[scabs]

I know most of you hate spiders, but my young Mexican Red Knee started a moult last night and I found her this morning with the old skin still attached to the underside of her abdomen, so she is lugging it around beneath and behind her.

This is very very bad. 

If I try to remove it, I could split her abdomen and she'll bleed to death (spider cuts do not heal), if I leave it on, she'll most likely die of shock.

I'm gutted...

There's not much vets can do as very few around here will entertain one, believe it or not (Can't afford their prices anyway). What I may have to do is pop her in the fridge and wait for her to 'shut down', remove her and try to quickly get as much of the old skin off her as carefull as possible before she come to... if indeed she does.

I was delighted yesterday as Sidney (my monster spider) had shed a few days ago and it was great that they had synchronised.

Bum.

[oddpaws]

I have to say eeeewwwww tarantular :blink: firstly and secondly my dark side says what a great pet to keep.
Sorry to hear about the skin shedding thing tho.
So do they sort of semi hibernate when really cold ?
Let us know how it goes with the skin removing, I dont hate spiders they just scare the living c**p outa me

[joyfull]

Would you not be able to dampen any remaining bits after you have cut the main part off?

[poultrygeist]

Found this page that gives some advice about incomplete moult. In first aid paragraph.

http://www.petdirectory.com.au/?page=directory&country=all&section=8&ldoc=8015

Hope it's ok.

Rob

[kitkat]

Oh i hope she'll be ok, scare me to death and glad you didn't post a pic
        Good luck

[scabs]

Thanks guys.

As it happens, I gave the viv a good spray this morning in the hope that I could dampen the old skin off, but didn't hold out much hope as the old skin had already hardened...

Seems to have done the trick though, I got home and she had sorted herself out - I even have a complete shed skin spread out and drying on the shelf!  

I may have been panicking slightly as this has happened before to another of my spiders with terminal reults.  

[matilda duck]

YEH!!!!   great i'm glad she is ok, you had me worried then  : (all this in a a very nervy voice)  I keep thinking a picture of her is going to pop up at  any second

[joyfull]

so pleased for you and her (even if they do frighten me  ).

[sunshineband]

Good news Scabs -- you know I love your spideys 

[scabs]

 

[Debz]

I know that our snakes have a problem shedding if they get too dry and a bit of damping down ususally helps.  Looks like it is the same for the spiders too.

[oddpaws]

Glad it all turned out ok, good job you had some experience with it I guess. So many people take on these unusual pets and dont know what is required to look after them. I suppose that goes for any animal really though.

[Jellyhead]

glad shes ok, I would love to see a few piccies of your spiders, they sound lovely only reason I never kept em was being wussy about the feeding

[scabs]

This isn't my Red Knee, but here's Sidney (the big 'un). She's a Salmon Pink Bird Eating Spider and has a legspan of about 20cm. She also recently moulted, this is an older pic of her, and looks magnificent.

I was looking on the Spider Store and was sorely tempted by a Mexican Blonde... the first Tarantula I ever had, way back in 1989! I have a tank, I have PayPal funds... Hmmmm....

Anyway, Sidney:

[chickenlady]

Funny but that is the 1st picture in a post i havent clicked on to make it bigger!  :blink: 

Debbie