Rehabilitating a Tarantula after Tarantula Hawk encounter

[mocean]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and new to the care and feeding of Tarantulas. I'm in Northern AZ. A friend rescued a Tarantula from the grip of a Tarantula Hawk and then didn't know what to do, so I accepted the challenge.

I've been reading everything I can get my hands on since taking him/her in 2 weeks ago. He/she is getting stronger, beginning to move legs, though he/she hasn't walked but for about 3/8". He/she doesn't appear to be drinking water yet (administering with an eyedropper). Yesterday, he/she began depositing small brown round/square things with some evidence of fluid staining the paper towels; 4 deposits thus far. I have pictures. He/she stretched 3 legs yesterday with his/her silk spinner extruding and twisting from his/her abdomen. I have video.

I'm concerned about several things but, for now, would like to know what kind of Tarantula he/she is, how old he/she is, how I can tell if he/she is male or female, what he/she is excreting and how do I make her/him comfortable in terms of environment.

I've read other stories about folks rehabbing Tarantulas after a Tarantula Hawk attack, but couldn't uncover solid answers to my questions.

I rescue and rehab animals. This is my first Tarantula, or spider of any kind. I need to be careful with him/her because I am -acutely- allergic to insect stings (dual epi-pens if I'm stung by a mosquito), so knowing what kind of Tarantula I have is quite important to me.

Thank you, in advance, for any expertise anyone is willing to impart. I should also mention thatI've read the sexing pdf and I'm still at a loss.

mocean

 

[Nightstalker47]

Seeing as your in Arizona its likely an Aphonopelma sp. Pictures would be helpful.

As far as the odds of recovery go, that would depend exclusively on whether or not the wasp laid its eggs. The sting only paralyzes, then the larvae eat the spider from within.

 

[Sinned]

Think they put the egg on after the T is in a safe spot/hide of the hawk. So it might just be paralyzed... dunno how long that can last --and if recovery is possible or that it also inflicts lasting damage. @Nightstalker47 probably right about it being a Aphonopelma. Post some pics please.

 

[mocean]

Nightstalker47, thanks for your reply. I did read extensively about Tarantula Hawks and their process of egg laying, etc. Since the TH was moving the Tarantula across the street, I'm fairly certain she didn't lay her egg on the T's abdomen.
Aphonopelma! Yes, that's the one. A Blonde Az Desert T. Thank you!

I'll need to post pictures elsewhere so I can link them here. I'll do that shortly.

Thank you again.

 

[mocean]

 

[mocean]

 

[Sinned]

This is my first Tarantula, or spider of any kind. I need to be careful with him/her because I am -acutely- allergic to insect stings (dual epi-pens if I'm stung by a mosquito), so knowing what kind of Tarantula I have is quite important to me.

It's a New World (NW) tarantula, they generally have mild venom (think bee/wasp sting), but to compensate, carry urticating hairs on their body. Often on their abdomen. They will cause irritation when they contact your skin and will be *really* nasty if you end up getting them in your eyes (possible lasting damage) and god forbid, respiratory system. If you see it using it legs to "rub/kick" hairs from it's abdomen, close the lid.. step back and give it while to calm down and the hairs to settle.

The little happy cloud of hairs won't go to far. But still, don't sneeze in the enclosure or put a ventilator on top of it also Common sense and all that.

Their venom isn't "all that" and not a lot of people have bad reactions to it. But bad news, that might go straight out of the window if you have an already extreme reaction to mosquito bites. I just don't know

So called Old World(OW) tarantulas do not have the urticating hairs, are often more defensive and are *bloody fast* ... they also often have venom that puts you in the emergency room. (Mostly and often only for pain management/treatment and observation if you are an healthy adult. They are more often kept by more experienced keepers. (or if you are unlucky, in Australia. (edit: as in "baptism by fire" - they can't import NW Tarantula's and have to do with OW's they have there. ))

 

[Xafron]

I don't know if your allergies would flare up from the hairs as well. Best be careful just in case. Maybe could find some gloves to use when you're working in the enclosure...

 

[Killertut]

Nightstalker47, thanks for your reply. I did read extensively about Tarantula Hawks and their process of egg laying, etc. Since the TH was moving the Tarantula across the street, I'm fairly certain she didn't lay her egg on the T's abdomen.
Aphonopelma! Yes, that's the one. A Blonde Az Desert T. Thank you!

I'll need to post pictures elsewhere so I can link them here. I'll do that shortly.

Thank you again.

you can upload pics to this forums gallery and link it in this topic

 

[Nightstalker47]

I don't know if your allergies would flare up from the hairs as well. Best be careful just in case. Maybe could find some gloves to use when you're working in the enclosure...

How you been man, sazimai doing well?

 

[Sinned]

Q: Would keeping a T at higher temperature help it "process/metabolise" the venom? (@boina do you know?)

 

[boina]

Q: Would keeping a T at higher temperature help it "process/metabolise" the venom? (@boina do you know?)

I don't know. It's possible, but it may also not help at all.

 

[darkness975]

@mocean Keeping it hydrated and waiting it out are all you can really do. Maybe a prayer.

The venom of Pepsini spp. is designed to paralyze, not kill, so with some luck it will pull through eventually.

 

[AngelDeVille]

#TarantulaHawkLivesMatter

 

[mocean]

It's a New World (NW) tarantula, they generally have mild venom (think bee/wasp sting), but to compensate, carry urticating hairs on their body. Often on their abdomen. They will cause irritation when they contact your skin and will be *really* nasty if you end up getting them in your eyes (possible lasting damage) and god forbid, respiratory system. If you see it using it legs to "rub/kick" hairs from it's abdomen, close the lid.. step back and give it while to calm down and the hairs to settle.

The little happy cloud of hairs won't go to far. But still, don't sneeze in the enclosure or put a ventilator on top of it also Common sense and all that.

Their venom isn't "all that" and not a lot of people have bad reactions to it. But bad news, that might go straight out of the window if you have an already extreme reaction to mosquito bites. I just don't know

So called Old World(OW) tarantulas do not have the urticating hairs, are often more defensive and are *bloody fast* ... they also often have venom that puts you in the emergency room. (Mostly and often only for pain management/treatment and observation if you are an healthy adult. They are more often kept by more experienced keepers. (or if you are unlucky, in Australia. (edit: as in "baptism by fire" - they can't import NW Tarantula's and have to do with OW's they have there. ))

Thanks for all the great info! Is New World Tarantula the same as Aphonopelma? I am very careful with this one. Being so allergic to mosquito bites and in danger with bee stings, I'll keep my distance. The hairs are a concern, as well. I just read about that, thank you. Very interesting defense! This one is still having difficulty moving much but, improving all the time, so I keep a lid on the container now.

 

[mocean]

I don't know if your allergies would flare up from the hairs as well. Best be careful just in case. Maybe could find some gloves to use when you're working in the enclosure...

Thank you. I bought some surgical gloves, but still don't intend to touch any part of him/her. Those fangs are fairly intimidating...

 

[aurusantula]

Aphonopelma tarantulas fall within the classification of "new world tarantulas", some other groups that are included are Avicularia, Brachypelma, and Theraphosa.

 

[mocean]

@mocean Keeping it hydrated and waiting it out are all you can really do. Maybe a prayer.

The venom of Pepsini spp. is designed to paralyze, not kill, so with some luck it will pull through eventually.

I hope so. I think the TH may not have stung him/her many times because I see progress in just 2 weeks. I've seen worse on YT, so I really hope this one makes it. Molting would be a bad thing, so I hope that doesn't happen until he/she is in better shape.

I turn him/her over and apply a drop or two of water, then watch to see if anything happens. Thus far, I think I've seen him/her drink, but not much. I do this many times/day. Yes, a prayer here and there can't hurt.

 

[mocean]

Any idea what these things are? He/she excreted 4 of them yesterday.

Thanks.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

They will cause irritation when they contact your skin and will be *really* nasty if you end up getting them in your eyes (possible lasting damage) and god forbid, respiratory system.

I hope I never have to experience the choice, but if I did, I think I'd prefer to take my chances with inhalation, personally.