- Joined
- Aug 16, 2002
- Messages
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I think that amputation is only recomended in cases where there is bleeding from a leg. Tarantulas seem to be able to stop bleeding when the whole leg is removed, but injuries to the leg sometimes will continue to bleed if not removed. I had a B. smithi who had a bad molt and had "withered" looking leg, but no bleeding. I asked for advice on one of the archnid lists, and was told NOT to amputate, that if it was a problem, the spider would autonomize the leg herself when the time came. She later molted with no problems. If you do need to remove a leg, you're not actually cutting it off, rather you want the spider to autonomize it. The method I've heard for doing this involves grasping the femur with a pair of forcepts and pulling upwards. I've never had to do it, however. The bleeding stops pretty quickly, but many keepers will coat the stump (at the coxa) with triple nail hardener, NuSkin, or even super glue just to be safe.
Good luck with your spider, I once had a similar problem with a P. cambridgei sling with deformed legs. I fed it smashed crickets placed right at the mouth, and it eventually molted into a perfectly normal spider.
Wade
Good luck with your spider, I once had a similar problem with a P. cambridgei sling with deformed legs. I fed it smashed crickets placed right at the mouth, and it eventually molted into a perfectly normal spider.
Wade
I know some people would recommend doing the amputation rather than risk the leg being trapped again, others would recommend letting things go naturally. I've never been in your situation so I don't have enough personal experience to judge a deformity's severity.
