Tarantula ilnesses/ailments.

[Joules]

Hello - I'm new here and hoping someone can advise me.

My son (9 yrs old) had his first tarantula spiderling (a grammastola rosea) as a present last Xmas, then bought a second spiderling (brachypelma smithii) in March. We've followed all the guidelines and as far as we can tell both spiders were happy, and they've both shed several times without any problems.

When we came downstairs this morning we found the brachypelma on her back in her tank. I know this normally means she's preparing to moult, but she last shed on September 2nd, and up to yesterday was happily eating crickets and climbing the rear wall of her tank. We've done nothing out of the ordinary (I don't use any chemicals near the spider tanks, it's a no-smoking house, and the heat and humidity are as normal). She's still upside down and not moving at all (it's now 11 hours since we first found her like that), her legs have sunk down towards the substrate a little, and her abdomen looks greyish and a little wrinkled.

Can anyone tell us if she's likely to still be alive, and make any suggestions as to what can possibly have happened? The other spider is fine (they've both been eating the same batch of crickets).

Thanks in anticipation
Joules Taylor

[DBaines]

My guess is she is about to molt if they are dead they usually have their legs curled up underneath with the spider the right way up. as for time between molts i have some spiderlings molt as soon as 2 weeks. This is when i used to power feed them wich i no longer do.
You will probably get up in the morning and find it has a nice new coat

Keep us informed please on the outcome.
All the best.
Darren

[Joules]

Many thanks for the speedy reply. I'll keep an eye on her and see what happen.

Thanks, and fingers crossed!
Joules

[Joules]

Well, she's still upside down, she hasn't moved, there's no indication that she started shedding, and her legs are now almost completely flat against the substrate. We've opened the tank and gently touched her toes, but there's no reaction at all. It's been well over 48 hours now - is there any chance that she's still alive?

Thanks in anticipation
Joules

[Graeme Wright]

it may be possible that she has had a bad moult and is indeed dead. Just keep an eye on it and if it starts to smell or crawl with mites then it most definitly is dead.

I've never herd of a T taking 48 hours to shed after rolling on it's back.

Regards

G Wright

[Joules]

The spider is definitely dead. Still not sure what happened - it didn't look like she'd started shedding when I turned her over. Terribly sad, she was a beautiful little thing and we were all very fond of her.

Thanks for your help, folks
Joules

[DBaines]

Hi Joules
Sorry for your loss it sounds as if it may have started to moult and the humidity may have been to low for a while before it fliped over and caused molting probs. the other thing is is how tall is the enclosure it is in as it may have fallen from the top and possibly damaged itself just another idea.
I hope this has not put you off keeping Tarantulas and may you have many years of pleasure from your G rosea.

[Joules]

I wondered about a fall myself. The tank isn't that tall, but she was still quite small...

Thanks for the sympathy - and no, it hasn't put us off. I used to be terrified of spiders, but since we've had the tarantulas that's all changed. They're amazing creatures, and very beautiful. We'll leave it for a while and then see about getting another: in the meantime the g. rosea (whose name is Rosa - my son's choice) is in fine form. I will keep a closer check on the humidity, though, just to be on the safe side.

Cheers and thanks
Joules