Help with my C.Crawshayi

[Scolopeon]

Ive been keeping Tarantulas for about 5+ years now and have no problems in the past, I recently got a King Baboon at x-mas because they are one of my favourite spiders (i'm quite a good keeper and can deal with their aggression easily). I previously had a King Baboon in the past for 2 years, but it met an unfortunate end when it climbed out of its cage and took a drop (this was a learning curve for me).

Anyway I was really happy with the large (7+) king baboon I got for christmas and it was feeding well to start with. I steralized its new tank and moved it to it and it did well for a few weeks. Then it went off feed (it is in my experiance that they can molt just after you buy them) but I moved it to the original case it came in worried about my tank conditions even though they were adequatly heated and misted.
The tarantula developed a strange lump on the top of its abdomen today or yesterday night, I used some forceps to gently prod it, it indented then reformed to the shape it was before. I read in a care book that the cause of these lumps are unknown. I tried offering her a drink by moving her into a seperate tank full of watered cloth in hopes that she would drink, but to no avail.
This is the first incident like this ive dealt with, i'm hoping shes not sick and the reason she isnt eating is because shes going to molt as her hair is a bit tatty in places.
I know tarantulas can bleed haemomorph or what ever it is between layers its body when molting.
There is also food present in her cage at the moment.. but I'll have to remove the crickets soon if she doesn't eat.

I'm very concerned as loosing another £100 King Baboon is not in my interest.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Ryan

 

[Scolopeon]

Just one more question..

I mist my Tarantula tanks almost everyday.. but I really dislike doing it to the glass tanks because the water leaves a chalky substance on the wall.. Ive tried using spring water.. but it still isnt satisfying enough..

I always have to try and avoid the walls of the tank.. and because of the awkward angle its irritating.

Any tips for this?

Thanks..

 

[lpw]

I cannot help you with the lump, but I'll throw in a couple of cents anyways...

First of all, a 7" C. crawshayi... Congrats on the nice catch! :clap:

C. crawshayi tend to "fast" for extended periods of time. If I understand correctly, your spider was feeding well for a few weeks and then it went off feed. This is normal. Mine will eat voraciously for about two weeks soon after a molt. Then it seals itself in its burrow for a couple of months. From what you say, it seems like you have a lot of interaction with your spider. If your girl had her way, you wouldn't have any. Has she burrowed? She should've by now. And you shouldn't be able to see her (on a regular basis, anyways). Moving her around is probably tremendously stressfull to her, so I would just let her be. Minimizing stress would be the first step towards recovery from whatever ails her. I wouldn't move her to a damp cage unless she was severely dehydrated. Try to keep her on rather dry substrate, with just a hint of moisture. She must be able to burrow. Add a water dish, but don't be surprised if you never see her use it. In my experience, this species seems to rely on the moisture that is embedded in the substrate rather than seeking out open sources of water.

These are just some tidbits of information from my personal experience. Hope it helps, and I hope that your bug will be fine.

Cheers,
Lukasz

 

[Scolopeon]

Thanks a lot.. much appreciated..
If anyone else has anything to add it will also be appreciated.

 

[knottyduke]

Lumps? Sounds like a possible pharasite problem. Be watching because if that is the problem you loose your tarantula.

I would think because of the tarantulas size that if you did not buy it from a individual who raised it then it is most likely wild caught. Lumps are all too common when the parasite is growing within the tarantula and will eventually come out. Watch for signs of this around the orifis for white goopy stuff.

I really hope this is not the case!!! If it is there is not much hope. But then you never know! It could be nothing at all!!!

Good luck to you !! Its one of my favorite species!!!

 

[Windchaser]

Lumps? Sounds like a possible pharasite problem. Be watching because if that is the problem you loose your tarantula.

I would think because of the tarantulas size that if you did not buy it from a individual who raised it then it is most likely wild caught. Lumps are all too common when the parasite is growing within the tarantula and will eventually come out. Watch for signs of this around the orifis for white goopy stuff.

I really hope this is not the case!!! If it is there is not much hope. But then you never know! It could be nothing at all!!!

Good luck to you !! Its one of my favorite species!!!

I would agree with this assessment. I would try and find out if this is indeed a wild caught tarantula. If it is, it is very likely that it has a parasite of some kind. If it truly is a parasite, there is little that can be done.

 

[BLS Blondi]

My 2 cents

I have a C. crawshayi adult female that is about 8" and she tend to go off feeding for extended periods of time as well. As far as the bumps, I have a T. blondi female adult that had two such bumps on her abdomen. I also have a T. apophysis (9") female that had one as well. They both molted, and the bumps disappeared. So it is hard to say exactly what it is, but I have never had a spider die after developing a bump. Secondly, C. crawshayi do not need humid tanks. The are found in the African tundra which is very hot and very dry. You can add moisture to the topsoil, but do not keep her in T. blondi conditions. I have heard that keeping a C. crawshayi in moist conditions can lead to leg loss and molt problems, leading me to believe that they keep their moisture inside more efficiently than rainforest species. Definitely post a pic of the bump on her abdomen. Chances are many of us have had T's with this that ended up fine.

 

[Scolopeon]

Ok something strange has happened.. I went and bought some peat for her today..
Just so she could burrow.. As of yet she has sat there for 3 hours doing nothing but that is to be expected.

The weird lump seemed to be Hemolymph under its abdomen skin?

The lump has completly gone down.. but she seems very sluggish and I know what a molting tarantula is like, this seems different.

anyone explain this.. in all the 5+ years of caring for spiders ive never seen a problem like this before :S...

I'm just gonna get pics... post in a bit.

 

[Scolopeon]

Ok heres the pics of her.. I'll also show my lovely Theraphosa leblondi.. which Ive had for 3+ years.

Close up of her..

-My goliath-

+ the setup

-Close up.. her size is pretty incredible ive never seen another goliath for sale that is as large.

 

[Scolopeon]

Yea so there are the pics, if anyone can identify what that lump is on my KB please do..

 

[Scolopeon]

After thinking she was gonna die (looked weak, large lump on her back, and hemolymph seeping from her leg joints) She molted last night.. The vet left a message on my phone explaining the good news.

Yea I took her to the vet, may cost a bit but better safe than sorry I guess.

If anyone has experianced anything like this, please say. Even the vet who has never seen anything like this happen to a spider before.

She molted upright and the lump has gone apprently. So I'll be picking her up at 6.00. Thanks to everyone who put forward some feedback and advice.

~Ryan

 

[Windchaser]

The bump may have been a side effect of the impending molt. It is quite possible that there was a fluid build up under the old exoskeleton as the two skins began to separate. I am glad everything turned out OK for you.

A note about taking tarantulas to the vet. A vet that I knew actually said that with some exotic creatures, the vets themselves are pretty much clueless. She had told me that she only knew of one vet in all her years that ever treated a tarantula and that vet didn't have any idea of what to do. You may have some luck with reptiles, but chances are you will know considerably more than any vet when it comes to tarantulas. Your best bet is to ask here for advice.