T. Blondi on loan. Noticed nodule on pedipalp joint?

[CutThroat Kid]

Hi all,
I’m holding onto a juvenile (~4”dls) T. Blondi for a friend and I noticed some kind of nodule on the second joint of its right palp. Either I didn’t notice for 3 weeks or its a new thing, not sure because I haven’t exactly been hovering over this one.

My first thought it that it is from an injury that has clotted up. But thinking about it, the spider seemed to have been acting weird before i noticed the bump, crammed in a stress position way outside of its hide. It readily drank two days ago so I thought maybe it was dehydrated, but then I noticed this? Doesn’t seem to be affecting movement or function of the palp as far as I could tell.

Any idea on whats going on with this one’s palp? :/

 

[MariaLewisia]

Hard to tell exactly what it is. The colour is similar to that of oxygenated hemolymph so it might've torn or injured it somehow. Could also be a cyst of some kind.

Whatever it is, don't worry about it. If it is actively bleeding or otherwise causes an issue to the spider, it will self-amputate the limb. It pops off at the trochanter (first joint), a muscle seals the wound, and voilà! Problem solved.

Let's hope that's what's stressing it out and not anything else. How is your setup? How's your friend's setup?

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Hi all,
I’m holding onto a juvenile (~4”dls) T. Blondi for a friend and I noticed some kind of nodule on the second joint of its right palp. Either I didn’t notice for 3 weeks or its a new thing, not sure because I haven’t exactly been hovering over this one.

My first thought it that it is from an injury that has clotted up. But thinking about it, the spider seemed to have been acting weird before i noticed the bump, crammed in a stress position way outside of its hide. It readily drank two days ago so I thought maybe it was dehydrated, but then I noticed this? Doesn’t seem to be affecting movement or function of the palp as far as I could tell.

Any idea on whats going on with this one’s palp? :/

View attachment 448852 View attachment 448853
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Cyst but luckily it’s not on the abdomen, I wasn’t able to save one with the cyst on abdomen but this seems much less dangerous.

 

[The Spider House]

If leaking then corn flour would also help any fluid being lost
Does not look too worrying tho.

note: There is a possibility at next moult the whole palp will not emerge so that will be regenerated over time if it happens. Its a young spiders so will probably correct any issues. I reckon well be fine.

 

[CutThroat Kid]

How is your setup?

It's likely better housed in my care than it was it my friend's as he's a very new keeper just learning the ropes. But, a simple enough species. I just keep it the same way I keep my LP at the moment. Terrestrial setup, basic substrate mix, overfill water bowl once a week, place to hide. I did stress it with a roach the other day and am wondering if it hurt itself when it bolted under its hide....

I'm just not sure, and its not really mine sooooo I thought I'd ask. I'm sure all will turn out. I suspect a molt soon.

 

[The Spider House]

All Theraphosa prefer moist sub in addition to the overfilled water dish. Blondi in particular, seem to thrive more than stirmi and apophysis in the more humid environment. Ventilation is also key IME with Theraphosa too

 

[CutThroat Kid]

All Theraphosa prefer moist sub in addition to the overfilled water dish. Blondi in particular, seem to thrive more than stirmi and apophysis in the more humid environment. Ventilation is also key IME with Theraphosa too

Thanks for the tip. I know they are more on the humid side, so I definitely try to go a bit heavier on my overfilling of the bowl. I did notice things got pretty dry for a moment there recently last week when I ran out of distilled water, so perhaps that contributed. How do you go about dampening the sub throughout? Just putting water down every corner?

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Thanks for the tip. I know they are more on the humid side, so I definitely try to go a bit heavier on my overfilling of the bowl. I did notice things got pretty dry for a moment there recently last week when I ran out of distilled water, so perhaps that contributed. How do you go about dampening the sub throughout? Just putting water down every corner?

Yeah go to town I even just modified a water bottle for my Pamphobetus sp. Platyomma which requires similar care so I don’t have to remove the lid but that’s not necessary .

 

[campj]

Thanks for the tip. I know they are more on the humid side, so I definitely try to go a bit heavier on my overfilling of the bowl. I did notice things got pretty dry for a moment there recently last week when I ran out of distilled water, so perhaps that contributed. How do you go about dampening the sub throughout? Just putting water down every corner?

I poke little holes in the lid of a water bottle and give the sub a good shower when things dry out a bit. I judge moisture levels based on color of the substrate, nothing more complicated than that. Try to get the water around the enclosure walls so that it seeps down and hydrates the lower parts of the substrate. If it's not getting down, you can push a pencil or something down into the sub where it meets the container walls. Hope this makes sense, I'm tired lol.

 

[The Spider House]

Thanks for the tip. I know they are more on the humid side, so I definitely try to go a bit heavier on my overfilling of the bowl. I did notice things got pretty dry for a moment there recently last week when I ran out of distilled water, so perhaps that contributed. How do you go about dampening the sub throughout? Just putting water down every corner?

It's always handy to have deep sub to begin with, mainly soil and peat moss mix with a bit of vermiculite, is my preferred sub. That can be moist to begin n with and then the "top" layer which is genrally the same but with a bit more coco fibre mixed in is liberally sprayed each week (at least once). Spraying the sides is a good way for bigger droplets to form and penetrate the sub so also do that. If you just mist the air it basically evaporates. Although I do that as well as it shows off all the webbing that you may not see as much with the baked eye. But that's just me I like to see what they have been up to ha ha

I also like to have leaf litter amd moss scattered all-round the floor. Example of how my adult female setups are for my Theraphosa (I have 7 blondi, 1 stirmi and 3 apophysis). They are in 45x45x30 exo with acrylic lid conversion.

 

[viper69]

Can’t tell for sure, it only reminds me of 🩸

 

[CutThroat Kid]

Can’t tell for sure, it only reminds me of 🩸

I think @MariaLewisia is right in that it's dried hemolymph. I had another spider that ruptured its abdomen and had a similar looking, larger scab. And I think this spaz hurt itself when it bolted under its hide when I tried to feed last.

 

[viper69]

I think @MariaLewisia is right in that it's dried hemolymph. I had another spider that ruptured its abdomen and had a similar looking, larger scab. And I think this spaz hurt itself when it bolted under its hide when I tried to feed last.

That sucks for the little fella