P. Irminia died from molting

[Conor121]

Hey guys,

I've had my p. Irmina for 2 and a bit years now and it molted successfully two days ago and I left it to do his thing and recover. I checked on it just there now and it passed away

After inspecting it looks like the end segment of his pedipalps got stuck in the molt and it's abdomen looked ruptured. I don't know how this could have happened as there is nothing sharp in his enclosure that could have done this.

I put it in some isopropyl alcohol to preserve it and its insides started coming out of the abdomen wound so i was thinking it was impacted, it was sad to see as I thought the little one must have been in so much pain

Does anyone have any experience of this happening before and know what might have caused it? I was overflowing the water dish and gently misting once a week so I don't think it was a humidity issue. I'm really at a loss here any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone

 

[HIG0DIH]

there may be more factors such as malnutrition / dehydration, an increase in temperature...an increase in temperature during the molt can cause it to not shed properly... hence the stuck pedipalps

 

[Gilligan]

So sorry for your loss! Irminia are beautiful spiders. Do you know if it was a mature male? If it was attempting another molt after its ultimate it would explain only the pedipalps getting stuck. It’s rare but sometimes happens.

 

[William Dawson]

I'm so sorry for the loss, it's always sad to see something like that happen...

 

[viper69]

Bummer- mine died during molting- happens all the time

 

[coolnweird]

there may be more factors such as malnutrition / dehydration, an increase in temperature...an increase in temperature during the molt can cause it to not shed properly... hence the stuck pedipalps

I've never heard of this before, could you provide some evidence?

 

[HIG0DIH]

I've never heard of this before, could you provide some evidence?

An increase in temperature can cause humidity to drop and this can cause it not to come off properly

 

[Conor121]

there may be more factors such as malnutrition / dehydration, an increase in temperature...an increase in temperature during the molt can cause it to not shed properly... hence the stuck pedipalps

I did notice that it seemed to be eating less than usual but its abdomen was still plump so i didnt take it as anything. I have been watering it the same for two years so i doubt humidity was an issue. I've never heard of temperature fluctuations causing this but it was at a fairly stable temperature throughout

 

[Conor121]

So sorry for your loss! Irminia are beautiful spiders. Do you know if it was a mature male? If it was attempting another molt after its ultimate it would explain only the pedipalps getting stuck. It’s rare but sometimes happens.

It really is a beautiful species although theres never much time to appreciate it since they are hermits lol will definitely be getting another in the future! I checked the molt and it was a male although not mature. I believe that this might have been his ultimate molt, do they sometimes not survive this?

 

[Conor121]

Bummer- mine died during molting- happens all the time

Do you know what caused it to die during the molt? This was my 5th tarantula and first to die so its a bit sad but I know its not uncommon

 

[Gilligan]

It really is a beautiful species although theres never much time to appreciate it since they are hermits lol will definitely be getting another in the future! I checked the molt and it was a male although not mature. I believe that this might have been his ultimate molt, do they sometimes not survive this?

To my knowledge the ultimate molt posses no addition risk, it's just as any other molt for the males. It's if they try to molt again after the ultimate that they usually run into problems and don't survive.

 

[viper69]

Do you know what caused it to die during the molt? This was my 5th tarantula and first to die so its a bit sad but I know its not uncommon

No- never could figure these out unless it’s obvious

 

[MariaLewisia]

I think we can only speculate on what caused it, unfortunately.

Sometimes a fall will result in a rupture of the developing exoskeleton, not the current, which could be an explanation as to why the abdomen ruptured during molting. You see it happen sometimes with dropped slings who seem fine until they die in the next molt for seemingly no reason. There could've also already been some sort of disfigurement to the new exo which weakened it and caused the rupture. An excessively large abdomen can also pose a risk of popping during molts, but they have to be really huge in that case.

Whatever happened, don't fret too much. You managed to keep the T healthy and happy for 2.5 years so I seriously doubt this mishap had anything to do with you. These things happen, no matter how good we take care of these little guys. Still, every spider death is sad and I understand you completely. I'm sorry for your loss.