URGENT: G. pulchra Sling Fell Twice

[Mitchel]

I don't know why I'm so terrible with rehousing my Ts, but long story short, my G. pulchra sling fell while I was trying to transfer her back into her enclosure after cleaning it.

This is how big she is (that thing that I use for her hide is a bathroom cup).
I was trying to transfer her from a cup back into her enclosure, but my darn hands are so shaky that I accidentally dropped her TWO TIMES onto the hardwood floor below my desk.

I'm genuinely terrified. After I dropped her the second time, she was on her back and not moving, so I thought she was dead. When I gently tried to pick her up, however, she flipped back over and started bolting. After that I managed to get her into a smaller cup and put her back into her enclosure. And if you're wondering, no, I wasn't handling her. She fell during the transfer the first time, and by then I was shaking even worse, so when I lead her into a cup the second time, she wasn't all the way in, and fell again due to how bad I was shaking.

When I finally put her back into her enclosure, she didn't move for the longest time, before eventually scuttling into her hide and climbing on the back of it. I'm so scared. I already dropped her once, and it was onto substrate, not a hardwood floor. I thought I had already gotten all of the rookie mistakes out of my system, but I guess not...I'm so worried about her. I didn't see any abrasions or wounds, but she did poop a bit, I think.

Please help. Is she going to be okay? I've been told slings are hardier than juvenile or adult tarantulas, but still, I did drop her twice.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Please help.

Tell me how and I gladly will.

Is she going to be okay?

I don't know. No one can tell such a thing. Let's hope that nothing serious happened, internally speaking. Leave the spider alone, add a suitable sized enough "water dish", and keep this thread updated with pics etc.

Frankly there's nothing else you can do, could be nothing serious (yes, even if the spider fallen twice) or... well.

 

[The Seraph]

I don't know why I'm so terrible with rehousing my Ts, but long story short, my G. pulchra sling fell while I was trying to transfer her back into her enclosure after cleaning it.

This is how big she is (that thing that I use for her hide is a bathroom cup).
I was trying to transfer her from a cup back into her enclosure, but my darn hands are so shaky that I accidentally dropped her TWO TIMES onto the hardwood floor below my desk.

I'm genuinely terrified. After I dropped her the second time, she was on her back and not moving, so I thought she was dead. When I gently tried to pick her up, however, she flipped back over and started bolting. After that I managed to get her into a smaller cup and put her back into her enclosure. And if you're wondering, no, I wasn't handling her. She fell during the transfer the first time, and by then I was shaking even worse, so when I lead her into a cup the second time, she wasn't all the way in, and fell again due to how bad I was shaking.

When I finally put her back into her enclosure, she didn't move for the longest time, before eventually scuttling into her hide and climbing on the back of it. I'm so scared. I already dropped her once, and it was onto substrate, not a hardwood floor. I thought I had already gotten all of the rookie mistakes out of my system, but I guess not...I'm so worried about her. I didn't see any abrasions or wounds, but she did poop a bit, I think.

Please help. Is she going to be okay? I've been told slings are hardier than juvenile or adult tarantulas, but still, I did drop her twice.

Next time, rehome your spider on the floor. This will reduce the risk of them being hurt. Hope this helps.

 

[Mitchel]

Next time, rehome your spider on the floor. This will reduce the risk of them being hurt. Hope this helps.

Thank you. I don't know why I decided to do this at my desk. It was really stupid of me.

 

[Mitchel]

Tell me how and I gladly will.

Are there any signs of internal damage to a tarantula? Like behavior and appearance wise?
She seems to be doing fine right now. She's climbing in top of her hide and seems to be as energetic as ever, but I'm guessing that could change if she's been damaged internally.

 

[chanda]

For rehousing with small containers like that, get down on the floor - and put the containers in a large rubbermaid tub or something similar. That way, if the spider does fall, it won't fall far - and it will be a lot easier to recapture than if it fell directly onto the floor and scooted under a bookshelf or down the heating vent or behind the filing cabinet or wherever else looked dark and safe to a frightened spider. Also, when using a cup to transfer the spider, you can close off the open end of the cup with an index card or something similar to prevent the spider bolting/falling out.

I hope she's ok!

 

[LittleGiRLy]

I don't know why I'm so terrible with rehousing my Ts, but long story short, my G. pulchra sling fell while I was trying to transfer her back into her enclosure after cleaning it.

So, sorry. Hopefully she is ok, and she didn't incur any serious injuries from the falls. But, may I ask why you felt you had to clean her enclosure? And yes, I agree with the comment above, rehoming on the floor is always best.

 

[Mitchel]

For rehousing with small containers like that, get down on the floor - and put the containers in a large rubbermaid tub or something similar. That way, if the spider does fall, it won't fall far - and it will be a lot easier to recapture than if it fell directly onto the floor and scooted under a bookshelf or down the heating vent or behind the filing cabinet or wherever else looked dark and safe to a frightened spider. Also, when using a cup to transfer the spider, you can close off the open end of the cup with an index card or something similar to prevent the spider bolting/falling out.

I hope she's ok!

Thank you. She seems to be fine. She's moving around a lot, currently, though. Which is good, because at least I know she's alive. Although, she's climbed up on top of her hide, and I have no idea why. I don't think it's because the sub is wet, because the whole reason I had to clean it out was because part of it was drenched with water. I'm guessing she's just really stressed by the whole ordeal, which is understandable.

So, sorry. Hopefully she is ok, and she didn't incur any serious injuries from the falls. But, may I ask why you felt you had to clean her enclosure? And yes, I agree with the comment above, rehoming on the floor is always best.

Well, the area around her water dish (quite a large area) was drenched with water. I'm talking like so much water that it wasn't drying up and would just sit for days in the same spot. Plus, I hadn't cleaned the enclosure at all since I got her several months ago.

 

[LittleGiRLy]

I don't think it's because the sub is wet, because the whole reason I had to clean it out was because part of it was drenched with water. I'm guessing she's just really stressed by the whole ordeal, which is understandable.

I see. I understand you cleaning it if it was drenched, but its not a big deal if you hadn't cleaned it in months. In general, you don't really have to clean out an enclosure, just pick out uneaten food. Glad she seems to be ok! Just keep an eye on her in case she starts acting funny.

 

[Mitchel]

I see. Glad she seems to be ok! Just keep an eye on her in case she starts acting funny.

Thank you. I will.

 

[cold blood]

Thank you. She seems to be fine. She's moving around a lot, currently, though. Which is good, because at least I know she's alive. Although, she's climbed up on top of her hide, and I have no idea why. I don't think it's because the sub is wet, because the whole reason I had to clean it out was because part of it was drenched with water. I'm guessing she's just really stressed by the whole ordeal, which is understandable.


Well, the area around her water dish (quite a large area) was drenched with water. I'm talking like so much water that it wasn't drying up and would just sit for days in the same spot. Plus, I hadn't cleaned the enclosure at all since I got her several months ago.

Ok, a damp area that takes a long time to dry isnt a critical issue as long as its just one area....areas around dishes get wet, its not abnormal or a real concern.

Second, ts do not need their enclosures cleaned on a regular basis....in fact, they never need a full cleaning....ts are not inherently dirty and substrate doesnt just go bad with time.

Its literally as easy as spot cleaning with a tweezers.

It could use an actual hide, something buried more and made of a more substantial material....hides should be tighter...less spacious.

 

[Mitchel]

Ok, a damp area that takes a long time to dry isnt a critical issue as long as its just one area....areas around dishes get wet, its not abnormal or a real concern.

Second, ts do not need their enclosures cleaned on a regular basis....in fact, they never need a full cleaning....ts are not inherently dirty and substrate doesnt just go bad with time.

Its literally as easy as spot cleaning with a tweezers.

It could use an actual hide, something buried more and made of a more substantial material....hides should be tighter...less spacious.

Thank you for the information. Is there anything you would suggest I use for a hide? Because I'll gladly get her a much smaller hide, considering the current one takes up way too much space.

 

[cold blood]

wood, pvc, a broken cup or pot.

 

[Mitchel]

wood, pvc, a broken cup or pot.

I found a very small, sturdy cup and buried it a bit in the sub. Thank you.

 

[Teal]

It has already been said, but I will repeat it - Rehouse on the floor in a Rubbermaid or similar such tub.

There is no way to know if internal injuries were sustained.

Plus, I hadn't cleaned the enclosure at all since I got her several months ago.

As cold blood said, this isn't an issue. I have enclosures with pieces of dead feeders (like roach wings) and mold... my Ts are fine.

I found a very small, sturdy cup and buried it a bit in the sub. Thank you.

Did you break the cup? Hides should be doorways to burrows, not dead ends.

 

[Mitchel]

Did you break the cup? Hides should be doorways to burrows, not dead ends.

I made sure that there was a way in and no bottom to it so that she could burrow

 

[Mini8leggedfreak]

I don’t think anyone asked but why were u shaking so bad??

 

[Teal]

I don’t think anyone asked but why were u shaking so bad??

I think this question isn't necessary. Some people have illnesses that cause tremors, maybe the person was nervous, etc. It doesn't matter why, and asking could be construed as an intrusion of privacy.

 

[Mitchel]

I don’t think anyone asked but why were u shaking so bad??

I was just born shaky. I've been shaky my entire life. Which only made the fact that I was freaked the heck out even worse, because that means more shaking.

I think this question isn't necessary. Some people have illnesses that cause tremors, maybe the person was nervous, etc. It doesn't matter why, and asking could be construed as an intrusion of privacy.

It's fine. I have no idea why I shake so much. I just always have. No medications seem to help it. I also have an anxiety disorder that causes shaking sometimes, and episodes come at random (despite me being medicated), so who knows?

 

[Mini8leggedfreak]

It's fine. I have no idea why I shake so much. I just always have. No medications seem to help it. I also have an anxiety disorder that causes shaking sometimes, and episodes come at random (despite me being medicated), so who knows?

Ahh I see. I only asked to see if u had some irrational fear of the spider. In which case talking about it with others who have owned That T could help.

Not looking to invade privacy or make fun of u or whatever other stupid ideas people had about the question