't dead, it was on its back...and it was a juvenile tarantula. I'm in California and we have wild tarantulas that migrate our way this time of year.

So, being the kind soul I am and thinking I don't want to let a little tarantula freeze to death, I brought him/her in, placed in a cup, placed inside the warm house in a dark place and left it alone. I initially thought my pest control would kill it and that's why it was belly up, but after asking my technician he said it's been too long since my last spray and it shouldn't affect the spider.

So with that hope in mind I bought a small little terrarium (basically a small rodent transport cage) and some tarantula substrate and gave it a comfier home. About 4-5 days went by and I noticed it was moving faster and faster and a lot more mobile than it initially was, so I introduced two small crickets and it didn't eat. I left them in there for 2 days and removed them after it did not eat them. Well, 3-4 days ago I came home from work and looked at "Harry" and he was on his back. Of course I freak out as someone that's never housed a T before and I learn about the molting process. So I don't panic and just make sure the humidity stays up.

Well, it is still on its back 3-4 days later now. It is alive, I almost feel like the abdomen is slightly larger but can't be 100% sure, it is definitely alive because it loves its legs slowly if it feels vibration. I even noticed a little bit of poop behind his abdomen. So from my research the molting process should've completed a while ago. I really want to save this guy and release when the weather gets warmer, but I'm losing hope.

Any suggestions from the pros? I think it is a juvenile, maybe 3 inches across from diagonal legs. Thanks in advance.

Jason

OH and I should mention. It was drunk walking the day before it flipped to its back.

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

If you can, please upload a couple of pictures (of the spider, mostly, but also of the enclosure) because that would be of great help, man.

Will do, give me 20 minutes or so.

 

[beaker41]

The drunk walk makes it sound like a mature male on its last legs. Is the abdomen shrunken? Does it have hooks ?

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

The drunk walk makes it sound like a mature male on its last legs. Is the abdomen shrunken? Does it have hooks ?

Do mature males only grow to be that small?

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

Do mature males only grow to be that small?

Also, no the abdomen is not shrunken and I don't see hooks.

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

If you can, please upload a couple of pictures (of the spider, mostly, but also of the enclosure) because that would be of great help, man.

I'm trying to upload from my phone but it doesn't seem to work. After pressing "browse" nothing happens. It may have to wait for an hour or so until I'm home with a computer.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I'm trying to upload from my phone but it doesn't seem to work. After pressing "browse" nothing happens. It may have to wait for an hour or so until I'm home with a computer.

No problem, man.

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

As of right now, the spider's back legs are stretched out, it is moving a decent amount, I see the fangs moving and the front peds stretched out straight. I noticed some white on the front ped. Does this seem like a stuck molt?

And I don't know if you can see it or not, but I have taped all the ventilation slots on the lid closed to keep humidity up. There are some oxygen ports open but for the most part it is sealed. The moisture on the sides has been there since this morning so it is keeping humidity.

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

His abdomen is definitely lighter than it used to be and the two spindels(?) are definitely longer than they were before he went belly up. On the front of his pedipalps they look more orange as if they are new skin compared to the rest of him. With the lighter abdomen and the orange on his peds, I'd assume he's stuck in molt. But again, I've had zero experience with T's. How about some other opinions/suggestions?

 

[AntlerAlchemist]

It looks like it is possibly a mature male. They are usually the ones out roaming. Also it is hard to tell if it just molted by looking at the pictures, but if it did it could take a few days to harden up. Especially with how wet that enclosure is. Just don't touch it and see if it perks up. But you will need to give it time.

 

[NewT GBB]

Pre kill an appropriate sized cricket so there’s no struggle to catch food/prey as well.

 

[cold blood]

MM

 

[boina]

What @cold blood was saying with those two letters is, that this is a Mature Male who has reached the end of it's natural life. It's clearly visible in the second pic of the spider you posted. I'm very sorry, but there's absolutely nothing you can do at this point, the spider has reached the end and will die.

But kudos for trying to help

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

It looks like it is possibly a mature male. They are usually the ones out roaming. Also it is hard to tell if it just molted by looking at the pictures, but if it did it could take a few days to harden up. Especially with how wet that enclosure is. Just don't touch it and see if it perks up. But you will need to give it time.

It's

What @cold blood was saying with those two letters is, that this is a Mature Male who has reached the end of it's natural life. It's clearly visible in the second pic of the spider you posted. I'm very sorry, but there's absolutely nothing you can do at this point, the spider has reached the end and will die.

But kudos for trying to help

Well that's a bummer to hear! I never knew a T this small would be a mature T. Well, I tried my best, I will leave him alone and let nature take its course. Do they usually take this long to pass? 5 days on their back?

 

[boina]

It's

Well that's a bummer to hear! I never knew a T this small would be a mature T. Well, I tried my best, I will leave him alone and let nature take its course. Do they usually take this long to pass? 5 days on their back?

Yes it can take that long and longer. The spider just gets weaker and weaker until it's finally dead.

Edit: Not all tarantula species are big. Some are pretty small as you have just discoverd.

 

[Ifoundmyspider]

Yes it can take that long and longer. The spider just gets weaker and weaker until it's finally dead.

Sheesh. Makes you want to gas em or something to put them out of their misery! Thank you for all the help. Well now I have all this tarantula stuff and no tarantula....hmmm.