Tarantula really pale/ losing color

[tarantulamama]

My Braz. Salmon Pink (Lasiodora parahybana) has recently gotten really pale. I have had troubles with him lately because his last molt left him with an extra leg where his pedipalp should be (which I was instructed to pull off) and his chelicerae were also deformed which gives him a lot of trouble when eating. He hasn't really been eating well until recently and I've noticed his opisthosoma has actually grown. I'm wondering if this may be a sign that he's not doing too well or maybe a sign that he is ready to molt.

 

[Shrike]

Wow. I've never heard of such a thing. Can you post a picture please?

 

[lancej]

+1 on the picture. A lot of t's will start to fade in overall in color if they are nearing a molt, so that could be normal. That's very interesting about the extra leg. Out of curiosity, who instructed you to remove the extra leg?

 

[SuzukiSwift]

An extra leg where the pedipalp should be? I wonder what could cause a defect like that, +1 to a picture also. Perhaps the deformation of the chelicerae caused the loss in colour, I actually am clueless

 

[Smokehound714]

I would just euthanize the individual. Sounds like a severely inbred spider, to me.

Growing a leg where the pedipalp should be is a serious genetic deformity.

 

[tarantulagirl10]

Are you sure it was an extra leg or was part of the old exo stuck?

 

[tarantulamama]

I don't have a picture from when he had the extra leg. He is still small also, so it'd be hard to take a picture of the chelicerae but I can try and possibly post by tonight or tomorrow night!

---------- Post added 08-31-2013 at 06:41 PM ----------

Kelly @ SWIFTINVERTS.COM

---------- Post added 08-31-2013 at 06:42 PM ----------

No, I'm sure it was a leg. It was difficult to remove.

---------- Post added 08-31-2013 at 08:52 PM ----------

http://i44.tinypic.com/2zs1e20.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/295et5y.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2yyvbiu.jpg

here are his chelicerae. they almost look doubled. I don't know if you can tell because these iPhone 5 pics are the best I can do, but I'm sure you'll be able to notice how long and low his fangs are looking.

 

[tarantulamama]

http://i44.tinypic.com/2zs1e20.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/295et5y.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2yyvbiu.jpg

here are his chelicerae. they almost look doubled. I don't know if you can tell because these iPhone 5 pics are the best I can do, but I'm sure you'll be able to notice how long and low his fangs are looking.

 

[Hobo]

It's missing a leg and a pedipalp. It also hasn't properly shed its chelicerae and fangs; the old exo is still attached. No doubt the new fangs are hardened underneath.

 

[lancej]

It did not molt properly at its last molt and part of the old exo is still attached. The chelicerae and fang issue as well as the fact that it is now missing a pedipalp will probably accelerate the molt cycle, which could explain its colors fading. Another thing that could also cause color fading in a lot of large terrestrial NW t's is humidity that is too low. I think you should raise the humidity for this t, at least until it molts again. Once its abdomen darkens and a molt is coming, humidity will be very important. Make sure the substrate is moist and the water bowl is full of fresh water.

 

[SuzukiSwift]

Not a defect, it is just missing a leg, it hasn't grown a new one

 

[Formerphobe]

It's missing a leg and a pedipalp. It also hasn't properly shed its chelicerae and fangs; the old exo is still attached. No doubt the new fangs are hardened underneath.

+1!
When was its last molt? I would offer it cricket soup to get it to the next one.

It's been my experience that LPs do better with higher humidity than most keepers provide, especially while young. Because of their fast growth rate, 'teenagers' seem to take longer to recover post-molt.

Both my M and F LPs went through an instar at about 5 inches where they really paled out and were a dirty brown color for months.
Here is the subadult male 3 days before his molt, on his back, and freshly molted. In the freshly molted pic, he is gnawing on his exuvium and you can appreciate the color difference.