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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MassExodus" data-source="post: 53085" data-attributes="member: 4086">Ok, well I've searched some more, I need to ask you some questions : Do you have live plants in your tank? What substrate do you use? And have you observed the GBB rubbing it's mouth on the side of the enclosure or the bottom? Or discharging liquid that hardens up into what looks like poop, from her mouth? I'm reading about "yeast" infections, believe it or not..yeast infections in spiders..and it looks like if it was bacterial, it would be oily looking, or wet looking. The closest thing I've found so far is " yeast " infections..they sound very much like what you're describing..also could you check the water dish and see if she discharged anything into it? Does she stay at the water dish? So far, a few cases I've read about resulted in the spiders death, but a few survived it as well ...but we're not certain of anything here, so don't be discouraged. Here's one link, and another is contained in the Ops post..you have a front row seat so you be the judge..<a href="http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?59650-White-crust-around-my-C.-fasciatum-s-mouth&highlight=white%20mouth%20crust" target="_blank">http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?59650-White-crust-around-my-C.-fasciatum-s-mouth&highlight=white mouth crust</a>This little research mission has brought up some interesting facts and a lot more questions. Have you heard of RIESM? They seem to be looking into this sort of thing. Here's a post by one of the members of RIESM on AB (It looks like AB is still good for something)Ian,We at RIESM want to emphasize something about the nematode in that they posess bacteria symbionts. Theprimary infection is bacterial, it is the bacteria that kills the insect orspider. The nematode is the vector that delivers the bacteria and makes a mealof the bacteriological digested tissue and the bacteria too. Without thebacteria the nematode probably can't do too much damage in a spider anddefiantly can not mature or reproduce. The relationship between the two inamazingly complex and innovative and very often deadly!Larry has isolated some very nasty bugs, fungus, yeast, bacterial etc...from mouth swabs of sick and healthy T's. The problem is we do not know what is normal and what is not normal. There have been no consistant studies in this area.RIESM will be posting another update here shortly. We have had to purchase some expensive equipment to ID these "bugs" quicker. We have also redefined what we need in terms of donations or providing assistance with sick tarantulas and I have re-vamped my autopsy lab. Its not finished but its close.As far as what you can do to help ward off problems is to always practice good husbandry techniques, keep your eyes open to changes and keep decent records. We depend on hobbyists a great deal. Heck, we (RIESM) are all hobbyists! No one person knows everything especially when talking about inverts. All observations are valid and need to be documented regardless of education or experience.KerryResearch Institute for Exotic Species Microbiology</blockquote>

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