Question About Kukulcania hibernalis

[pitbulllady]

I just captured a large female "Black Hole Spider" in one of the fourth grade classrooms in the school where I teach. I used the "cupping" method to catch her, but I had to climb up to where she was(the students and teacher did NOT want her staying in the room, regardless of what I told them, and would have killed her), and during the process she dropped both front legs. I was as careful as I could be, but it's been my experience with this species that they readily drop legs, as well as play "possum", when they feel threatened. It concerns me, though, that it was her front legs. Will she be able to grab prey with no front legs? I still have her in a deli cup, and she will immediately go into that fake "death curl" as soon as she sees me, so it's hard to tell how much the loss has affected her movement. Would it be better to try and release her somewhere safe(and child-free), to try to keep her and feed her in captivity(I've never attempted to keep one of these long-term), or put her out of her misery if it's likely she'll just starve?

pitbulllady

 

[Scolopendra55]

It should be fine. Just feed it small'ish roaches (or whatever you feed your inverts). If she molts again she'll have a better chance.

 

[pitbulllady]

It should be fine. Just feed it small'ish roaches (or whatever you feed your inverts). If she molts again she'll have a better chance.

So, you're suggesting that I keep her until she moults? I have no experience with keeping true spiders, only tarantulas and other Mygalamorphs. Is there an available caresheet on these spiders?

pitbulllady