Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Pets without Feathers => Topic started by: scabs on August 26, 2009, 16:51
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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.
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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 :)
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Would you not be able to dampen any remaining bits after you have cut the main part off?
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Found this page that gives some advice about incomplete moult. In first aid paragraph.
http://www.petdirectory.com.au/?page=directory&country=all§ion=8&ldoc=8015
Hope it's ok.
Rob 8)
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Oh i hope she'll be ok, scare me to death and glad you didn't post a pic :)
Good luck :)
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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. :(
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YEH!!!! great i'm glad she is ok, you had me worried then :unsure:: (all this in a a very nervy voice) I keep thinking a picture of her is going to pop up at any second :ohmy:
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so pleased for you and her (even if they do frighten me :D).
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Good news Scabs -- you know I love your spideys :D :D
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:D
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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.
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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.
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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 :wacko:
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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:
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Funny but that is the 1st picture in a post i havent clicked on to make it bigger! :blink: :lol:
Debbie
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They get to a certain size and they just stop seeming like spiders, if you know what I mean.
I wouldn't try to pet her, mind, she's a bit stroppy. :lol:
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I can't get the picture??? Shame :tongue2:
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Lovely, 20cm though, thats a fair size. Not sure my hubby would go that far, new turkeys, chooks, cats and even donkeys but spiders :nowink: ::)
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why did i read this post :lol: as soon as i read it i was shaking an feeling sick and yes i avoided the pic :lol:
some ppl are just soooooooooooooo brave heheheheheh i missed out on dating a guy who seemed really nice cause he owned spiders :ohmy:
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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:
You are right, he is magnificent :D
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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:
She is a very beautiful girl!!!!! WOW!!!!
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Just found a pic of my red knee! :)
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Lovin those hairy legs :ohmy: :D truly, that spider is gorgeous ;)
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Think I prefer the one in black Evening Dress. :)
You've never thought of trading em in for a cat?
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Got one of those too!
Hamster x 1
Goldfish x 2
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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...
Lol i love that you spider is called viv - funnily enough my mother is called viv too.....
Anyway, i have always wanted a tarantula but my mum was scared of spiders when i lived at home, then i wasn't allwoed pets at uni, and now my better half is terrified of them too! I keep trying to explain that it would be a very educational pet for our little boy, but he is having none of it :(
I'll get my own way eventually though, i always do!!! :lol:
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Um... actually, the spider is called Sidney. Viv was short from vivarium! :D
Anyway, get one! Every home should have a tarantula.
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My brother, aged 13, discovered that the person in charge of the national tarantula society lived in our home town and thought this was a good idea.
At that point mum decided to give in to his former pleas to have a dog :lol:
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:lol: :lol:
I would love for my boy to have a Tarantula but my DD would freak. So, I think he may get some sort or Lizard instead. I need to do lots of research first but have until his birthday (4th Dec) to do it ;)
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My brother, aged 13, discovered that the person in charge of the national tarantula society lived in our home town
I know them. :) Well, I haven't been in touch for nearly a dcecade, so I guess I KNEW them. :blush:
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as they say some people look like their pets :D :D
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Watch it.
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Glad to hear the spiders OK mate.
My Dad has always kept spiders so we got used to them as kids. We had a Red-knee that died at about 12 years! Was massive when she died.
I can't have them as my Wife is petrified of them (although she does alright when we visit my mum and dad.....).
Dad currently has three - 2 Mexican red Knees and a colombian Bird eater.
Great pets!
Probably teaching you to suck eggs, but if they do get cut then you can make a paste out of flour and water and apply that. Works a treat.
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Not heard that before... I'll remember it, cheers!
Is your dad a member of the BTS? If so, I've probably met him way back!
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He was a member way back but we moved to Germany in about 1991 and lived over there a few years, when we got back he never bothered getting back in touch to be honest.
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Yeah, it's possible that I may have met him... I was a member from 1990 until about 95.
Germany, eh... Big on Ts over there, they are.
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Think you would have joined just as he was leaving - he didn't get to any meets in '90, was a bit busy!
Didn't realise they were that nuts about spiders in Germany, well no more than over here?
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Hi, So I've seen my hens eat the odd spider - a weird wee black one on Sunday - but I think Princess Laya would run the other way if faced with Sydney! Good luck.
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What do you feed em on, Scabs . . mice ?
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lovely spiders scabs - got a bit of a soft spot for them - we had a lot at one time, used to raise baby ones for a bloke in scotland and then ship them back when they were a bit older - took hours to feed them and used to get hatchling crickets in the post and have to use a insect tube sucky thing to pick them up- not good when you get one in the mouth. Had some cobalt blue babies that were a devil to feed - the minute you opened the film pot they would be out crawling over you and they jumped too - used to leave them til last - had a few escape when feeding time was up.............. fascinating to watch the moulting process whcih is the point of my reply but thought i would share the spider history with you as well will get hubby to dig out some pics, got some nice ones of a moult happening too
we had a spider fall once (was climbing up the side of the viv, landed on a peice of bark awkwardly and start to 'bleed' - we covered the wound with some cornflour - no need for water as the haemolyph fluid blends with it and it dries to form a crust - removed at the next moult if not before - but it does make the spider look a little like an iced bun for a bit..............
glad yours is ok, a spray during a moult always helps
i love the red knees after a moult the colours are so rich
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couple of pics of me Dads current crop for you Scabs:
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/Bluedave78/P1190650.jpg)
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh138/Bluedave78/P1190653.jpg)
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Lovely ;) What do they eat???
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What gorgeous spideys Bluedave.
Did laugh at the image of the iced bun though :lol: :lol:
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Lovely ;) What do they eat???
ours used to eat crickets, they came in the post :lol: :lol: :lol:
our german shepherd dog gemma was a right toad tho - she loved crickets and on a few occaisions decided to bust open the plastic tub they came in :blink:- crickets everywhere for weeks, chirping under the fridge with her going nuts for them :lol: ::)
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mmmmm you see this is my problem, 9 year old son would love a Spider or Lizard, he loves animals and insects but there lies the problem you see he WONT :mad: feed an insect or animal dead or alive. He just cant get his head around it. This is a boy that got upset when daddy tried to kill a huge hornet the other day :ohmy: I had to explain what evil b******* they are and that they are killing the lovely bees etc. he understood but still got upset cos a living creature was going to be killed. I knew I had taught him well about not killing things but hornets are a tad extreme (them and wasps) are about the only thing I will kill but if I can shoo a wasp out of the house rather than kill it I will ::) :wacko:
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Your son sounds like a Buddist in the making, you never know if you'll come back as a hornet! lol
Yep, me Dad feeds them crickets mostly - we used to collect grass hoppers in the summer when I lived at home (a long long time ago!) occasionally they have taken moths and worms as well but it depends on the individual spider. Worms is great to watch, just like spaghetti :ohmy: :D
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Sorry, not checked the thread.
Tode and Jellyhead: Sidney eats locusts and (if I can get them) pinkies. Garfield, the red knee, eats crickets.
What else was there..? Erm...
Jellyhead: your lad sounds like a good 'un!
Dave: Loving your dad's Ts, mate!
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Right that's it, my bi-annual visit to Cowes is now cancelled. Can't go near those big things, Contamination curtains are now called down. If your parents can0t come east I can't go to Cowes! :D
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Thanks Scabs 8) So, in your opinion, what if anything, could I get him to keep in his bedroom, that he can handle, albeit only a little, that is vegetarian ???
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The obvious one that spring to mind is a young tortoise...
Plus points: Hardy if looked after properly, veg eater, long-lived so will be in the family forever!, lovely little characters, generally fine with being handled.
Downside: Expensive, needs proper viv conditions, will outgrow tank over time, need constant care in terms of cleaning out, feeding and fresh water provision, as well as vitamin provision; long-lived and therefore a commitment.
An Iguana or Water Dragon are cheaper and have similar for and against points...
I'd take a trip to your nearest exotic pet store and let the lad have a look around, chat with the staff and see what he thinks...
Last time I went, they had Pygmy Hedgehogs. Super expensive but so beautiful - good job I'm skint! :lol:
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luckily I dont have the same access to stores like that here ;) however, how bizarre, a lady I know that fosters cats and dogs for a rescue org. also breeds tortoises. She had loads of youngsters there when I went to see her and oddly enough I emailed her this morning to see if she was going to sell/rehome any of them as a good friend of mine (very responsible animal person) has wanted a tortoise for years and I wanted one (or more) as a 40th present for her... I am waiting for her reply. However, I think he would prefer and Iguana or Water Dragon, can you recommend a good book or website as I NEVER take anything on unless I know how to look after it PROPERLY :D
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How about an African Grey, Jellyhead ?
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what about fish?
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Tode: HIGH aintenance, take it from one who knows! :D
Dave: Bit dull for a young un..
Jellyhead: Too many to list, but a good google will give you all you need to know! ;)
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Regards African Greys, I dont like birds in cages, never have done, also just got a new customer for Parrot food, she breeds African Greys and sells them cheaper than the shops ;) for 950 euros :ohmy: :nowink:
We also kept Tropical fish and aquatic frogs before we moved out here, loved them but wouldnt keep them again....she says ???
So, thanks for the suggestions and perhaps I will google some things and also check out supplies of foodstuff for when we do get something. Will keep you all posted............ meanwhile gonna post some piccies of the baby Guinea Pigs, born last night I think :D
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:)
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Jellyhead: you don't have to keep em locked in prison ;)
And you can't talk to a tortoise (or a tarantula). Well, I s'pose you could, but he wouldn't answer back :D
The price is a bit b*m-tightening though. All animals are expensive, now though.
Costs less to get married :lol: :lol:
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Some tortoise prices are edging toward parrot prices, it's scary. Those hedgehogs were nearly £300 a pair... :ohmy:
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just had reply, she wants 75 euros each tortoise :D
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That's pretty reasonable, what species?
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:wacko: not a scooby, they were very cute when I saw them though ;)
However, back to son. Spoke to my niece earlier as she has kept Iguanas, Skinks and Ghekos. I shall research places to buy, prices food and check with my vet that he can cope :unsure: and then when she comes she can explain about keeping them to Josh and we will take it from there.Jellyhead: you don't have to keep em locked in prison ;)
No, very true, but when you have 13 cats and 5 dogs (2 bigguns) its a bit risky :lol: :lol:
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En effet ! :lol: :lol: