Worried about white spots on abdomen

[astraldisaster]

I've noticed my Chaco being pretty lethargic lately; she never moves from her designated spot, wedged between the top of her hide and the lid of her enclosure. She was eating great when I got her about a month ago, but hasn't touched a cricket in the past few weeks. She doesn't appear to be in premolt as far as I can tell, since her "bald spot" is still quite pink with no hint of black.

I decided to handle her a bit tonight to see how she reacted, and she let me flip her over on my palm...which is when I noticed this:

Any idea on what it could be? I wasn't too worried about her behavior before, but now I'm mildly freaked over those mysterious spots.

Also...I'm assuming it's a she since that's what it was sold to me as, but if it appears I'm wrong please let me know.

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

She looks female to me. Those white patches are nothing to worry about. I'm pretty sure that they are urticating bristles. She sounds like she is in premolt. They can quit eating quite some time before the patch turns dark. The dark abdomen is the last indicator of an upcoming molt; loss of appetite and lethargy are some of the first. Nice T!

 

[curiousme]

What kind of texture do the spots have? Are they bare spots, fuzzy spots, smooth spots, shiny spots......

My first thought is poo, but can't really tell from the pics. Or like Audrey said, urticating hairs.

 

[esotericman]

Often a new home will induce a molt. I don't have a reason for it, but I've seen it too many times to ignore it. More than likely, as already posted, it's pre-molt. I see nothing to indicate anything other than normal "hair" loss.

Relax, let it be for a month, I wouldn't even feed it, then if something hasn't changed, repost.

 

[astraldisaster]

Thanks, guys. Sorry I couldn't get a better photo, but my cell phone doesn't do so great in my dim apartment at night.

Now that I think about it, the spots did look more like missing hair than a fungus or anything; I've just never noticed anything similar on my other Ts, probably because of differences in coloration. There is a (much clearer) photo of another Chaco in the T Sexing gallery that appears to have very similar spots, so I do think it's probably just lost hair.

I'll leave her alone for the time being. I just hope that when she does decide to molt, she doesn't pick her favorite spot on top of her hide...it doesn't seem like there would be enough room there. Should I take it out once she goes into heavy premolt (darkened abdomen), or should I just trust her to know what she's doing?

 

[Kris-wIth-a-K]

youre over thinking things lol. Its looks like nothing to me really..

 

[astraldisaster]

I guess I had a moment of paranoia, haha. Oh well, I'd rather get freaked over nothing than not notice something important.

 

[curiousme]

Trust the tarantula.

 

[AgainstAllGods]

Well mine has a white spot but it's much bigger

 

[AgainstAllGods]

Same MO

Doesn't seem to leave her hide, for a week she webbed herself into her hide. I have had her for about a month and a half, first half I observed her cruising around every day webbing here and there in four different spots and perhaps she's not cruising around as much because she's got herself a nice comfortable spot but I've also not seen here actively feed and now the white spot is thrown into the mix so I'm just trying to be vigilant with her safety and well being with my likely unnecessary concern

 

[Nightstalker47]

I've noticed my Chaco being pretty lethargic lately; she never moves from her designated spot, wedged between the top of her hide and the lid of her enclosure. She was eating great when I got her about a month ago, but hasn't touched a cricket in the past few weeks. She doesn't appear to be in premolt as far as I can tell, since her "bald spot" is still quite pink with no hint of black.

I decided to handle her a bit tonight to see how she reacted, and she let me flip her over on my palm...which is when I noticed this:

Any idea on what it could be? I wasn't too worried about her behavior before, but now I'm mildly freaked over those mysterious spots.

Also...I'm assuming it's a she since that's what it was sold to me as, but if it appears I'm wrong please let me know.

Has she been dragging her abdomen on the ground? It could be what those spots are from.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Well mine has a white spot but it's much bigger

This is a first for me, never seen a growth on a T like that. Could it be guts from a feeder that dried over time?

 

[AgainstAllGods]

Has she been dragging her abdomen on the ground? It could be what those spots are from.

She's been in her hide, closed up with web. Never seen her on the ground since I've had her only glass, cork bark, and moss

 

[boina]

Well mine has a white spot but it's much bigger

Maybe you want to make your own thread - you might get more replies. The white spot on your Avic does not look the same as the white spots on the pulchripes - actually I think your Avic might have a cyst, but it's a bit hard to tell from the pics.

 

[Nightstalker47]

She's been in her hide, closed up with web. Never seen her on the ground since I've had her only glass, cork bark, and moss

You quoted my reply to the other user, I said that I don't know what's going on with that cyst like malformity, hope for your sake she molts out of it.

 

[AgainstAllGods]

Maybe you want to make your own thread - you might get more replies. The white spot on your Avic does not look the same as the white spots on the pulchripes - actually I think your Avic might have a cyst, but it's a bit hard to tell from the pics.

I would have made a post but when I first joined everyone made a big deal about reading previous posts and not posting all kinds of threads people have been posting a hundred times already. I'll go ahead and do that right now

The white does not seem to be protruding