A juvenile T.blondi around 6 inches accross, fine and eating a few days ago.
Today i find a live cricket still in tank and then notice something protuding slightly from the mouth. I put into a clear box to observe her underside. she has white material in the mouth area, not like the yellowish fur like i've seen with nematodes but more white and pasty, almost like tarantula excrement, she was trying to clear this from the mouth using her fangs but to no avail. im assuming this animal has some disease and isolated her. Last month i did have a smaller blondi die, and I found mites around the mouth, not sure if that was nematodes or the mites or even someting else. since then ive been keeping all tanks dry with just a water dish, and even then removing that for days just to try and break the mite cycle.
Of course maybe it is excrement that has accidentally got there but that seems unlikely, its definitely in the central area.
A few days ago i did see the same animal with a mass of gunk below its head, i just assumed that was a munched cricket but now im beginning to wonder, incidentally the tanks smell is decidedly strong (despite recent fresh peat and also dry) and i know others have mentioned nematodes and a strange smell!!
treeweta
Today i find a live cricket still in tank and then notice something protuding slightly from the mouth. I put into a clear box to observe her underside. she has white material in the mouth area, not like the yellowish fur like i've seen with nematodes but more white and pasty, almost like tarantula excrement, she was trying to clear this from the mouth using her fangs but to no avail. im assuming this animal has some disease and isolated her. Last month i did have a smaller blondi die, and I found mites around the mouth, not sure if that was nematodes or the mites or even someting else. since then ive been keeping all tanks dry with just a water dish, and even then removing that for days just to try and break the mite cycle.
Of course maybe it is excrement that has accidentally got there but that seems unlikely, its definitely in the central area.
A few days ago i did see the same animal with a mass of gunk below its head, i just assumed that was a munched cricket but now im beginning to wonder, incidentally the tanks smell is decidedly strong (despite recent fresh peat and also dry) and i know others have mentioned nematodes and a strange smell!!
treeweta