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GBB sling lost a leg T_T

RedCapTrio

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SOS! So my gbb was spinning around this afternoon like a dog trying to catch its tail. At first it was funny, I mean it's the darndest thing!

However, after the gbb settled down, one of its legs is left at its webbing. What or why did that happen? There are no ants or mites in the enclosure, made sure of it. Currently, the sling is sitting still. It has been refusing food for the past couple of days so I thought it was in premolt. I lost the leg after I got it with my forceps and before I can take a picture of it (my 3yo son is suspect but is not speaking ^_^).

Please help guys, need your opinion and experience as I am at a loss as to what to do with it. Thanks.

:(
 
Enn49

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It sounds as though it's got its foot stuck in the web somehow. The leg will grow back in a moult or two
 
MassExodus

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I've never seen this happen to a spider in it's enclosure..wow. Thanks for adding to my paranoia o_O So he must have been purposely detaching his leg when he got it stuck...or do you think he was just panicking? Did it seem deliberate, RedCap? And how does a spider get his leg stuck on his own web in the first place? It's just strange.o_O
 
Enn49

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I've never seen it happen but I guess if the web got wrapped round its leg and it's panicked it could pull the leg off.
 
Tuskedwings

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My porteri lost a palp before I got her and she's half way to getting it back don't worry it happens your little GGB will be alright :)
 
Entity

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Makes sense. I have had my avic get its leg stuck in the web and i just reached in and helped it. she didnt freak out. But im sure if my GBB got its leg stuck for a fraction of a second it would loose its mind and wig out!

also @Tuskedwings awesome avatar pic. lol
 
Chubbs

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I'm not saying you're wrong Enn, but I'm a bit skeptical about this. They wouldn't survive very long in the wild if this happened.

I have a 7 legged A.versicolor that is in perfect health. The leg will grow back in a few molts
 
timc

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Chubbs said:
I'm not saying you're wrong Enn, but I'm a bit skeptical about this. They wouldn't survive very long in the wild if this happened.

I have a 7 legged A.versicolor that is in perfect health. The leg will grow back in a few molts
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I don't know I had a 5 legged spider who lived on my back porch until it just recently got cold. She was out there a good 2 months with 5 legs and in the middle of September molted them back. I think it just goes to show how well adapted spiders are.
 
Chubbs

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What I meant was that these animals wouldn't have survived for as many millions of years if they were getting stuck in their own webs. They wouldn't be very efficient predators that way.
 
RedCapTrio

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It was on top of its hide (hide is about an inch tall paper egg crate cut out) when I noticed it circling/spinning. When I looked in on again, the T is already at the bottom not moving. Then I observed the leg about half-way from the top and bottom tangled in its webbing, I didn't really see how it lost its leg. It is the second leg on its right side.

Update! T is barely moving. It is on the same spot from yesterday to this writing. It used to moved a lot and web a lot. Does a GBB sling have no color indication when it is in premolt? And may be it just got tired from all the circling yesterday. Oh I hope there is nothing wrong with this one.

:(
 
Enn49

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Chubbs said:
I'm not saying you're wrong Enn, but I'm a bit skeptical about this. They wouldn't survive very long in the wild if this happened.
Click to expand...

I did say it was only a guess but I couldn't think of any better reason given what the T had been doing, can you?
 
Entity

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Maybe it just didnt like that leg....it knew it would come back and it has 7 more. lol so it just popped it off. i know the way my GBB acts if it got stuck for a second on something it would remove some body parts...its a freaking spaz!
 
Chubbs

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Enn49 said:
I did say it was only a guess but I couldn't think of any better reason given what the T had been doing, can you?
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No I can't. I can however tell you that they would be long extinct though if this happened.
 
Enn49

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Chubbs said:
No I can't. I can however tell you that they would be long extinct though if this happened.
Click to expand...

One tarantula having an accident isn't going to endanger all Ts. That's like saying that because one person gets run over by a bus all humankind will become extinct.
 

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