- Joined
- Nov 13, 2010
- Messages
- 57
HI everyone! It's been awhile since i've been on here. I have a small dilema. My AF N. coloratovillosus molted a couple weeks ago and her fangs got stuck. I had been keeping a close eye on her because she had a bad molt last time and I had to pluck and clip away quite a bit of exuvium that remained in between her abdomen and carapace. It was inot allowing her to move freely. She was fine afterwrds but I was worried about this molt going bad. I knew she was in trouble because all her legs were out but I couldn't see her fresh fangs. Closer inspection with a good flashlight revealed they were still encased. I immediately got worried since the fangs usually shed before pulling the legs. I left her go for awhile hoping she'd get them out but after about an hour she hadn't made any more progress and was actually flinching as if she was panicking. I made a really risky decision to carefully lift her out ad see if I could help free her fangs. I know alot of you will frown upon that but I was afraid she'd die if I didn't try. And I knew I could kil her as well, Damned if I do...damned if I don't. Anyway I tapped on her chelicerae and could tell they were the old dry and unshed. I was able to crack them open and saw the new chelicerae beneath. I kept going until I had her fangs out however they seem way underdeveloped and deformed. One sticks straight out and I don't think she has use of the other. Other than that I thought she would pull through so I left her alone for awhile. She seems fine and moves around fine...thank goodness. Now after my long winded story my last concern is her eating. I realize Ts have survived well without fangs and some TLC. I was hoping she would regain use of at least the one but I think it is frozen. It's bee two weeks since she molted so I tried feeding her. She always had a nasty temperment and would slap and extend her fangs so I put a wiggly mealworm right under her fangs hoping she'd extend the one but nothing. I then cut the mealworm and squeezed it with my feeder tongs to get the goop. Then I lifted her up with another set of tongs beneath her front legs and deposited the goop in her mouth. Amazingly she seems ok with me doing this. If that's what I have to do I will but now I'm worried about her next molt...lol