Dying A.genic?

[swiss]

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately this another "Is my spider dying thread!?", which we seem to have a lot of recently.

The spider in question is, as my title suggests, an A.genic. S/he is about just under an inch in legspan. I assumed that it was coming up to a moult as it refused its last feed (in fact it seemed to kill the cricket and just web over it rather than eat, kind of like it was storing it to eat later), and also seemed to have a bald spot on the abdomen (hard to tell because of its size).

Anyway, in the past 3 days it has hardly moved at all. I checked on it this morning and it was moving, however very slowly, awkwardly and not very far. Its legs seem all "out of whack" and sort of like they're mad from jelly and cant support the spider very well.

It has moulted with me once before but I didnt notice this sort of behaviour, nor have I with any of my other T's.

Does anyone know whether this is common pre-moult behaviour or does it sound like s/he 's done for?

Thanks in advance...

[atum]

Sounds a little like Diskinetic Syndrome. There seems to be quite a bit of this lately. I hope that it isn't cos theres not really a lot you can do if it is. It's the bit where you say she is having trouble supporting herself and her legs seem a bit out of whack and like jelly.

I don't know too much about it Im afraid. Someone more experienced then me should be along alter to help you out more.

[MissyBats]

I hope your A.genic is ok, I really do
lets hope she's just gonna moult!
on the arachnoboards they have a huge area about it, loads of peoples T's in USA and europe have had it, and apparently it's been dodgey crickets mainly that have then all died out, and wiped out T's...
they still aren't 100% on teh cause.
it scares me that something I feed them could harm them and kill them!
really is a worry!
do you know if the crickets you fed have been fed to other T's, and are they still alive or have loads died? (or locusts)
and if you can find out the supplier and contact them and ask if they have had any die? and then see if you can claim
where has it come from...
xxx

[Herpalist]

Just getting back to basics. I presume you have the temperature right etc? Hope it can pull through but despite our best husbandry efforts not all Slings do make it.

[swiss]

Originally Posted by atum

Sounds a little like Diskinetic Syndrome. There seems to be quite a bit of this lately. I hope that it isn't cos theres not really a lot you can do if it is. It's the bit where you say she is having trouble supporting herself and her legs seem a bit out of whack and like jelly.

I don't know too much about it Im afraid. Someone more experienced then me should be along alter to help you out more.

Yeah, I've noticed there seem to be a few cases around at the minute...and I hope to god it isn't that! However, from the videos I've seen on Dyskinetic Syndrome, it doesn't seem to resemble those symptoms. They seem to be more like the spiders legs are moving on their own and the spider has no control over the movements, even when its not attempting to walk.

My genic however seems to be moving its legs how it wants to, but its legs seem a bit crooked and flimsy when walking on them...not randomly moving on their own.

[squaddie]

If things don't get any better I would try putting her in an ICU. A.genics do need a bit of humidity to keep going.

[swiss]

Originally Posted by MissyBats

I hope your A.genic is ok, I really do
lets hope she's just gonna moult!
on the arachnoboards they have a huge area about it, loads of peoples T's in USA and europe have had it, and apparently it's been dodgey crickets mainly that have then all died out, and wiped out T's...
they still aren't 100% on teh cause.
it scares me that something I feed them could harm them and kill them!
really is a worry!
do you know if the crickets you fed have been fed to other T's, and are they still alive or have loads died? (or locusts)
and if you can find out the supplier and contact them and ask if they have had any die? and then see if you can claim
where has it come from...
xxx

I don't think I (at least I hope I don't) have one of these dodgy batches of crickets. I've got 8 other T's, all of which are fine and have been fed with the same crickets.

Originally Posted by Herpalist

Just getting back to basics. I presume you have the temperature right etc? Hope it can pull through but despite our best husbandry efforts not all Slings do make it.

Yes mate, husbandry is all fine. I have another A.genic (of similar size) that is kept in exactly the same conditions and is fine.

[swiss]

Originally Posted by squaddie

If things don't get any better I would try putting her in an ICU. A.genics do need a bit of humidity to keep going.

Seems to be moving a little more today. However, I think ICU may be the next step if things don't improve by this evening.

[Poxicator]

People attribute a number of issues they have with the tarantula to DS and quite simply its often down to something far more basic like dehydration. Of course you tell people this and that reflects on their husbandry rather than a disease we know little about. Its easy to see how this comes about by reading above

The bald abdomen has nothing to do with an upcoming moult, its suggest the T has been flicking, perhaps because of too much disturbance, a cricket left in too long or something the spider isn't comfortable with. As the temperatures are now dropping you might want to check the temperature in the enclosure, especially late at night when your home heating has cooled down. Get the temps in the late 70s. Moisten the substrate at one end and provide a clean water bowl, don't worry whether it uses it or not, just provide. Make sure there's no unwanted issues in the enclosure ie bolus, uneaten food, mould etc. Try not to disturb but keep a careful eye on it.
If you provide a pic of the set-up and T there might be something obvious to mention.

[swiss]

Unfortunately my little A .genic didn't make it.

Seems like a lot of people have been losing T's lately. This was my first sling death and boy does it suck!