Worried my T abdomen impacted, what should I do?

[poodude289]

I'm new to the hobby and thought I had enough substrate to compensate for any potential falls. My 1.25" G. Pulchra has either a wet spot or a pre-molt spot on top of its abdomen and I can't tell perfectly because its hiding in its home and all I can do is look with my red flashlight.

I've noticed signs of pre-molt, but it looks like a wet spot to me that could be from an impaction. Signs I've noticed of potential pre-molt are - It's stopped eating, it's been hiding a lot, (it was already knew to the enclosure a few weeks ago), and it recently tried barricading its home. I am hoping that these earlier signs mean that my inexperience mean that I'm mistaking a "wet spot" for a pre-molt sign.

I've seen its legs sticking outside of its home though so Idk if it that means that it actually isn't pre-molt or not. Should I lift its home to get a proper look and take a picture, or just pray and leave it alone? It's still reacting and running away.

 

[poodude289]

Chatgpt says -

Red light distorts color perception and detail, especially with slings. What looks like "wet" could just be:

• A darkening bald spot where urticating hairs have been kicked off
• The typical pre-molt darkening phase (black and shiny beneath the skin)

I'm really hoping this is the case, I already panicked and added more substrate.

 

[poodude289]

I can't take a picture without moving its hide, so someone needs to make a judgment call for me.

 

[poodude289]

I feel really bad because I made the wall it created pointless by adding more substrate.

 

[poodude289]

Idk if this is only for impaction regarding food, but I didn't see any white spots or anything like that near its spinnerets.

 

[poodude289]

I saw a shiny dark spot, that's all I know.

 

[Ratmosphere]

If you are concerned, remove from the hide and investigate.

 

[poodude289]

If you are concerned, remove from the hide and investigate.

Even if I did I wouldn't know what to do, but I would think logically speaking with the things I've seen it's probably more likely a pre-molt patch rather than a fall impact?

 

[Ratmosphere]

If you think it is pre-molt, then leave it be.

 

[poodude289]

If you think it is pre-molt, then leave it be.

I will say it's localized to one small spot and doesn't look like it's leaking down like blood or something

 

[Ratmosphere]

Without pics, it's hard to tell what is going on.

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

Ratmosphere is quite correct. It's hard to know what's happening without a pic. Sounds like pre molt and I hope that is all.

 

[poodude289]

Ratmosphere is quite correct. It's hard to know what's happening without a pic. Sounds like pre molt and I hope that is all.

I noticed at 5 AM and it's 5 Pm now, I'd think if it had ruptured it would probably be dead by now. To my untrained eye it was likely just a pre-molt spot if I combine the other things I saw.

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

I noticed at 5 AM and it's 5 Pm now, I'd think if it had ruptured it would probably be dead by now. To my untrained eye it was likely just a pre-molt spot if I combine the other things I saw.

Tarantulas are tough critters and I hope it is just pre molt! Happy Spoodering!!

 

[x_raphael_xx]

I'm new to the hobby and thought I had enough substrate to compensate for any potential falls. My 1.25" G. Pulchra has either a wet spot or a pre-molt spot on top of its abdomen and I can't tell perfectly because its hiding in its home and all I can do is look with my red flashlight.

I've noticed signs of pre-molt, but it looks like a wet spot to me that could be from an impaction. Signs I've noticed of potential pre-molt are - It's stopped eating, it's been hiding a lot, (it was already knew to the enclosure a few weeks ago), and it recently tried barricading its home. I am hoping that these earlier signs mean that my inexperience mean that I'm mistaking a "wet spot" for a pre-molt sign.

I've seen its legs sticking outside of its home though so Idk if it that means that it actually isn't pre-molt or not. Should I lift its home to get a proper look and take a picture, or just pray and leave it alone? It's still reacting and running away.

Do you mean impaction as in constipation? Or an injury from an impact?

Impaction would be at the butt by the spinnerettes, and by the time its detected is usually too late to do anything.
An impact injury I think would be a lot more obvious. Tarantula blood is a clear/whitish fluid.

If its just a darkened spot in the fur at the back of the abdomen, it would be a pre-molt.

 

[poodude289]

Do you mean impaction as in constipation? Or an injury from an impact?

Impaction would be at the butt by the spinnerettes, and by the time its detected is usually too late to do anything.
An impact injury I think would be a lot more obvious. Tarantula blood is a clear/whitish fluid.

If its just a darkened spot in the fur at the back of the abdomen, it would be a pre-molt.

I meant injury from falling, it was a darkened spot and it's still alive so.