So...what went wrong with my vinegaroon?

[birdonfire]

Mastigoproctus tohono. Had a young, 1 inch vinegaroon for almost a year. Found it dead yesterday at the entrance to its burrow. I kept the substrate moist but not wet. I stopped feeding for a while because it seemed like it was killing the prey but not eating it. Container size was 24 oz. Substrate was 1.75 inches of coco coir. Water receptacle. Temps were mid 60s (rarely) to mid 70s F. Body was plump and looked to be readying for a molt. The only thing I noticed visually amiss upon inspecting the deceased vinnie was that the bottom of the abdomen had horizontal tears through the exoskeleton and perhaps darker discoloration. Was it a bad molt attempt? Mycosis? Abdomen rupture? Should I have kept feeding? Anyone else had problems with young vinegaroons? I don't understand what I did wrong.

 

[that1ocelot]

I can't comment, but a picture might help! Does seem like a molt gone wrong though

 

[birdonfire]

I can't comment, but a picture might help! Does seem like a molt gone wrong though

I'm having trouble getting a good photo from my phone or camera. How do you get a good photo of your collection indoors?

 

[darkness975]

I'm having trouble getting a good photo from my phone or camera. How do you get a good photo of your collection indoors?

Use the flash with the lid off.

 

[birdonfire]

Edit: I added photos!

 

[Smotzer]

It looks Its looks teneral, appears to have had an issue with a molt and died. Sorry for your loss it happens with Mastigoproctus

 

[darkness975]

Edit: I added photos!

Looks like a bad molt. Also, substrate looks dry.

 

[CRX]

I have never kept a vinegaroon so I am no expert. But I do know they are extremely reliant on moisture and humidity. They spend most of their life deep in humid tunnels underground.

I am not gonna lie, that substrate looks bone dry. Did you ever consider the fact you might be keeping it in dehydrating conditions?? This is what leads to molt issues like what killed it. I just don't understand some of you people. Why do you think it is okay for the substrate to be THAT dry? And then you post it like its normal and you have no idea why it died. This isn't a desert dwelling species. EDIT: yes I know there is a species of vinegaroon that lives in the Southwest, but again, those guys spend most of their lives underground where they have moisture.

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

I have never kept a vinegaroon so I am no expert. But I do know they are extremely reliant on moisture and humidity. They spend most of their life deep in humid tunnels underground.

I am not gonna lie, that substrate looks bone dry. Did you ever consider the fact you might be keeping it in dehydrating conditions?? This is what leads to molt issues like what killed it. I just don't understand some of you people. Why do you think it is okay for the substrate to be THAT dry? And then you post it like its normal and you have no idea why it died. This isn't a desert dwelling species. EDIT: yes I know there is a species of vinegaroon that lives in the Southwest, but again, those guys spend most of their lives underground where they have moisture.

OP said they kept the substrate moist, and though the substrate clearly isn't sopping I don't think it looks bone dry, especially in the second photo it looks like there's some moisture. I know someone who keeps a young vinegaroon in moderately moist substrate like that and it does fine.

This is the species of vinegaroon that lives in the southwest- M. tohono is native to the sonoran desert in Arizona and adjacent Mexico (additonally, M. giganteus lives primarily in the chihuahuan desert and is absent from more humid regions). Yeah they're still dependent on moisture but it's a bit silly to say "this isn't a desert dwelling species" when it's literally a desert dwelling species.