2 Legs Lost

[CC_123409]

So my Chaco Golden Knee was bought by us with 2 missing legs but we didn't notice until recently. After calling the petstore, they assures us the legs would grow back after a couple of molts, usable buy smaller. I believed that and other owners saying it was no big deal, but I recently went to another pet store and the owner there said that tarantulas won't grow back limbs. Are there any experienced tarantula owners that know which side is true? And an update on my Golden Knee, she still hasn't eaten since Dec. 20th and we are starting to get worries again, as its been nearly 2 months. What is the longest tarantulas can/will go without eating in a pre molt or is this abnormal behaviour at this point? For anyone who hasn't replied to my previous thread, she is a sling about 1 1/4 inch in leg span. Also a sidenote, the enclosure is maybe a foot and a half by a foot so I think that it is way to big for her but my dad insists, even though I disagree. Thanks for reading.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Photos of which legs are missing would be helpful. Yes they will grow them back. If it's the pedipalps it may have a hard time grabbing its food...in this case you would have to prekill the prey item. Going 2 months without eating isnt too long but for a sling I may worry a little. Tank size for slings should be small so its easier to catch its prey. 6×6 enclosure would be the max I'd go for your sling. Try to get some pics up so we can see what's missing.

 

[Enn49]

Don't worry they will grow back. My adult P. metallica lost a leg during a bad moult and 2 moults later you'd never know.

 

[Arachnoclown]

2" sling in a deli cup enclosure...perfect size for a sling.

 

[Metalman2004]

They do indeed grow back. Here is my B auratum that got an injured leg when it was shipped to me. It eventually dropped the leg and had 7 legs until it molted and grew a new one. It’s replacement leg is small, but it should be close to full size on the next molt.

 

[CC_123409]

Photos of which legs are missing would be helpful. Yes they will grow them back. If it's the pedipalps it may have a hard time grabbing its food...in this case you would have to prekill the prey item. Going 2 months without eating isnt too long but for a sling I may worry a little. Tank size for slings should be small so its easier to catch its prey. 6×6 enclosure would be the max I'd go for your sling. Try to get some pics up so we can see what's missing.

The mandibles aren't missing and it is 2 of the front legs. Also, is it identifiable as a certain sex at this point? I've been hoping it's a female.

 

[Arachnoclown]

The mandibles aren't missing and it is 2 of the front legs. Also, is it identifiable as a certain sex at this point? I've been hoping it's a female.

It looks like it would be able to hunt just fine. However it looks very well fed so that's probably why it's not eating. It is probably going to molt in the near future. Make sure it's got a water dish to drink from. As for sexing it's rather small to ventral sex from a photo. If you get a good molt it can be done under magnification.

 

[CC_123409]

It looks like it would be able to hunt just fine. However it looks very well fed so that's probably why it's not eating. It is probably going to molt in the near future. Make sure it's got a water dish to drink from. As for sexing it's rather small to ventral sex from a photo. If you get a good molt it can be done under magnification.

That picture was actually from about a month and a half ago, since I didn't want to disturb her to take a newer picture. However, I found her roaming around today so thinking she was hunting, I offered her a superworm. She just let it squirm under her and what looks like bite her before she moved away, back to her den. I tried tong feeding first but after that didn't work, I slightly injured it and let it loose near her with a very close eye on it. I also have a cricket and cockroach, also smaller than her so should I try offering those next time?

 

[RonC]

Ts can go for we consider long periods without eating. Their metabolism is designed for it. Some of my slings have gone 2 months without eating. I hear of others that have gone much longer than that. My Chaco rarely will miss a meal though. I wouldn't worry too much. Try again next week. Mine just decided to come out yesterday after being in its burrow since October. It's burrow wasn't completely sealed so it did eat during that time. It left me a window in the burrow so I just kept up with it's molting and didn't feed it then or if it looked too plump. Molted at least twice over the winter. Came out twice the size it went in. First pic October and second pic yesterday

 

[Luna]

Yeah, don't let her battle scars discourage you! That's actually how my girl got her name; she was in the midst of regrowing a leg when I purchased her! I can't pick out the one that's regrown anymore