T. blondi suicide

[MizM]

George and Daisy arrived last Tuesday. It was love at first sight for me! Daisy got a little banged up in shipping, George was right as rain. I let them de-stress for 24 hours and gave them each a mouse which they consumed with gusto. After they bathed themselves, I thought they were ready for their new homes and transferred them. They were at 81F with 83% humidity & 8” deep, moist substrate and seemed happy as clams. Saturday night, had 30 guests for “Waynestock”... my husband’s birthday. George and Daisy were the stars of the show, so I spent much of the evening staring at them... as I had all week! I put a mouse in with each of them and Daisy dispatched hers immediately, but George seemed frightened. I gave him a half an hour, but he wasn’t hungry, so mousie went to his own home to get fattened up for when George got hungry. Woke up Sunday morning, and George had drowned himself! He was in his water dish, butt first, like he was in a burrow. I had “created” him a burrow in the back, in the dark, where he could go hide if he needed privacy.

Why would a 10” blondi do this? Did I do something wrong? I am SO heartbroken! I don’t know how you felt when you got you first big ‘un, but I fell head over heels the minute I saw them. Does anybody have a clue about this? I am so bummed... I only hope it wasn’t my fault.

 

[krystal]

i didn't want to tell anyone this because i thought some might perceive it as "my fault" and criticize my tarantula keeping abilities, but i lost my male a. genic this way. he drown himself in his icu because his pedipalps were ripped off during his ultimate moult.

...hmm, after admitting it, i'm not as relieved as i thought i would be....

 

[WYSIWYG]

I'm sorry for your loss.

I don't know the answer to your question. Was he a mature male? Was he recently wildcaught?

Wysi

 

[MizM]

Wysi,
Yes mature, not wc, he was a ltc and just got shipped to me on Tuesday... but I was already in love!!!

krystal,
YOU didn't put him in the water dish... please don't feel guilty! He did it himself, who knows why. I would NEVER criticize your T keeping abilities... it's just like being a parent. I learn how to do it EVERY SINGLE DAY! I'm sorry about your genic!

 

[MrT]

Originally posted by MizM


Why would a 10” blondi do this? Did I do something wrong? I am SO heartbroken! I don’t know how you felt when you got you first big ‘un, but I fell head over heels the minute I saw them. Does anybody have a clue about this? I am so bummed... I only hope it wasn’t my fault.

I'm sorry,
I missed this thread. Now I can't stop thinking about it.
I can't believe a T would drown itself. There must have been something wrong with it. Maybe a infection in its booklungs, that would make it want to soak them in the water dish.
Was he curled? Could he have just ended up in the dish as his final resting place, and didn't drown at all?
What a mind blower. :?

At anyrate, I'm very sorry for the loss of George


Ernie

 

[Malhavoc's]

aww

That totaly sux A nice big spidey like that no wonder you fell in luv such a waste that it died I guess yer gunna have to replace it with 5 more;P

 

[arcane]

You might want to send the body, if you still have it to the Research Institute for Exotic Species Microbiology. They could do an autopsy.

I'm a T newbie, but the idea of a T Blondi drowning in a water dish does seem odd. Many species can swim for brief periods of time, seems strange. I even found a poem about it while searching for info: click here

 

[D-Man]

RIP

Terry-

Sorry you lost that big blondi. I'm with Ernie on this, maybe it feel or had some other illness/trauma that killed it. I'd inspect every inch of that T.

Btw, I thought about you whille I drove through Highway 15 on my way back home to Stockton from San Diego yesterday. I wish I had time to visit some shops for T's.

Dario

 

[xBurntBytheSunx]

all you people having trouble with your blondis make them sound like they aren't exactly built to last, or maybe this just isn't a good week for blondis :?

 

[Malhavoc's]

Originally posted by xBurntBytheSunx
all you people having trouble with your blondis make them sound like they aren't exactly built to last, or maybe this just isn't a good week for blondis :?

I think its more of there hard to care for. thats why Im waiting to get one myself anyway...

 

[deifiler]

Originally posted by xBurntBytheSunx
all you people having trouble with your blondis make them sound like they aren't exactly built to last, or maybe this just isn't a good week for blondis :?

Yeah my thoughts exactly!



My poor little lurch (my Blondi) may be the next one to go...

 

[MizM]

Originally posted by arcane
You might want to send the body, if you still have it to the Research Institute for Exotic Species Microbiology. They could do an autopsy.

I'm a T newbie, but the idea of a T Blondi drowning in a water dish does seem odd. Many species can swim for brief periods of time, seems strange. I even found a poem about it while searching for info: click here

OMG, the poem made me CRY!!! I went home last night and the female (Daisy) was dead too! They came shipped in large round deli containers with just a paper towel underneath. There was plenty of room for banging around. I posted a thread on her bleeding leg, yesterday she had made a "cast" of substrate and web and was slowly walking in circles, I assumed to remove the leg. I didn't see a lot of hemolymph, so I just kept her moist, dark and quiet, so she could do her thing in peace. I feel better knowing I did everything right, I gave them a de-stress period after shipping, I had them in perfect conditions, and they both had a nice mouse meal (the female ate 2!) before they died.

And, you guys, thanks so much for your support and kind words, this one really HURT! Just knowing that you're all thinking about me helps! I truly appreciate ALL OF YOU!!!

 

[Nixy]

Oh Damn MizM I'm so sorry you lost both of them.
Where did you get them and have you contacted the dealer? Two checking out like that is just too odd. Considering the lengths you go to for your T's and how long you studied up before getting those two bigguns I highly doubt it was a care issue. You've had them a short enough length of time that it still could be under the lines of shipping stress and other such issues.
You never know. Maybe since both went they can give you a discount or deal or replacement for shipping. I have No idea of course. But it sure can't hurt to drop them a line and ask.
Our condolances on your losses.
(hugs)

 

[MizM]

You're awesome!!! It was a private transaction, and the seller claimed that they were LTCs. Don't think there's much of a chance of getting my money back, but I WILL let him know I don't think that they were packed well enough, I'm more than positive they got knocked around a LOT during shipping. Althought they are big and tough looking, blondis ARE pretty delicate!

Thank you for the hugs Nixy! And thanks for the other (you know what I mean!!)

 

[Nixy]

You can always take Faith's advice and whomp him with a spider stick.....
And your welcome anyway time. For Both.

 

[MizM]

Stick.... shoot, let use a SHOTGUN!

Good news from all of this, I am arranging to send the bodies to RIESM for autopsy and research. George and Daisy will hopefully provide them with insights to some of the mysteries of our big furry friends, and their deaths will not be in vain. They are going to contribute to the further discoveries of T biology and, um, other T scientific stuff.