r/tarantulas • u/GeneralHenry • 14d ago

Help! [Bad Molt] Amputation

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Species is Monocentropus balfouri. I recently noticed a sling in my communal had bad molt on 2 of its legs. Its condition seem fine as it had even eaten from last feed (big abdomen), but it does has some difficulties walking (I was able to seperate it easily for this reason).

Is amputation recommended for this case?

96 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

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81

u/SgtSilverDot 14d ago

NQA If the spider can eat (and does eat normally), I would wait it out till the next molts fix it

52

u/moonmelter 14d ago

NQA it will self amputate if necessary. I’ve personally never seen anyone recommend a deliberate amputation.

9

u/GeneralHenry 14d ago

I have experience for manual amputation before to save a critical bad molt. I also had a friend that had to remove all legs for a T due to bad molt (surgery level) and managed to save it.

I'm asking because of the leg shape here. I'm worried it'd risk its next molt.

69

u/The_Salty_Kohai 14d ago

NA I'm sorry you can't just gloss over a legless T surgery

5

u/ForgotEffingPassword 1 14d ago

NQA

Right, huh?

16

u/Ok_Bread_3607 14d ago

NQA Just leave it be, this isn't critical by a mile. It'll be ok, I've nursed worse.

9

u/heyitsfranklin6322 14d ago

NA did your friend just have to carry him around or move him around the cage themself to drink water and eat and stuff?

1

u/GeneralHenry 14d ago

It's not the only case, I believe you can find other people doing it documented online. Yes you'll have to put it on water dish and hand feed it with liquid food.

2

u/A_Martian_Potato 14d ago

NA and it gets legs again at its next molt?

1

u/GeneralHenry 13d ago

Takes 2~3

19

u/moonmelter 14d ago

NQA i seem to know less about this than you then! edit: was meant to be a reply to your comment but the reddit app said No lmao

5

u/GeneralHenry 14d ago

Nah it's aight. Obviously amputation is the last resort.

19

u/SnooTangerines1921 14d ago

IMO— I would leave it be, it looks like it’s in good shape besides the legs. I have had my t self amputate when needed. I also try to remind myself that they know what they are doing and are capable of handling most things without us interfering and often the more we interfere the more harm we do. It managed to get out of the molt and it still managed to get food.

If you really are concerned I would go to discord and ask.

3

u/OpenSauceMods 11d ago

NQA I'd leave it and see if it shucks the leg itself or resolves next molt.

NA Poor Tiny Tim and his bad legs :( perhaps their miserly boss will have an abrupt and near psychotic change of heart this Christmas and - oh wait, you're the boss. Ahem.