T. blondi problems.

whoami?

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 27, 2002
Messages
219
Well, I dropped a cricket into blondi's cage, and the tarantula runs into the corner and starts rolling around. I see that there's a clump of substrate stuck to the spinnerets. The spider is spazzing out, and it looks like a dying cockroach.

So I decided to take it out of its cage and put it on life support. I have it in the palm of my hand. Its legs are curled under it at this point, and it is sort of rocking side-to-side. I feel a few pin pricks on my hand, so I move it to my other hand. I feel a few more pin pricks. I play hot potato with the bastard until I manage to get it onto its back.

So it is on its back with its legs waving around, and it's fangs gnashing. Even worse, I can now see that it has a grayish, pasty fluid leaking out of its ass. I'm assuming that this is feces, though I am not sure.

Wondering what happened, I decided that this looks a lot like the tarantula was poisoned. The only thing I can think of is that I fed it a roach more than a week ago. I'm guessing that has to be the problem. The leaky anus also makes me wonder if it has parasites in it, but I rather doubt that. I keep all my invertebrates near each other, and I've noticed no problems with them.

Anyway, I remember reading before on this board about how to put a tarantula on life support, and I just want to make sure I've got it right. I took a small cup, put about 1/4" water in the bottom, and then placed the spider in the water on its back. Then I closed the cup, so that the inside stays humid. And then I use an eyedropper to let the spider drink twice a day.

Is that right?

Well, the spider looks in pretty bad shape, but I guess it's a good sign that it can still move its legs and fangs more than a week after being poisoned (assuming it WAS poisoned more than a week ago).
 

MrDeranged

He Who Rules
Staff member
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Jul 16, 2002
Messages
2,000
Originally posted by whoami?
Anyway, I remember reading before on this board about how to put a tarantula on life support, and I just want to make sure I've got it right. I took a small cup, put about 1/4" water in the bottom, and then placed the spider in the water on its back. Then I closed the cup, so that the inside stays humid. And then I use an eyedropper to let the spider drink twice a day.

Is that right?

No No No No.

Same container on a moist paper towel with a small water source for it to drink. Keep it warm. Not 1/4 inch of water on it's back.... Get it out quick.

Scott
 

whoami?

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 27, 2002
Messages
219
Re: Re: T. blondi problems.

Originally posted by mrderanged
No No No No.

Same container on a moist paper towel with a small water source for it to drink. Keep it warm. Not 1/4 inch of water on it's back.... Get it out quick.

Scott
Thanks, but I think it's dead now.

*shrugs*

Oh well, I guess I'll just buy another one.

EDIT: Oh, well, it isn't quite dead yet. I took it out of the cup with water, and then it looked dead. I poked at it, and it didn't move, so I just assumed it was dead. It started twitching again, so I guess I didn't kill it quite yet.
 
Last edited:

Buspirone

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Mar 10, 2003
Messages
1,064
It could have been too damp or the roach you fed it was infected, particularly if the roach was wild caught instead of species raised as a feeder.
 
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