What’s wrong ?

[AshAmorexo]

So my lasiodora parahybana has been in this enclosure for about 3 months ... last 4 weeks if the enclosure moves or I lift the lid it is curling into this corner, runs from food too, I thought it was due a molt but nothing seems to be happening and now I’m worried.
Had a problem with the number of lil white mites so I’ve dried it out the last couple weeks to get the numbers down and there less and less in the water dish now, are the mites making it sick? Is it stressed ? Never seems to come out the burrow anymore .. has been webbing and doesn’t seem to be any visible signs of sickness

 

[viper69]

Those type of mites don’t harm Ts, but they do disturb them if present in large numbers.

 

[AshAmorexo]

Barely any mites in the dish now so I’ve just misted, do you think the humidity could be the problem because I’ve been drying it out ?

 

[Smotzer]

so I’ve just misted, do you think the humidity could be the problem because I’ve been drying it out ?

What are you misting for? What I’m assuming is a type of tyroglyphid mites or mold mites like a grain mite are not harmful to your tarantula but they either need high humidity or high moisture. So allowing it to dry out and not spray would be the first step.

 

[AshAmorexo]

What are you misting for? What I’m assuming is a type of tyroglyphid mites or mold mites like a grain mite are not harmful to your tarantula but they either need high humidity or high moisture. So allowing it to dry out and not spray would be the first step.

I’ve just misted today for the first time in weeks now the mite numbers are down ... humidity is seriously low worried if it goes on any longer I’ll have a crisped T

 

[LadyVonChimp]

I'm not familiar with this type of mite, luckily I've not had any issues yet (crosses fingers), but would springtails help with that or are they not predatory?

 

[Envoirment]

I’ve just misted today for the first time in weeks now the mite numbers are down ... humidity is seriously low worried if it goes on any longer I’ll have a crisped T

You shouldn't need to mist. Providing a full water dish should be enough to provide the needed humidity. Unless where you live is particularly dry?

 

[Smotzer]

You shouldn't need to mist. Providing a full water dish should be enough to provide the needed humidity. Unless where you live is particularly dry?

Humidity is not important!! No species requires specific humidity percentages they are in varying degrees of moisture dependent. The water is there for physical hydration, not humidity.

 

[Envoirment]

Humidity is not important!! No species requires specific humidity percentages they are in varying degrees of moisture dependent. The water is there for physical hydration, not humidity.

Yes, first and foremost a water dish is for drinking. But it also acts to increase humidity in a cage. I agree you shouldn't worry about specifics, all I was saying any humidity needed would be provided from a full water dish so you wouldn't need to mist.

 

[Smotzer]

But it also acts to increase humidity in a cage.

But this is irrelevant and isn’t something someone needs to worry about.

any humidity needed would be provided from a full water dish so you wouldn't need to mist.

You never need to mist, any relative humidity that is given off by a water dish is irrelevant. If I species needs moisture then over flowing water dish or pouring in water is applicable, that will always increase relative humidity, but that percentage and concept should be disregarded. It will only confuse people.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

To me, that spider looks thirsty.
Just sayin'.

 

[AshAmorexo]

Ignore everything I’ve said ... look who’s prepping to molt, hopefully makes it through it and I’ll stop worrying. Thanks for the reply’s.

 

[scooter1685]

I'm not familiar with this type of mite, luckily I've not had any issues yet (crosses fingers), but would springtails help with that or are they not predatory?

Springtails are not predatory at all, but they would help by competing with the mites for resources. They're essentially after the same things, so adding springtails would help to prevent the mites becoming as numerous and might get rid of the mites altogether. I would recommend moistening the soil and adding springtails. It may also be worth considering changing the substrate out for fresh to get rid of as many mites as possible before adding springtails.

 

[scooter1685]

Ignore everything I’ve said ... look who’s prepping to molt, hopefully makes it through it and I’ll stop worrying. Thanks for the reply’s.

Wrote my reply before seeing this. I would definitely not recommend changing substrate when the T is about to molt, lol.

 

[LadyVonChimp]

Springtails are not predatory at all, but they would help by competing with the mites for resources. They're essentially after the same things, so adding springtails would help to prevent the mites becoming as numerous and might get rid of the mites altogether. I would recommend moistening the soil and adding springtails. It may also be worth considering changing the substrate out for fresh to get rid of as many mites as possible before adding springtails.

That's good to know. I use springtails in almost every enclosure, apart from the bone dry ones for obvious reasons lol

 

[l4nsky]

Barely any mites in the dish now so I’ve just misted, do you think the humidity could be the problem because I’ve been drying it out ?

Are you sure they were mites and not springtails? The reason I ask is because when I had a mite problem with a Scolopendra dehaani back in the day, I never found them in the water dish as I was drying out the enclosure. Springtails on the other hand will definently gravitate towards moisture as the enclosure dries.

 

[AshAmorexo]

Are you sure they were mites and not springtails? The reason I ask is because when I had a mite problem with a Scolopendra dehaani back in the day, I never found them in the water dish as I was drying out the enclosure. Springtails on the other hand will definently gravitate towards moisture as the enclosure dries.

Wrote my reply before seeing this. I would definitely not recommend changing substrate when the T is about to molt, lol.

Couldn’t get control of the mites before and changed the enc

Are you sure they were mites and not springtails? The reason I ask is because when I had a mite problem with a Scolopendra dehaani back in the day, I never found them in the water dish as I was drying out the enclosure. Springtails on the other hand will definently gravitate towards moisture as the enclosure dries.

If I’m being honest I’ve not a clue what they are just that I’d managed to go from maybe 50 in the dish to a couple now

 

[l4nsky]

If I’m being honest I’ve not a clue what they are just that I’d managed to go from maybe 50 in the dish to a couple now

You can try scratching away about a centimeter of substrate in an area and look closely. This might not work as the population has been reduced. If you recently rehoused the T and still have them, check your bag of substrate as well. When springtails are disturbed, they hop away from the perceived predator and you should be able to see them. If they're springtails, its nothing to worry about as they are a beneficial clean up crew that people will actually pay to acquire and add to their enclosures. You don't really have to worry about mites as well. The vast majority are harmless and are easily controlled by the steps you're taking and by cleaning up any boluses and uneaten food as soon as you notice them.

 

[AshAmorexo]

So the T has moulted and walked away from it, took the molt out and one of the legs has gotten stuck, feel with me drying it out over the last few weeks to bring the ‘ mite ‘ numbers down its not been humid enough for a successful molt, gutted.

 

[Polenth]

This is a good correlation is not causation moment. Scavenging mites and/or springtails were present, but it doesn't mean they caused the tarantula to be approaching a moult. You don't need to do anything special to remove them, because they don't need removing.

As for humidity, tarantulas produce the lubrication they need internally. It's drinking water that's important, not air humidity.