Tarantula wiggling on back

[BlackWidow24]

Unfortunately, the tarantula passed away. It was very sad but at least it can’t suffer now. It all happened so fast. After its molt in June, it moved so quickly! It had a lot of energy, so I’m very sad that it seemed that everything changed drastically overnight when the crazy wiggling began. I would have never taken it out of the wild if we hadn’t interrupted (accidentally) the tarantula hawk doing what a tarantula hawk does. Seeing that it was paralyzed but still alive, I felt compelled to try to help it. Our family loved it so much and everyone was in awe of its story and how it came back from being paralyzed. At the very end, it had a white milky liquid coming out of its mouth, so nematodes?

 

[Smotzer]

Sorry to hear it passed.

Also I’ll add a note that sporadic wiggling on the back of some insects can be an indication of toxic pesticide exposure. Seen tons of insects spasm upside down and be unable to right them selves repeatedly.

 

[BlackWidow24]

Thank you. I also read about toxic exposure and as I don’t use much for cleaning as I am so sensitive to them myself, the only thing I can think of is maybe it was something from our kids. They use a lot of perfumes, scented products, scented candles and one used Febreeze without me realizing she had even bought any, but I don’t think she sprayed it near where the tarantula was, because they have that stuff in their rooms and not near the tarantula. I didn’t think that stuff was ever anywhere near the tarantula, but then again, I had no idea about how sensitive a tarantula could be to it. Also, I’m wondering if one of the crickets we gave him ate something toxic as we would just capture crickets to give him. The tarantula had eaten a cricket a couple of days before the wiggling started.

 

[Smotzer]

Also, I’m wondering if one of the crickets we gave him ate something toxic as we would just capture crickets to give him.

Okay so I was going respond in order of what you wrote but I saw this at the end of your post and this is definitely the biggest red flag if I understand you correctly.

It sounds like you’re catching wild crickets, in and around your home to use as prey items for your tarantulas. If so this is a BIG no-no! If the cause of death was toxic exposure and you had fed a wild caught cricket around your residential area, that then after that the dyskinesia symptoms started, I would place my bet on this the highest likely mode of toxic exposure. Reason being is that around any type of residential areas that are tons of pesticides that are sprayed commercially and also used from home owners. Examples like entrance barriers, Kant treatments, bait traps, etc. I have seen this exact situation countless times where good intentioned tarantula keepers catch a cricket to feed and it ultimately ends in death.

also read about toxic exposure and as I don’t use much for cleaning as I am so sensitive to them myself, the only thing I can think of is maybe it was something from our kids

They use a lot of perfumes, scented products, scented candles and one used Febreeze without me realizing she had even bought any,

didn’t think that stuff was ever anywhere near the tarantula, but then again, I had no idea about how sensitive a tarantula could be to it.

If substances are transferred onto uour hands that is more than enough sometimes to cause issues.

 

[BlackWidow24]

Okay so I was going respond in order of what you wrote but I saw this at the end of your post and this is definitely the biggest red flag if I understand you correctly.

It sounds like you’re catching wild crickets, in and around your home to use as prey items for your tarantulas. If so this is a BIG no-no! If the cause of death was toxic exposure and you had fed a wild caught cricket around your residential area, that then after that the dyskinesia symptoms started, I would place my bet on this the highest likely mode of toxic exposure. Reason being is that around any type of residential areas that are tons of pesticides that are sprayed commercially and also used from home owners. Examples like entrance barriers, Kant treatments, bait traps, etc. I have seen this exact situation countless times where good intentioned tarantula keepers catch a cricket to feed and it ultimately ends in death.




If substances are transferred onto uour hands that is more than enough sometimes to cause issues.

 

[BlackWidow24]

Thank you for the helpful reply. I feel so bad and I should have done more research. Since we had been giving him crickets that we caught ourselves for a year and a half without problems, it never occurred to me. I read early on when we first got it that store bought crickets could possibly harbor disease or parasites (I’m sorry I don’t have the source), so I thought since wild caught crickets are what they eat in the wild, that I should go that route. We don’t spray ever (but our neighbors do) in house or outside, but recently I did use ant baits. It didn’t even cross my mind that this could affect the tarantula and my husband and I were out of town and one of our daughters bought raid spray, so that could have definitely contributed. I hate that spray stuff and would never buy it, but she didn’t tell us until we returned from our trip, but that was last month, and I know none of that junk has been sprayed for over a month, so perhaps a cricket got contaminated with residual chemicals when it was used while we were gone or was contaminated by the ant bait, which seems most likely as we have had so much trouble with ants. I finally broke down and bought the ant baits (Terro, the liquid ones with boric acid) because those little ants are so persistent..they were driving us all crazy. No one had held the tarantula since he molted in June. I couldn’t believe how fast he moved around and his energy after the molt and I was a bit nervous to attempt to pick him up. No one ever held it unless I was there to help because everyone in my house is very scared of spiders and insects…completely opposite from me…how is this my family??? I do know the last cricket the tarantula ate was caught by my daughter’s boyfriend in the bathroom. At least her boyfriend isn’t afraid of crickets, but he picked it up with some toilet paper (unscented), so I’m pretty sure he didn’t have any skin contact with the tarantula. It was so sad losing the tarantula, but I really hope anyone who reads this thread will learn from it and take every precaution and research everything very well and realize how dangerous chemicals, sprays, baits, perfumes, etc. can be in order to avoid this happening.

 

[BlackWidow24]

And also to buy the crickets or worms and NOT catch your own! I believe there is confusion on that because last year I went to a a University of Arizona entomology event and they had people displaying and answering equations about tarantula hawks, which was the theme of the event. I’m not sure how they were affiliated with the entomology department, grad students maybe? And maybe not necessarily tarantula or tarantula hawk experts. They were amazed when I told them how we kept the tarantula hydrated and it was able to recover from the paralysis from the sting and I was asking about feeding the tarantula and it wasn’t brought up that I shouldn’t give bugs that I catch on my own. I was also told I could give the tarantula a cockroach, which I did one time, and the tarantula did love it.

 

[BlackWidow24]

And also to buy the crickets or worms and NOT catch your own! I believe there is confusion on that because last year I went to a a University of Arizona entomology event and they had people displaying and answering equations about tarantula hawks, which was the theme of the event. I’m not sure how they were affiliated with the entomology department, grad students maybe? And maybe not necessarily tarantula or tarantula hawk experts. They were amazed when I told them how we kept the tarantula hydrated and it was able to recover from the paralysis from the sting and I was asking about feeding the tarantula and it wasn’t brought up that I shouldn’t give bugs that I catch on my own. I was also told I could give the tarantula a cockroach, which I did one time, and the tarantula did love it.

questions*

 

[TheraMygale]

Yeah, even if spider is wild caught, wild prey should not be given if goal is for tarantula to live long.

wild prey have parasites and diseases.

If tarantula was wild, then it could also have had its share of diseases and parasites.

i think i brought this up before. Just realizing i am repeating myself.

Unfortunately i cannot view these type videos.

if it has been fed wild caught prey, then it sure can have some kind of sickness or infection.

outdoor bugs are exposded to deet and
Glysophate. Pesticides and nematodes. Might not be tarantula nematodes, doesnt mean it doesnt make them sick.

someone else might see video and say, hey its nothing.

but all this sounds unusual.

photos of tarantula will help us know if its mature male.

 

[Matt Man]

Wild caught food is Russian roulette with your T. Who knows what insecticides your neighbors are using. Crickets are CHEAP, I get 20 for a buck. At that price it is a fools errand to save a dollar. I agree with @Smotzer here, if the T was basically healthy and eating and then fell ill it is most likely one of 2 things.
Food Borne Toxicity or a pre-existing disease/parasite that manifested during your care. That last photo is death curl.

 

[Brewser]

Sad tidings indeed.
My Condolences to You.
What was accomplished previously shows great compassion.
Do Not Blame Yourself for this recent loss.
It could have passed away from any number of Unknown Reasons. (speculation)
Best Regards, and Keep Your Chin up.

 

[BlackWidow24]

Sad tidings indeed.
My Condolences to You.
What was accomplished previously shows great compassion.
Do Not Blame Yourself for this recent loss.
It could have passed away from any number of Unknown Reasons. (speculation)
Best Regards, and Keep Your Chin up.

Sad tidings indeed.
My Condolences to You.
What was accomplished previously shows great compassion.
Do Not Blame Yourself for this recent loss.
It could have passed away from any number of Unknown Reasons. (speculation)
Best Regards, and Keep Your Chin up.

 

[BlackWidow24]

Thank you so much for the kind words.

 

[Smotzer]

if the T was basically healthy and eating and then fell ill it is most likely one of 2 things.
Food Borne Toxicity or a pre-existing disease/parasite that manifested during your care. That last photo is death curl.

My thoughts exactly!