Help with my Asbolus laevis

Wasputin

Arachnopeon
Joined
Aug 15, 2020
Messages
3
I haven't seen my beetle walk in days. I found her on her back a few days ago, and I didn't know how long she had been stuck that way, but when I flipped her over she wouldn't move. For the past few days I've been moving her to her food dish so she can eat.
She's been very lethargic and I don't think she can walk. She is able to move her limbs, but the movements seem less coordinated than before and she doesn't really try to stand. She can turn her body a little bit by using her back legs.

I keep another beetle in the same cage (Asbolus verrucosus) but the other's behavior hasn't changed at all. I read that sometimes this can happen if you don't wash produce well enough before feeding it to them, but I almost exclusively feed them fish food pellets soaked with water. Occasionally I give them small pieces of fruit but they don't seem to prefer it and I haven't given them any in a while.

I've had them both for a little over a year, and I don't know how old they are. I don't know if this is related to age or because she was turned on her back or some other reason. Is there anything I should do?
 

Spoodfood

Feeder of Spoods
Joined
Jun 4, 2020
Messages
473
They seem to thrive on a varied diet. I feed mine fruits as well as vegetables (they seem to love apples and carrots most) and occasionally prekilled roaches or crickets, or soaked and expanded cat kibble. I believe they need more fruit and vegetables than protein sources, and have heard they can go without it. I’ve had a colony of 6 for a couple years. 3 Asbolus verrucosus and 3 Asbolus laevis housed together.

It could be the extra moisture from the food that’s irritating them, but I can’t be certain. Try switching over to more fruit and vegetables and letting the juices from that be their water source.

I think they’re also more sensitive to cold temperatures than tarantulas or some other invertebrates people often keep. If my tarantula room drops in temperature my other invertebrates are fine but my beetles can become lethargic.
 
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