Brittanyann
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- May 22, 2017
- Messages
- 9


If she had actually been injured by a dog or cat, I think you would know it by now.I'm worried about her balding. Also I have a kitten and a pitt bull, could the loss of hair mean one of my animals got to her? Will she be okay? I'm really worried about her.
I can only agree with @Ungoliant, replace the substrate to some coco fibre, the spiders hairs will grow back once it molts so really the only thing to worry about is the sharp pieces of wood that could kill it, do this ASAP.If she had actually been injured by a dog or cat, I think you would know it by now.
Balding isn't anything to worry about. It just means she kicked off her urticating hairs. (While she was loose, she may have felt threatened.) She'll get a new set of urticating hairs when she molts.
However, I would definitely replace those wood chips with a more suitable substrate. Wood chips are coarse and unsuitable for burrowing. Additionally, the tarantula may get abrasions or worse, be impaled in a fall.
Coconut fiber or coir is a good substrate for a more arid setup. You can also mix it with some peat to change the texture. Topsoil (without any pesticides, fungicides, or fertilizers) can also work.
To prevent fall injuries, you want the distance between the top of the substrate and the lid not to exceed 1.5 times the tarantula's diagonal legspan.
It looks a bit wet indeed...I took another look at the bottom picture. Is there a small wound on the right side of your spider at the base of the second leg? If possible, please take another picture, just in case.
I've just had another look aswell, it does look as though your T is leaking fluid of sorts, could you take another picture and post iit ASAP it's on the right side, second leg, at the base, could be water but better to check it out.....It looks a bit wet indeed...
Is your spider leaking fluids @Brittanyann ?
I'm not sure but I think it is early morning over there...she's probably at school or work...I've just had another look aswell, it does look as though your T is leaking fluid of sorts, could you take another picture and post iit ASAP it's on the right side, second leg, at the base, could be water but better to check it out.....
Couldn't agree more having had another look the substrate needs to be much deeper to 1.5 x DLS as viper69 said, you either need to top up the enclosure with lots of sub or change the enclosure, but If I were you I would add extra substrate to make the enclosure safe for the spider, should have mentioned this earlier, sorry but the last thing you want is your T to fall and rupture its abdomen, so lots to be getting on with OP, once all the basics are covered you can sit back and watch your spider in disbelief, they are such amazing animals, enjoy........She should be OK if you figure out HOW your cherished pet escaped. That's a recipe for a dead T. I'd be more concerned about that then the bald bottom. Everyone provided good advice IMO.
Your Ts home needs significant changes to be safe for your T. Sub is too low from the top. Distance should be only 1.5X DLS.
Can't speak for the others, but I was worried because it could still be losing fluids and 'bleed' (for lack of a better word, I know it is not blood), to death.Also, idont understand why people are worried about one leg. Tarantulas need 4 to move well. She probably injured it falling out of her cage. There should be no sharp things inside the cage.
It's something called hemolymph. I agree that it could be life threatening if it's continuously flowing out.Can't speak for the others, but I was worried because it could still be losing fluids and 'bleed' (for lack of a better word, I know it is not blood), to death.
Lol....I know that silly!It's something called hemolymph. I agree that it could be life threatening if it's continuously flowing out.
That was my thinking as well, its quite possibly still leeking fluids based on the picture and its kinda hard to tell for sure or not if its comming from the leg. It could be a puncture on the carapace directly behind the leg and just flowing down and around the joint. If its was my T i'd rather know for sure where it was leaking fluids from.Can't speak for the others, but I was worried because it could still be losing fluids and 'bleed' (for lack of a better word, I know it is not blood), to death.
never heard of it. doubt a spider would let itself bleed to death because of a leg wound. i dont think much hemoglymph even flows through one leg. even if it did, the sphincter at the "top" of the leg would close and stop blood flow.Can't speak for the others, but I was worried because it could still be losing fluids and 'bleed' (for lack of a better word, I know it is not blood), to death.