Someone help please!!! Is it mites????

[Lady Lilith]

My GBB sling, Jewlz, is losing the hair on her abdomen. It is getting increasingly worse. I'm not sure if it is from her kicking hairs, but she is in an area away from most disturbances so I'm at a loss for what would be aggravating her to the point where she kicked them off to this degree, or if it is mites chewing at her. I've enclosed pics. Please help. I spotted some little white dot looking things, but they are not moving around at all and I've looked everywhere in her tank and saw nothing moving either in her enclosure or on her

 

[Tomoran]

I can't see anything in the T picture, but the white dots on the plants in the second photo look like feces.

 

[Lady Lilith]

I" can't see anything in the T picture, but the white dots on the plants in the second photo look like feces."

Thank you so much, Tom. I did take her out and inspected her and saw nothing. She really is very sweet. Quite docile and used to being handled so was pretty calm as I checked her out. Didn't see anything to worry about. Must just be kicking her hairs poor dear. As for what is on the plant, thank you. I didn't know what it looked like other than what's left when she's done with a cricket Thanks again, it's very nice to have you all on this site to turn to. Peace to all.

 

[Tomoran]

You're most welcome!

She sure is a beauty. Is it possible that the spot you see on her abdomen is a mirror patch? She looks in great health. I have two, and they definitely wouldn't tolerate handling...much too skittish. Still, I sure do love admiring them.

 

[Lady Lilith]

HI again Tom

I could look it up myself to be sure, but I am enjoying the dialogue and am at work anyway so web search will have to wait till I get home. What, if you please, is a mirror patch? She is around 3.5', maybe a wee bit more, LS, no where near an adult, a juvenile now though. Got her when she was but 3/4". And they are most definitely lovely to observe and can be quite fast if they want to be. I also have an LP, named Pickles, that's about 4 inches LS now. He hides in his underground burrow and I NEVER see him, but know he's alive cause there is always more substrate dragged to the surface come morning, and the crickets and roaches I toss in disappear. I've been wanting to do a good search to make sure there is nothing in his tunnel system that could attract mites and such, but I HATE the thought that A. he might be molting or pre molt, or B. I would destroy all his hard work! At any rate, what is a mirror patch and if you have pics of your GBB's I'd love to see them

 

[tcrave]

on the rump of the gbb that patch you see is whats called a mirror patch all new worlds have them. and the gbb has more of a metalic shine. your gbb is beautiful

 

[Tomoran]

Hello again!

As tcrave mentioned, it's a patch of hair on a T's abdomen that reflects light differently than the rest of the hair. It makes a little patch that is almost mirror-like. At the right angle, it can look very strange. Or, it's quite possible that your GBB has just been kicking some hair.

My LP used to burrow until about 2". She now spend most of her time on the surface. It's always best to resist the urge to dig them up when they burrow, especially if you know that they are alive and well. Many of mine will molt in their burrows, and I would never want to take the chance of interrupting that! They'll eventually come out when ready! Most Ts are also quite clean and will remove boluses and bring them to the surface. Just keep an eye out for them!

I have two juveniles, and both are around 2.75" or so. I'll post pics below!

T

 

[Lady Lilith]

Hello Tcrave. Thank you for your help And Tom your T's are lovely!!!

And they seem to have the same patch mine does! I was looking closer at her when I was checking her for mites etc., and did notice that her hair still seems to be in place, and that it wasn't a bald spot per se, but, as you said, the "skin" beneath the hair looked very different. I've never heard of a mirror patch. It worried me because with her last molt there was no patch, just all orange tiger color and that bat man like design (cool right?), and then gradually this patch evolved. I'm so glad it isn't parasites. She lives in a lovely Exo Terra Terrarium for aboreal T's 18 inches high by 12 inches wide because when I got her as a wee sling, she never wanted to stay on the ground, despite the fact that GBB's are defined as terrestrial. I provided a hide and substrate and all one should for a T, but still, up to the top of her little house she would climb and web a little hammock. She even molted in it. So, okay. I get it. You like to live in a high rise. Cool A fancy penthouse for my girl it shall be

And Thank you so much for your guidance. Just when one thinks they are starting to "know it all" about their T's, you find there is something new and remarkably interesting to learn As for Pickles, the LP, thank you also for that guidance. It is, indeed, hard to resist the urge to dig him up. Not because I want to admire him, although I kind of do to be honsest, but more because I want to make sure he's in a clean and safe environment. But, if, as you say, they are rather clean creatures and will excavate the blouses and molts from their dens then I shall let him be.

He lives in a 20 gal tank with about seven inches of substrate well packed and kept somewhat moist (but not too much as I know they prefer it a little dry) so he must be having a blast digging around down there. I know from researching that as he gets older and bigger, he will more than likely hang out in the open, not sure if even seven inches of substrate at that point would be of any help as big as they can get but for now he can have at it

Also, at what size do you think they can be sexed? I did manage to snap a few photos of Jewlz underside as I had her out, but she was on the side of a plexiglass critter keeper and it kind of blurred it. I guess I just say he and she because of their appearances One is pretty and shiny and one is big and rather rough and furry looking

I'm better at sexing scorpions anyway. I have two babies right now. Two P. Imperators about 2.5 inches long from head to telson. R. J. Dio and Lita F. Have only had adults till now. Very wonderful raising from babies and watching them grow Pics below

 

[Tomoran]

Sounds like your little one is quite pampered in her little penthouse. Ha! I give mine a bit of extra height in their enclosures compared to what I give my other terrestrials, and they also like to stay above the ground. Such an interesting (and beautiful) species.

That's the part about this hobby that I'm truly enjoying; there is always something to learn! I'm constantly reading about them or observing them as they go about their daily routines. I spend a lot of time on the forums as well, just absorbing the vast amount of information folks exchange about them. I truly feel that there will always be something to learn.

I've seen folks ventrally sex GBBS at 1.75". For my two, it was fairly easy to tell only because they were obviously different (one boy, one girl!). Personally, I still don't feel like I can accurately sex a T ventrally. Unfortunately, I think you will need some clearer pics if you want folks to take a guess.

That's awesome that you've given your LP and enclosure that allows for digging! I have a 4.5" LP female, and she digs just a little and barely uses her burrow anymore. Most times, she will sit right out in the open for everyone to see.

 

[Anthony York]

well I will take a guess from the pics but I still might be wrong but to me it looks as if it might be female can't see the slit but the first set of book lungs have a nice gap and usually female book lung are spread farther apart then a males. but like I said I no 100% on it its just a guess

 

[Lady Lilith]

well I will take a guess from the pics but I still might be wrong but to me it looks as if it might be female can't see the slit but the first set of book lungs have a nice gap and usually female book lung are spread farther apart then a males. but like I said I no 100% on it its just a guess

Hello Anthonoy. Nice to meet you. I am so very glad to hear that you think she is female. I do, too. I compared my pic to those I could find on line and it does appear to be a strong possibility. To be honest, I don't know many of us who enjoy this hobby who DON'T wish for a female, only of course because of their superior longevity in comparison to the males. We shall see in time I'm sure. Thanks for your response and your efforts.

 

[Anthony York]

no problem anytime you got question just ask if I don't say anything the day you post something will get to it a day after or so

 

[Lady Lilith]

Sounds like your little one is quite pampered in her little penthouse. Ha! I give mine a bit of extra height in their enclosures compared to what I give my other terrestrials, and they also like to stay above the ground. Such an interesting (and beautiful) species.

That's the part about this hobby that I'm truly enjoying; there is always something to learn! I'm constantly reading about them or observing them as they go about their daily routines. I spend a lot of time on the forums as well, just absorbing the vast amount of information folks exchange about them. I truly feel that there will always be something to learn.

I've seen folks ventrally sex GBBS at 1.75". For my two, it was fairly easy to tell only because they were obviously different (one boy, one girl!). Personally, I still don't feel like I can accurately sex a T ventrally. Unfortunately, I think you will need some clearer pics if you want folks to take a guess.

That's awesome that you've given your LP and enclosure that allows for digging! I have a 4.5" LP female, and she digs just a little and barely uses her burrow anymore. Most times, she will sit right out in the open for everyone to see.

HI friend Tom! I agree that the pics are a bit fuzzy. I know some folk pick their T's up at this size, abdominally pinch them or however it is said, but I'm not sure I want to do that quite yet because A. Though she is quite docile and doesn't appear to want to bite me, it's the hairs that get me. I cleaned her old webbing out after her last molt, and let me tell you! It was excruciating for about a week and a half afterwards. I was not aware that these T's use the hairs that give way to the "mirror patch" in their webbing and other places in their enclosures. Gads it was awful! So, handling is not an option for me at this point. I will wait for a while till she's bigger and I can don a pair of rubber gloves and get a mag scope and take a peek. It must be exciting having a male AND a female and observing the difference in behaviors and growth and appearance etc. And I wish Pickles was as extroverted, so to speak, as your LP. I've enclosed some pics of my critters enclosures and as you can see, Pickles has quite the hole and all I can think of when I see it is that old B & W 50's movie "Them" about the giant ants and the size of the entrances to their tunnel systems I wish I could take a peek inside for it must truly be amazing! But, as you advised and I agree, let it be. He'll make an appearance when he's ready.

 

[Lady Lilith]

The first three are of Pickles home, the fourth is my GBB Jewlz's "penthouse" with her hanging out at the top. She doesn't web as much as others and I don't know why, but, she has webbed whatever she needs I guess. The fifth is the 30 gal that the Emperor Scorpions will live in when they are a bit bigger. Right now they are only about 2.5-3 inches from head to tail and I keep them separated in those two mini critter keepers you see inside the tank. It's just easier to keep track of feeding and molting habits etc. if I keep them separated and it is DEF easier to find a species that likes to burrow as much as Emps do in a smaller enclosure The last one, with the cardboard taped around it, is my Dubia roach colony for feeding my critters. They like it dark so I taped the cardboard over it. I bought a Monsoon misting system to help with humidity but I will have to wait until I can put the scorps in the bigger tank before I can use it. I hope it works well, I've heard it usually doesn't last long. However, having some Forest scores before I obtained the Emp babies I know how hard it is to keep the humidity up just misting, two three four five a gazillion times a day so I invested in this. We shall see

 

[Lady Lilith]

no problem anytime you got question just ask if I don't say anything the day you post something will get to it a day after or so

Thank you so much

 

[Lady Lilith]

Sounds like your little one is quite pampered in her little penthouse. Ha! I give mine a bit of extra height in their enclosures compared to what I give my other terrestrials, and they also like to stay above the ground. Such an interesting (and beautiful) species.

That's the part about this hobby that I'm truly enjoying; there is always something to learn! I'm constantly reading about them or observing them as they go about their daily routines. I spend a lot of time on the forums as well, just absorbing the vast amount of information folks exchange about them. I truly feel that there will always be something to learn.

I've seen folks ventrally sex GBBS at 1.75". For my two, it was fairly easy to tell only because they were obviously different (one boy, one girl!). Personally, I still don't feel like I can accurately sex a T ventrally. Unfortunately, I think you will need some clearer pics if you want folks to take a guess.

That's awesome that you've given your LP and enclosure that allows for digging! I have a 4.5" LP female, and she digs just a little and barely uses her burrow anymore. Most times, she will sit right out in the open for everyone to see.

HI Tom Yes, all is now okay. I panicked. like most parents do their first time out. I guess he is just getting ready to molt and at the same time TOTALLY binged on the Dubias I had switched him too off the crickets. I thought his bum was going to fall off totally. lol And the scorpions have both molted, at least it seems so as they are now no longer white but back to dark brown/black and shiny shiny shiny! And I agree, I think a good misting with my Monsoon mister once a day in the morning when I turn up the heat (ceramic heater during the day at 100 W and IR at night at 50 W) is about what they need to thrive. As for my T's, Pickles, the FAT LP I was worried about, is now jet black bald bum and sitting in his web mat waiting on a molt to begin (for a little over a week now.. gads lol), and Jewlz, the GBB, has webbed a nice hammock for herself at the top of her vivarium she has occupied awaiting her own molt..

My question now, if you have any info, is to heat or not to heat? I am worried about heating with these T's, especially as juveniles getting ready to molt, because they're both species that prefer a drier environment, and I usually only keep any type of humidity from simply overpowering the water dishes for them.

However, I live in NY and winter has set in. My personal environmental room temp is never over 68, or rarely, and so I've taken to suspending an IR about 6 inches away from the T's cages and have the 8 inch dome the bulb is housed in pointed sort of away from the cage, so really all they get is the 'left over' side of the lamp's heat. What has kept me doing this for a few hours a day is the fact that when I have it on, Jewlz, the GBB, ALWAYS moves from the side of her web that doesn't get any residual heat to the side that has the most. I know most people will tell me to not heat so as not to cook my little buddies, but I can't help but feel after watching her behavior and knowing the lamp isn't shining directly into the cage, that she's seeking the heat out. 'll post a pic below.

I know the light seems bright, but I think its just the flash, and you can see Jewlz sitting as high up in her enclosure, almost pressed against the wire mesh top as much as possible and with the rest of the tank receiving no heat, or VERY much less "residual", and her able to move to a cooler spot if she needs to, the no heat isn't making sense. And you can't see it, but Pickle's web mat is right against the side of the tank that gets the little heat spot. Thoughts Tom? And thanks in advance Hope you had an enjoyable holiday