Strange leg Problem! Please Help!

[seven8my9]

Hello, I have a 4" Goliath and for the last few weeks I noticed that it has been dragging one of its back legs. It started to turn deep red at the tip, and now I just noticed that the leg is bent all the way around behind her from the second joint, is deep red in color, and she cant extend it at all. It looks as if the leg has hardened. If anyone has any advice, I would be very grateful. Her last molt was normal, she was eating up until a few weeks ago (not sure if she stopped when the leg got bad) and I dont think she had any falls or anything in her cage. Thanks in advance.

 

[TRowe]

Hi there,

It sounds like your tarantula has experienced a fall, or sustained some other kind of trauma to it's leg. You basically have two options: You can either keep it under close observation and watch for signs of bleeding or fluid loss, especially around the joints of the leg in question. In most cases, the spider will lose the leg through self-autotomy. Or... you can force autotomy. It's not as bad as it sounds. If you feel comfortable doing so, grasp the leg by the femur (large section, closest to the cephalothorax) firmly with tweezers, tongs, or forceps. When the right amount of pressure is applied, the leg will be released, and should be replaced in a few molts. If you do decide to force autotomy, watch the "stump" carefully for excessive fluid loss. A drop or two is normal, and should be expected. If the spider loses more fluid than that, you can apply nail hardener to the "stump". Use caution, and apply it only to the affected area. Provide plenty of water after any limb loss.

Best of luck!

Tim

 

[fantasticp]

grasp the leg by the femur (large section, closest to the cephalothorax) firmly with tweezers, tongs, or forceps. When the right amount of pressure is applied, the leg will be released,

I have never had to do this. Are you saying you don't have to pinch/pull it off, and that it will drop off by itself if you pinch it hard enough? Or are you just saying it is easy to pull off when pinched?

 

[TRowe]

I have never had to do this. Are you saying you don't have to pinch/pull it off, and that it will drop off by itself if you pinch it hard enough? Or are you just saying it is easy to pull off when pinched?

Nope, I've never had to pull any limbs off. You *shouldn't* have to pinch incredibly hard. It's hard to articulate what the right amount of pressure is. Generally, once I have a grasp on the femur, I just slowly and steadily increase pressure until the tarantula essentially drops the leg. Here's a quote from the ATS Arthropod Medical Manual (Dr. R.G. Breene, 1998): "Once the femur is grasped with forceps, you may not have to pull to get the leg off. The spider will snap the coxa upwards while the femur maintains its position, acting as a brace (Foelix 1996). An exoskeleton feature called the coxal apodeme will break, and the resulting high tension will cause the joint membrane to split at the uppermost point. By this time, the leg is essentially off, since only one muscle, or a small number of muscles, attach through the inside of the leg between the coxa and trochanter, and will disassociate easily and withdraw into the coxal cavity (Foelix 1996)."

Hope I didn't put you to sleep.

Tim

 

[Pheonixx]

part of the tarantulas defense syatem is the ability to lose limbs if nessecary. It is better to lose the leg than the whole spider. (to a spider it could save it's life)
the leg WILL regenerate, give it time. in a situation like you describe the spider may pull it's own leg off and eat it, dont be suprised. If you have to pull the leg be prepared for a few things.
1. the spider will NOT be happy about this
2. it may try to bite/ flick uricating hairs at you.
3. be safe, if you feel to be in danger from a bite or hairs take a break and wait. let the spider calm down.
4. wearing gloves or goggles may be a good thing.

before you get all jumpy and go pull the leg RESEARCH HOW TO PROPERLY DO IT
if you dont do it right you could kill the spider or pur it into shock.

I cant say weither to pull it or not, i have never been in this situation and hope i never am. but if you must do this do it right. The stuff i posted above is just stuff i picked up from a few books and learning MY T's behaivors.

GOOD LUCK...

 

[TRowe]

One other good thing to mention is that autotomy is thought to be a voluntary action on the tarantula's part, and thus, anesthetized spiders can't autotomize their legs. So, I wouldn't recommend anesthesia by any means. It would just complicate matters.

Best of luck,

Tim