Molted, but possible problems...

[Ariel]

So, yeah apparently I've got all kinds of crazy stuff going on my MM A. avicularia finally ate, my MF P. murinus suddenly decides to web up her cage, and now, Marik my 5" male B. smithi molted!!! I noticed he was starting to get dark but he wasn't THAT dark, plus he ate only two days ago, so I'm pretty shocked!

I don't know how long ago he molted, I just got back from the store and thats when I noticed but I hadn't checked at all earlier, he's still on his back, and when I pulled the tank off the shelf and opened it up to get a better look into his hide I noticed it look like he was leaking a white and clear liquid from one of his legs.

Here are some pictures:

I can NOT loose this one you guys, he was my first T, and I lose him I'm going to be devistated, I can NOT be devistated today.

and heres where he's leaking fluid (sorry its not the best picture, I'd need to remove the hide to get a decent one and I don't want to disturb him

 

[cobaltbrew]

Can you see exactly where its's coming from? I've heard of people putting a little peice of paper towel on a wound and putting the T in ICU.

Has it come out of it's molt completely? It was difficult to see.

 

[Ariel]

Can you see exactly where its's coming from? I've heard of people putting a little peice of paper towel on a wound and putting the T in ICU.

Has it come out of it's molt completely? It was difficult to see.

Its just the one droplet right on that part of the leg. and yes he is completely out of the molt, he's also flipped back over.

 

[cobaltbrew]

Just one droplet? Not a steady stream? It will probably be okay. But if you're really worried you can slow it down by throwing it in the freezer for a bit, take it out and get something like tissue on the wound.

I'm glad its righted itselg. How does it look otherwise? No problems?

 

[Ariel]

Just one droplet? Not a steady stream? It will probably be okay. But if you're really worried you can slow it down by throwing it in the freezer for a bit, take it out and get something like tissue on the wound.

I'm glad its righted itselg. How does it look otherwise? No problems?

I don't know if I feel comfortable putting a freshly molted T into the freezer or the fridge even. and it looked like just one droplet. Should I maybe remove the hide to get a better look at him?

Other than that no it doesn't look like their are any other problems.

 

[cobaltbrew]

I think you should do what your comfortable with. If you're really worried then check. I hope it goes well for you. Update us!

 

[Ariel]

I think you should do what your comfortable with. If you're really worried then check. I hope it goes well for you. Update us!

I think I'm going to move the hide out to get a better look, he's not touch either side of it, so it shouldn't be to much of a problem. I'll try to get more pictures.

 

[cobaltbrew]

I think I'm going to move the hide out to get a better look, he's not touch either side of it, so it shouldn't be to much of a problem. I'll try to get more pictures.

Good plan. See if you can get some of its posture as well.

 

[Ariel]

I pulled back the hide and its leaking more than I thought, I tried to get a decent shot, but It wasn't wasy, especially now that its covered in dirt.

He is gorgeous though. I'm leaving the hide out of the tank because he moved into the spot where part of it was resting before. Hopefully he moves soon, but I think he's chomming his molt.

And you can see where the liquid is coming out on the leg in these two: (its on the left. where the dirt is clumped on the leg.

Edit;

I checked on him again and he's sitting in a strange position now, and didn't move or anything when I moved and opened the tank to get a picture:

 

[cobaltbrew]

I'm sorry I just don't know what this means. Maybe you should try ICU and hydration?

Where's everyone else?

 

[Ariel]

I don't know. I just don't know what to do. I wonder if I should post a thread in the Q&D

 

[ParabuthusKing]

I would leave her alone for now.. I recently had my favorite T die due to molt complications, and my best advice after the end of her is to leave her alone until there is a need to intervene and continually pester the tarantula. Tarantulas will eventually produce a clotting factor, so with such a small injury I would assume that everything will be fine. The strange posture is often due to the spider pumping hemolymph through their system as their exoskeleton hardens up.. I wish you the best though..
P.S .. Important to note that the spider is not moving due to the previous mentioned hardening of exoskeleton!!.. it is like if you tried to walk without bones.. I would leave her alone at least for a day and see what happens

 

[cobaltbrew]

Do it. It's got heavy traffic right now and I'm just not as experienced as you need right now. Best of luck!

 

[<3exoticpets]

If your still seeing any clear liquid, you can place liquid band-aid, flour, or cornstarch on the area. I probably wouldn't remove the T from it's enclosure, being as it is freshly molted and very fragile. I'm sure others will comment when they log on, just keep updating if you need advice. Best of luck!

 

[Ariel]

I would leave her alone for now.. I recently had my favorite T die due to molt complications, and my best advice after the end of her is to leave her alone until there is a need to intervene and continually pester the tarantula. Tarantulas will eventually produce a clotting factor, so with such a small injury I would assume that everything will be fine. The strange posture is often due to the spider pumping hemolymph through their system as their exoskeleton hardens up.. I wish you the best though..
P.S .. Important to note that the spider is not moving due to the previous mentioned hardening of exoskeleton!!.. it is like if you tried to walk without bones.. I would leave her alone at least for a day and see what happens

For right now, thats all I intend to do, is leave her alone. I figured he'd seal it up on his own eventually, or cast off the leg. I guess I'm just pretty scared, first time I've had to deal with this, and he is pretty special to me.

I know they sometime get into weird positions, this is just one I'd never seen before. I'll leave him alone for now and hope for the best.

Do it. It's got heavy traffic right now and I'm just not as experienced as you need right now. Best of luck!

I did. So hopefully i'll get a few more responses there.

If your still seeing any clear liquid, you can place liquid band-aid, flour, or cornstarch on the area. I probably wouldn't remove the T from it's enclosure, being as it is freshly molted and very fragile. I'm sure others will comment when they log on, just keep updating if you need advice. Best of luck!

I'd have to move him to get to the place thats leaking unfortunately, so I'm just going to leave him alone for now and hope for the best.

 

[<3exoticpets]

If it would be helpful you could trying using a q-tip with flour of cornstarch as to not disturb (just a thought!)

 

[Ariel]

If it would be helpful you could trying using a q-tip with flour of cornstarch as to not disturb (just a thought!)

didn't think about that. I might try that if it doesn't stop

 

[jayefbe]

First, it's not entirely clear if the leg is actively leaking hemolymph, or if the leaking is just part of the whole molting process. Second, if it's only the leg, then worst case scenario, the T cuts off hemolymph to that leg and pulls it off himself. Yeah, he'll look a little asymmetrical, but I don't think it will actually cause him any significant harm.

I'd just leave him be for now. Check on him every once in a while, but I don't believe cornstarch, paper towels, liquid bandaids or ICUs are necessary at this point.

 

[Ariel]

First, it's not entirely clear if the leg is actively leaking hemolymph, or if the leaking is just part of the whole molting process. Second, if it's only the leg, then worst case scenario, the T cuts off hemolymph to that leg and pulls it off himself. Yeah, he'll look a little asymmetrical, but I don't think it will actually cause him any significant harm.

I'd just leave him be for now. Check on him every once in a while, but I don't believe cornstarch, paper towels, liquid bandaids or ICUs are necessary at this point.

Alright thank you for the advice. It wasn't clear completely, it was clear around the edge, but it was milky looking. It's still bleeding a little, but I'm leaving him alone for now.

---

Just a little update, he is moving around and grooming himself now, which relieves me, a lot. I took the molt, and confirmed male. I also cannot believe he didn't mature, he is such a big boy! His molt measured almost 5.5".

I ALSO located the source of the problem. there is a bump on the molt in the exact same spot where he's leaking from. I don't know what caused it, but I do have a picture of it...

the bump:

 

[jayefbe]

Wow, 5.5" and not mature yet? That is definitely a big boy. And that little growth is interesting, but I agree that it's likely what is causing the slight leaking. Let us know how he progresses.