Diseases.

In connection with weak studies of diseases and small practice of treatment amongst tarantula spiders lets only briefly stop for main moments, in accordance with most often met diseases of tarantulas in captivity and that actions, which every keeper can operatively realize at home to avoid a tarantula death.

Remember that in most cases as a result of diseases, regrettably, tarantulas usually dies. So You should strictly follow the main requirements and conditions of keeping tarantulas in captivity, be observant and not to show negligence when referencing with them, not to allow tarantula to fallen ill and not to cause its damage!

А. Dehydration. 

One of the most wide-spread diseases amongst tarantulas in captivity - dehydration.

If during several days You have noticed that tarantula often sits over the water bowl or is shipped in it, that, sooner whole this signs that spider is kept too dryly. This also means that under nearest molting there are great probability of its disadvantageous processing, losses of its limbs, damages of tarantula tissues, which all as a result can brings tarantula to die.

Raise a moisture of air by the way of regular misting the terrarium, moistening a substratum and keep a check on that water bowl will always pervaded with fresh water.

If spider is weakenned, unable by itself to move and drink it is necessary to conduct the follow necessarying procedure: by force place the tarantula for about one hour time in a bowl with water as so cheliceras and anterior part of tarantula`s prosoma directly touch with water. Herewith necessary constantly to check situation, since it is impossible to allow a water entering the tarantula lungs and if spider continues to drink, leave its for more long time. Specified procedure must be repeated within a few days. At improvement of condition of spider, it is translated in constant terrarium with obligatory presence of big bowl with water. Through several days him can be offered a food. 

B. Tissues damage.

The other wide-spread reason of tarantula death in captivity - damages of body tissues, and particularly breakups of abdomen as a result of falls from terrarium walls on hard and sharp objects (stones, used as decorative elements) or from hands on a floor. Also damages of tarantula body tissues happens as a result of bites of crickets.

Beside such popular species as Brachypelma albopilosa, usually large specimens, noted formation of such a kind of «hernia», that in consequence as a result of overfeeding and keeping on hard substratum can cause a breakup of covers of tarantula abdomen during the molt (S. and М. Schultz, 1998).

It is single that possible to undertake in such cases – to salve overhand the damaged area with fine layer of vaseline to stop the hemolimph bleeding and place a tarantula in sterile box for further observation of him.

There are advices also meets In literature to dust the damaged area by wheat flour and impose over the wound with coverring piece of fine rice or toilet pape.

It is recommended regular to spread the wound with antibiotic ointment (neomicinum). In any case it is not advisable to use for that purpose iodine, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, since there is high probability of poisoning tarantula exists.

If You were in luck (but really a tarantula itself) and spider will stay alive, that some obvious further problems, connected with molting will appear, but unfortunately in most cases a specimen dies.

In each such event, either as at treatment of any other diseases of tarantulas, it is possible to find some other measures, since is better try to find a way to heal a tarantula even this ends with his death when simply sitting, be idle, and stake out to his death.

C. Parasites.  

At keeping tarantula in captivity in conditions of overweening moisture and dampness under bad ventilation in terrarium appears mites in enourmous amounts. Hitherto is not stated does they parasitise on spider or not, but several real dangers in accordance with it exists.

The first is concluded in that mites being settled directly on tarantula, disturb him and may cause the "stress". As a result of this spider can cease to take food, his organism become weakened.

At duplication of mites in enourmous amounts they are able to get into tarantula book-lungs and oral hole and hereunder cause its death.

In the case of finding the mites in terrarium (it is necessary to take into account that they most activity can shown at night time), in ground and on its surface, on decorative elements tec. follows immediately to move the tarantula from terrarium and neatly remove mites from its body with a soft brush. Under greater amount of mites for removing them from tarantula body is possible to use a weak soapy solution or vaseline, which are afterwards washed off with clean water. Herewith is necessary to avoid the water hitting a spider lungs.

Since such way of processing will most certainly cause a tarantula "stress" it is necessary to show caution not to be bitten by powerful tarantula chelicera (in the same situation a dog also can bit its master).

After the processing tarantula fits in terrarium without substratum and any decorative elements, in which is installed only the water bowl and coverture, if required. Such mode is necessary to bear during one-fortnight, while You do not make sure that tarantula is definitively saved from mites.

Old terrarium and all its decorative elements, as well as any covertures must be desinfected, substratum - removed.

The similar procedure is recommended if maggots of very small flies of dark colouration settling in wet terrarium substratum (flies themselves is possible to notice being flying in terrarium or around it), which often meet also in soil of hothouses and potted plant cultures as a result of their overwatering.

To avoid appearances of abore-mentioned and some other problems is necessary to keep a check on purity in tarantula terrarium, in time remove tarantula droppings and remainders of food, provide a terrarium with good ventilation, as well as periodically completely change the substratum.
 
In conclusion of this section lets note that wild-caughted tarantulas characterized being contaminated of different round, flat worms, as well as other parasitic organisms, diagnostics which while, regrettably, is not elaborated, and such tarantulas is often perished "without visible reasons".

On that and some other causes is reasonable to buy for home keeping a captive bred tarantulas.

All wild-caughted tarantulas must be quarantined within one-two months.
.

to the top