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09-05-2007, 11:09 AM
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Mexican Red Knee eating habit
Hi
I just want a bit of advice as my mexican red knee tarantula is grabbing any food that i put in for it cricket / waxworm / locust but he does not seem to kill them. Example being he will grab his food and hold it sometimes for 20 minutes but when he lets the food item go it simply walks off and is still alive the next day. He is not due to moult and otherwise is in good condition with a 8cm legspan.  
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09-05-2007, 12:40 PM
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the last time i experienced this was with a juvenile T blondi that had moulted and there was no fangs or the fangs broke off. Check that the spider has fangs and havent broken off.
__________________
"Tell me and I will forget, Show me and I will Remember, involve me and I will understand"-Confucius 450BC   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqTzgNP2BK8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qZX9Dv0AI4
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09-05-2007, 01:45 PM
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Your red knee looks to be a good size so could it just be that it is grbbing through instinct although it is not hungry.Thats the only thing i can think of at the moment.As S-M has said it could be through a lack of fangs as well.I have never seen this but i have heard of it before.
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09-05-2007, 01:47 PM
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Hi Spider_mad
I thought this might be a possibilty and upon a closer inspection the fangs are missing. When i first got this tarantula its abdomen was jet black with a big bald patch indicating it was due to moult which it did about 4 weeks later. The strange thing was that it shed again about 3 weeks after the first one but it did not show any blackening of abdomen or signs of being about to moult. I know they can regenerate their fangs at the next moult but will this be a full size set or does it take a few moults for the fangs to fully regenerate. What are my options regarding his care as does he need his fangs for eating or just to kill the prey. Any advice would be appreciated
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09-05-2007, 01:53 PM
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I have heard how keepers actually hand feed spiders that have lost fangs so they dont starve. I have not had experience myself doing this but I think Maty Walters has so give her a pm and she will give you advice. Although some spiders can go through monthes without food just ensure that there is water. I have a Brachy bohemei (mexican beauty) and he hangs upside down on the exo terra using his fangs to hold onto the plastic mesh lid. I always worry that they will break off.
__________________
"Tell me and I will forget, Show me and I will Remember, involve me and I will understand"-Confucius 450BC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqTzgNP2BK8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qZX9Dv0AI4
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09-05-2007, 02:32 PM
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yes Mary the hand feeding queen, i'm sure her last fangless rescue was a T blondi?, i'm sure she will offer you the right advise wheh she see's this thread..mabey even send her a pm....
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10-05-2007, 08:52 AM
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Don't get any better advice than that from Mary
 She's a darlin'! I'm sure she'd be more than happy to help..Yea Nicky, she had that huge blondi that didnt have any fangs... and she fed it and kept it alive for months i believe? Good ol' Auntie Mary!
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11-05-2007, 12:00 PM
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they will regenerate with the next moult but it is a tough job when all it can do is drink water and there is the option of picking it up and hand feeding it. As I say there are a couple people who have dealt with this problem and they will give you advice how to do this.
__________________
"Tell me and I will forget, Show me and I will Remember, involve me and I will understand"-Confucius 450BC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqTzgNP2BK8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qZX9Dv0AI4
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