Baby tarantula stung by a tarantula wasp

[Alycia]

Hi, I found a baby tarantula that was being dragged by a black bug with red wings I read about it stings and Paralyzes the tarantula I really don't like spiders but I don't want it to die is there a way of saving it? I know nothing about spiders Sorry.

 

[Alycia]

 

[Dave Jay]

Not that I know a lot about it, but I think once stung it's too late. From what I understand once paralysed it stays that way until the wasp eggs inside it hatch. If it's still moving now I guess there might be a chance that the wasp didn't get to paralyse it fully and lay eggs, maybe it will recover if you've removed it from the wasp before the real damage was done. I really don't know, someone else may know more.

 

[Arachnoclown]

It's a host now...chances are The eggs are already inside and when they hatch they will eat the spider alive.

 

[Dave Jay]

From what I understand, not that I've looked into it much, the spider would be paralysed, dragged to a 'nest' and then the eggs are laid, so I would think that if the spider isn't paralysed the eggs would not have been laid yet. So to my thinking if the spider wasn't paralysed when she 'saved' it chances are eggs hadn't been laid. I could be wrong, but if the spider is active she might have intervened in time.

Edit - according to Wikipedia, the paralysed spider is taken to a nest and then a single egg is laid ON the abdomen of the spider. I had always thought that eggs were laid inside but apparently the larvae burrows into the abdomen after hatching.

 

[Arachnoclown]

True....Either way it's dead...the spider won't survive the paralyzing sting. It will die in a couple weeks.

 

[Arachnoclown]

If there's a hole in the abdomen the egg is already been laid. They don't always take them to a burrow. Most times its the actual tarantulas burrow the wasp uses. I've seen them lay an egg minutes after stinging the Tarantula multiple times then leave....no burrow or dragging to one.

 

[Dave Jay]

If there's a hole in the abdomen the egg is already been laid. They don't always take them to a burrow. Most times its the actual tarantulas burrow the wasp uses. I've seen them lay an egg minutes after stinging the Tarantula multiple times then leave....no burrow or dragging to one.

I'll take first hand knowledge over Wikipedia every time!

 

[Whitelightning777]

From what I understand, the egg isn't placed until it's underground. If you caught it being dragged, it was only paralysed not violated.

A few attempts to rescue have been successful. Keep it on the back and use a dropper to drop water between the fangs to keep it hydrated.

It'll take a week or two for the venom to wear off. Since spiders don't inhale or exhale to breathe, being paralysed isn't always fatal.

It's worth trying to keep it alive. If it wakes up and molts successfully, you will have a great pet and a story to tell.

 

[Tortoise Tom]

From what I understand, the egg isn't placed until it's underground. If you caught it being dragged, it was only paralysed not violated.

A few attempts to rescue have been successful. Keep it on the back and use a dropper to drop water between the fangs to keep it hydrated.

It'll take a week or two for the venom to wear off. Since spiders don't inhale or exhale to breathe, being paralysed isn't always fatal.

It's worth trying to keep it alive. If it wakes up and molts successfully, you will have a great pet and a story to tell.

I agree. The sting doesn't kill them or they'd be rotten by the time the egg hatched. And the wasp doesn't lay the egg until it gets wherever it was going. I never thought of putting the spider on its back and dropping water into its mouth, but that makes sense to me after reading it.

@Alycia ,
Spiders don't breathe through their "mouth", so there is no danger of drowning by doing this. They have book lungs down on the bottom of their abdomen, so just don't drip water down there. Please keep us posted. I'd love to know what happens!

 

[Whitelightning777]

http://atshq.org/boards/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=11149

This individual tried it with interesting results.

 

[Dave Jay]

http://atshq.org/boards/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=11149

This individual tried it with interesting results.

After reading this thread it seems there might be some hope of recovery IF the wasp didn't lay an egg.
To summarise - The Tarantula was being attacked by a wasp, was paralysed but no egg laid. Water was given by flipping the T on its back and drops applied to the fangs. Later mealworm 'guts' were applied to the fangs. The legs were moved by hand to pump fluid. After a while the T could stand and move a little and would drink water or guts by itself from a dish.
Eventually it seemed to recover fully and was sent to a new home where it lived for 6 years before dying from unknown causes.

 

[Alycia]

Not that I know a lot about it, but I think once stung it's too late. From what I understand once paralysed it stays that way until the wasp eggs inside it hatch. If it's still moving now I guess there might be a chance that the wasp didn't get to paralyse it fully and lay eggs, maybe it will recover if you've removed it from the wasp before the real damage was done. I really don't know, someone else may knows more.

The bug was dragging it somewhere but I got it away from it. I guess I'll try and see what happens. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Alycia]

It's a host now...chances are The eggs are already inside and when they hatch they will eat the spider alive.

Should I euthanize it and if so how in the freezer ?

 

[Enn49]

There have been cases where the T has survived but it is a long slow process. See http://arachnoboards.com/threads/caring-for-an-octoplegic.269103/

 

[Arachnoclown]

Good luck...i haven't been able to save one yet. My first attempt the larvae appeared 2 weeks later the other 3 times the spiders eventually passed on. Also for the record they don't always get dragged off to the nest or to the spiders burrow. Google and Wikipedia are wrong. I've seen this happen dozens of times. The only times I've seen it dragged off was into some nearby brush or into the Tarantulas burrow.

 

[Alycia]

Thank you for everyone’s help.

 

[Enn49]

Thank you for everyone’s help.

Please let us know what you decide to do?

 

[Alycia]

Please let us know what you decide to do?

I will. I just have a hard time killing anything. I think I have his sibling in my garage:/

 

[Arachnoclown]

Toss him to a larger Tarantula...Its paralyzed anyways, won't feel a thing.