- Joined
- Aug 16, 2002
- Messages
- 556
Well, it looks like Peso's sister may be going to meet the big spider in the sky. She went off food almost 2 weeks ago, but I wasn't worried because she stayed nice and plump. Two days ago I thought I noticed something on her back, left book lung when she was leaning half against the side of the petpal. Figured it was just dirt on her belly but have been watching to get a better look. This morning she was all the way up on the side of the petpal so I had an unobstructed view of the book lungs. Got out my 10x loupe and a flashlight. There is fluid leaking from the book lung which was why there was a bit of peat moss stuck to it a few days ago. Nothing on it this morning though so I had a very clear view. It appears slightly swollen in the area, the fluid is clear. I looked it up in my ATS medical manuel and according to what they have there she has a bacterial infection, internal, which usually kills the spider and which they admit it is a mystery where they get them from. Recommended treatment is irrigation with antibiotics. I don't want to "drown" her so I did this - small ICU deli cup with paper towels that are soaked with the antibiotic solution. I'll change them every 12 hours. Before I put her in I used a very soft artists brush that was just damp with the solution to gently stroke across the infected lung. Talk about a real sweet spider - I went into this treatment fully expecting that I would be bitten in the process because of the fact that she is only 1.5" and a normal restrained hold would probably injure her, soooo.... I just put her in my palm, let her start to walk off towards the thumb, then gently placed my thumb over her carapace and held her down. She kicked her legs around a bit, but never tried to bite. I can't tell you all how upset I am going to be if she dies. She quickly became my favorite spider.
Gail
Gail