Dead Avicula Metalica...

[Rebecca Carter]

Hi guys, I'm so sad. Came home from town after picking up a new up-right viv for my metalica and she was dead. Just curled up in the corner.
After examining her found her fangs/mouth to be leaking a clear fluid and some white spots on her legs.
I know about the killer bugs that are lethal to T's but she was showing no signs of this at all! Although had'nt eaten in 3 months and was getting really skinny, no matter what i gave her to eat.
Could she have been ill when I purchased her from the pet shop? I now buy all my T's from a dealer but really hate the way our local pet shop treats the T's and like 'rescuing' them from there.
I am mortified this has happened, she was wonderful.
The problem is, my partner got another avic from the shop!!!! and it has white on its leg already!!!
Can anyone help???
I'm lost
Thanx for reading
Bex
P.S Is there anywhere I can report this shop to? Silly question I know but the way they keep the T's is awful and makes me really sad.

[Elaine Ross]

Hi Bex
I have not had a problem with mites so far but came across this.

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/mites07.html

Sorry about your A. metallica. Its possible that you bought them with mites attached already. I hope you manage to sort it out.
Elaine

[Colin D Wilson]

Hi Rebecca,
If the white spots on your dead metalica aren't moving then you may have a fungal problem, there is some information on Guys site here that will offer some information.

http://giantspiders.com/ailments.html

As for the new spider showing signs of the same problem, first establish that the spots are not moving and thus determin that it is not a mite problem.
If the spots are not around the mouthparts or the book lungs then you can, very carefully, use a proprietary brand of atheletes foot powder (applied with a cotton bud) to cover lightly the infected area. I have heard it used in the past with some success.

[Rebecca Carter]

Thankyou so much Elaine and Colin...It doesnt look like the 'white' stuff is moving on this avic. Will have another close inspection of him and read the links you gave.
Can't thank you enough x

Bex