Hi, I am new to the tarantula business and I've got a question about an issue (or maybe a non-issue) with my tarantula. See the attached files, is this something I should be worried about?
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Is this some kind of infection?
- Thread starter Joakim
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Nope. It's just the patch of urticating hairs. Enjoy.
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That's where it's urticating hairs are. I feel you may need to do a bit of research on basic tarantula biology judging by the nature of the question. Not meaning that in a negative way, but it helps to know these things before you buy the animal [emoji14]
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The "gunk" you're referring to are a pile urticating hairs that have been partially brushed off. When most species with them kick off the hairs, it comes off in sort of a cloud of hairs. It's not the entire hair that comes off usually, just fragments of them. There are several different types of urticating hairs. I don't remember all of the types, but most Avicularia for example cannot kick the hairs off, they must actually be pressed into the skin, where they break off. I believe Iridopelma are the same. Then we have Ephebopus that have the hairs on the pedipalps which they flick off by rubbing them against their chelicerae.looked to me like the photos were indicating that depression in the thorax, and the gunk, for lack of a better term, in the hairs on the abdomen. nothing looks wrong to me but i'm also brand new to this
The indentation in the carapace is called the fovea, which is an internal attachment point for muscles. Hope this helps.
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Thanks Chubbs
No problem
This probably is one of the best places anyone could come to for information. I think all noobs should just bypass the caresheets and come straight here first.
