Sucking stomach

[Andrew Clayton]

So I've never personally had a T that mis moulted and lost there sucking stomach, until now, I think. So my Avicularia Juruensis M2 sling ¹/²" has a bad moult some was stuck on its abdomen including the spinnerets, with some perseverance and cotton buds it's fine now, or so I thought. So this was nearly 2 weeks ago it moulted and because it was stuck to its abdomen I've totally looked past the fact that the sucking stomach may not have moulted properly too, so my question is, if a T mismoults and looses it's sucking stomach does it just not take food at all or does it do what my avic is doing, today is the 3rd day in a row I've fed it and it's ferocious taking down the prey, was a small mealworm the other day yesterday a small banded cricket and today a small Dubia, but none of the meals have been anywhere near finished it just seems to be killing them, is this a sign that the sucking stomach hasn't moulted correct? Or what's going on? This is the 1st time I've experienced something like this. Thanks in advance for any advice AB

 

[viper69]

It sounds that way. At a small size and behavior that little fella should be eating.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

so my question is, if a T mismoults and looses it's sucking stomach does it just not take food at all or does it do what my avic is doing, today is the 3rd day in a row I've fed it and it's ferocious taking down the prey, was a small mealworm the other day yesterday a small banded cricket and today a small Dubia, but none of the meals have been anywhere near finished it just seems to be killing them, is this a sign that the sucking stomach hasn't moulted correct? Or what's going on? This is the 1st time I've experienced something like this. Thanks in advance for any advice AB

What people refer to as the sucking stomach as seen in a shed molt is in actuality the cuticular lining of three organs: the pharynx which is the boxy looking bit closer to the mouth; the sucking stomach which is the rounded balloon shaped bit behind the carapace; and the esophagus which is the small tube connecting the other two.

To my knowledge no one has actually proven that the cause of any kind of problem following a molt are caused by any of these linings remaining inside of a recently shed tarantula. I have never seen any documentation of a disection and seeing the old linings remaining in one of the three organs. When people blame an illness or a variety of symptoms on the sucking stomach not being shed properly it is just a guess and highly speculative. It is an assumption based on whether or not the linings are visible inside the shed molt without a consideration that the linings are very fragile and can easily break off when dry.

There could be any number of reasons for why a tarantula would appear to have problems eating following a molt. Determining which would be nearly impossible for your average keeper. Without the ability to confirm whether the cuticular lining of any of the aforementioned organs remains inside of the tarantula following a molt, there is no way to associate symptoms with it. To put it more succinctly, who knows what could be wrong with your tarantula.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Here is what's left of a cricket, the T pounced straight away and had it for around half an hour I've circled the only piece that seems to be affected apart from the fact the T has killed it.