Redleg Suicide Crisis (Brachypelma Emilia at Petco)

[Mad Hatter]

I went to Petco today to get crickets and saw that there was a Mexican Redleg for sale. It’s about one and one quarter inch in size and has that distinctive black triangle on the carapace. The label on the enclosure read “Mexican Redknee,” of course. Just another instance of misclassification, which (from reading other posts here) is not so uncommon among stores like Petco.

Anyhow, I couldn’t resist it, even at the price of $49.99 (<<<ouch!>>>).

The store employee who removed the T from its enclosure did so in a very clumsy manner. He ended up dumping a handful of peat moss on top of the poor T in the process. I was petrified and so scared that the T would be injured, but the little monster seemed to be okay – a little grumpy, but okay.

I brought it home and put a water dish in the enclosure (which is a small critter keeper). Not long after, the T began to climb the side of the enclosure and then fall back to the ground. Climb, then fall. Repeatedly!!!

I searched the garage frantically for some potting soil to add to the existing peat substrate, so that I could at least shorten the height of the enclosure (I wasn’t able to find any – potting soil, I mean). For a while it just clung to the lid of the critter keeper, then when I checked on it again just now, it has returned to a more secure location on the substrate below.

I checked the T as best I could for any sign of injury, but I don’t see anything except the bald spot that was there when I bought it.

I am very worried about this T. I’ve never encountered any serious problems with my Ts before. I’m not even sure exactly what type of advice I’m asking for, here. But if anyone has anything that might help me – any little piece of information – it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mike H.]

It should be fine...give it a week or so to settle in...when u get a chance add some peat to the container and raise the level...from what I have read they are pretty hardy...good luck..


Regards, Mike

 

[Nich]

yes...petco is infamous for "it's" taxonomy(jk)

I work @ a local petco superstore and just to let all know it is company policy that we are requried by law to lable what we recieve as what it was sold to us as. I have yet to see a shipment of B. smithi's (red knees) come in without a b. emilia (or b. vangas) in the bunch. They dont sell very quickly either as most of our brachypelma genus are sold anywhere for 2-2.5" (never seen us get ne/thing under 2"). Ild like to see a pic of that T in your hand as 1.25" are not supposed to be sold due to thier delicacy and sheer diminutive proportions. Is it poss to post a pic? Thanks-

 

[RazorRipley]

Dont worry about it dude.... Brachypelmas love to climb when young, they are so light, that a fall of say, 8 inches or so wont hurt them any. I have a smithi which is about 3 inches, and she spends her whole life trying to cling to her cage ceiling without success. I hear her climb and fall about 30 times an evening. The only tarantulas which really suffer from the 'short fall' that we all are warned of, are the giants, like the Goliaths, and Lasiodoras. In their case, yes, its a good idea to keep the cage short. Congratulations on your catch! I bought an adult mexican redknee at petco which was labeled as a chilean rose for $14.99 but only was fortunate like that once.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Thanks for the help! I'm extremely relieved it's nothing too serious.

Ild like to see a pic of that T in your hand as 1.25" are not supposed to be sold due to thier delicacy and sheer diminutive proportions. Is it poss to post a pic? Thanks-

I tried to post a couple of pics yesterday. Terrible quality photos but what can you do? I try and I try....

Anyways, I couldn't figure it out. Typical me. Would you mind terribly telling me how to post the pics?

 

[Keith Richard]

I have a smithi which is about 3 inches, and she spends her whole life trying to cling to her cage ceiling without success. I hear her climb and fall about 30 times an evening.

I'd wager that you have one stressed out lady there. My 2.5" female climbed the walls and did the bat impersonations until she found her retreat. She is now totally at home on terra firma. Just my personal experience.

 

[MysticKigh]

I have a little avic I picked up at a petco mislabled as G rosea <g> Anyway, she hasn't gone thru the little climb and fall game yours is playing: *but* I have a mature male G rosea (a real one LOL) that is infamous for that type of behaviour. We finally decided it wasn't worth the stress and moved him out of the 10 gallon into a critter keeper. The point, anyway, is that with sufficient bedding, even the terrestrials *can* take some hefty repeated falls with no ill effects
Bright Blessings,
Kigh

 

[sanguinarian]

My Rose T climbed the walls when I first put it in the tank. It settled down when the humidity level dropped. I used peat moss straight from the bag and it was just a tad damp. I am a bit curious. What is the humidity level in your enclosure?

GOD bless,Clint

 

[MysticKigh]

The same as all the others... one end is kept damp... one dry. He's just an odd one. He does seem to have settled now that he is in a smaller container though... maybe he was just agorophobic <g> As a side note... the climbing and diving came and went with his mood. Some days he was more than willing to lounge in or on his hide... other's he was "superspider" flying thru the air ... the humidity level didn't vary during these times <shrug>

 

[Ultimate Instar]

Well, it's probably a good idea to check the T for bleeding. And if you don't have any substrate around, as a temporary measure, go grab something tall but stable (like a Tupperware container or an appropriately shaped piece of wood) and put it in the cage. The T will be able to climb up to the top of the cage and get back down again without falling. (Assuming it's smart enough to figure that out.)

Karen N.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Experimenting with posting pics...

Let's see if these pics come thru...
They are terrible quality, but I'm just experimenting here.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Heyyy! Whaddya know! It worked!

The big round shiny thing in the first pic is a quarter - to give you an idea of the T's size. I didn't want to take it out and hold it, cuz the poor thing was already disoriented and upset. Gotta give it more time to settle in...