eroyal93
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2021
- Messages
- 3
I have a bit of a crazy situation, but I’ll try to be brief. I’ll preface by saying I am NOT knowledgeable with nearly anything relating to spiders beyond a healthy respect for their role in keeping pests out of my home and garden, so please be kind with my ignorance!
A friend gave me this lovely little marbled orb weaver to preserve after she found it in her shed one morning. It’s been in a cardboard jewelry box lined with fiberfill since August 20th. It wasn’t stiff or extremely curled when I pulled it out, though it’s obviously dedicated a bit. As I started pinning it (without piercing it) it moved, seemingly spontaneously. The legs trying to curl back wouldn’t be surprising, but I gently breathed on it (ala fogging up a window) and I saw its pedipalps and chelicerae move. Feeling a bit insane doing so, I placed a drop of water at its chelicerae, and breathed warm air again, and this time the movement of its chelicerae continued for several seconds after I stopped, and I swear it looked like it was drinking the water. I don’t know enough about spiders to know if this is a post mortem reflex from the moisture or not, especially given that this little friend is supposed to have been dead for several weeks, but it startled me to say the least.
If I’m not just entirely insane and this little trooper IS still alive, what should I do? Is there a chance to help it, or am I just prolonging its suffering? If I can help it, what sort of environment should I be rehabbing it in? Temperature? Other care tips?
A friend gave me this lovely little marbled orb weaver to preserve after she found it in her shed one morning. It’s been in a cardboard jewelry box lined with fiberfill since August 20th. It wasn’t stiff or extremely curled when I pulled it out, though it’s obviously dedicated a bit. As I started pinning it (without piercing it) it moved, seemingly spontaneously. The legs trying to curl back wouldn’t be surprising, but I gently breathed on it (ala fogging up a window) and I saw its pedipalps and chelicerae move. Feeling a bit insane doing so, I placed a drop of water at its chelicerae, and breathed warm air again, and this time the movement of its chelicerae continued for several seconds after I stopped, and I swear it looked like it was drinking the water. I don’t know enough about spiders to know if this is a post mortem reflex from the moisture or not, especially given that this little friend is supposed to have been dead for several weeks, but it startled me to say the least.
If I’m not just entirely insane and this little trooper IS still alive, what should I do? Is there a chance to help it, or am I just prolonging its suffering? If I can help it, what sort of environment should I be rehabbing it in? Temperature? Other care tips?
