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- Aug 31, 2012
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It appeared to be yes. Wrapped in paper towel , within a deli cup, and surrounded by tons of newspaper and a heat pack for warmth.That's not right, was it packaged properly ?
So basically the leg was damaged prior to shipping... either during packaging or it was already damaged and they just hoped you wouldn't notice, either way it's not good. Have you reached out to them ?It appeared to be yes. Wrapped in paper towel , within a deli cup, and surrounded by tons of newspaper and a heat pack for warmth.
Or both. I didn't read the text initially and coming back to this thread I did a double take. Hesperus?? That's the gnarliest at-deaths-door specimen I've ever seen. Somebody sold you trash. The carapace doesn't get that way overnight or a few days shipping trip. We're talking long term emaciation.Also it appears to be either very malnourished or at the very end of its life.
Yes.So basically the leg was damaged prior to shipping... either during packaging or it was already damaged and they just hoped you wouldn't notice, either way it's not good. Have you reached out to them ?
Really sorry to hear this... is she able to produce web ? maybe try pre-killYes.
No reply.
I can't feed her without a web.
I set her up as best I can. Hopefully whatever time she has left will be more peaceful than what she apparently has already endured. View attachment 364322 View attachment 364323
So far no webbing. She barely moves. I spritzed a little water but honestly she hasn't moved from the fake plant since she got there. Obviously they aren't the most active animals but they should move more than this, especially since without a web a healthy specimen is eager to get one started.Really sorry to hear this... is she able to produce web ? maybe try pre-kill
You are absolutely correct, they are not the most active animals but a healthy specimen would be eager to start a web. I have quite a few different types of Latrodectus and sometimes when I toss in some almost pre-killed feeders to the juveniles, they will take to it because the feeder is still moving enough to catch the attention but not enough to struggle. I really hope she pulls through...So far no webbing. She barely moves. I spritzed a little water but honestly she hasn't moved from the fake plant since she got there. Obviously they aren't the most active animals but they should move more than this, especially since without a web a healthy specimen is eager to get one started.
Because of the supply chain disruptions no flies available and its cold and snowing here so all the flying things are gone.Just a thought: It happens sometimes that cobweb spiders chase prey that get in their (bad) field of vision, so you could drop a fly into the enclosure and wait and see.
I had false widows that did that. A fly touched a strand of silk and the spider noticed that and ran down, but the fly continued walking so the spider left the web to chase the fly. The fly got away, though, because the spider couldn't see it when it got more than about two inches away.
I wish her and you the best of luck. <3
She has anchor points. She isn't healthy enough to actually spin from what I can tell.I read something long ago about an optics company that grew widows to harvest the webs. They put up filaments of some sort to control where the animals made the webs. I'm wondering if you could do something similar to induce her to make a web. ??
How about maggots for fishing? Or mealworms?Because of the supply chain disruptions no flies available and its cold and snowing here so all the flying things are gone.
She honestly can barely walk. Its actually painful to see her try.
Not much could really be done honestly.How about maggots for fishing? Or mealworms?
Poor little spoop. I guess it would have been a little easier to care for her if she had less potent venom.
Understandable but without a web not much hope. Dangling a small half dead cricket against her didn't do anything other than make her flinch a little.How about maggots for fishing? Or mealworms?
Poor little spoop. I guess it would have been a little easier to care for her if she had less potent venom.
Edit: I wonder if she is trying to preserve her energy by not doing much. She needs proteins to create silk. I think the only way to save her is food. As others have said, she might be old and at the end of her life, but even if she is not too old she would die without food.