Didn't even get home with my T

[shootingstar26]

Hey Forum,

A couple weeks ago, at the Pamona Pet Show, I decided to get a 1/2" G. puchripes spiderling. I had to keep it in a different location than my house for a little bit because I had to sort out a feeding system. The first two feedings went well; I fed it really small crickets (smaller than 1/4") and it ate. However, the last day I decided to feed it 1/4" crickets. I fed them one at a time, and eating one took a good while (maybe 10-20 min) I only fed it one more, and prepared to take it home. I kept it in its original container; those little plastic sauce containers. When I got home however, it was dead (didn't move, and its legs were tucked underneath). I was pretty upset, but I couldn't figure out what went wrong. Was it the car ride? I know they're fragile creatures...maybe my driving was too jaunty? Any thoughts?

[Boanerges]

What did you put it in to bring it home? How was the ventilation in the container? Was the T located in direct sunlight where ever you were keeping it or on the car ride home? Were you misting the container so it had water to drink? What were the temps like where the container was located and in the car on the ride home? Was the ride home super bumpy? What substrate was it on? Did the T's abdomen (butt) look small? Got any pics of the set up and T?

It is usually hard to say exactly what caused them to die if you are doing everything right. Some times they die for no appearant reason at all 100% fine looking one day and the next day they are in a death curl. It's happened to me before. I had a bunch of different spiderlings in vials. All kept the same way, fed, watered, all had the exact heat and ventilation BUT out of all of them just an A. moderatum died for no known reason one day. It was acting fine the day before and looked perfect. It just happens some times unfortunately. It seems to happen more often with more fragile species like Avic's. Some people wont get spiderlings and only buy tarantula's if they are 2" in size or over to have a better chance at a survival rate.

[Patrick Long]

Could it have started Molting?

[Alexandra V]

I'd probably say that it overheated in the container on the ride home. Since it was a baby, and babies are small, they have a harder time coping with heat, and something that would seem insignificant to us and even for an adult could be terrible for a spiderling.

[shootingstar26]

I kept it in its original container, which had only one pin-sized hole for ventilation. It was doing find for the week, and the seller said it was enough, so I left it that way. Since I was driving, the sunlight was on/off. I was misting the container. The temp was probably ~78. No less than that. The ride wasn't super bumpy, but it wasn't 100% smooth. It was on a soil-like substrate. I think the seller said peat moss or coconut. The abdomen didn't look small to me, and no. I was going to take pictures once I got home...but that didn't work out.

I don't think it started molting - it was soon after it finished a cricket, and it wasn't upside down. That and I waited a couple days, and it still wasn't moving.

I had the AC on. Maybe it was too cold?

If, in the future, I get another, what can I do to prevent this from happening? How does one usually safely transport a spiderling?

[Boanerges]

Tarantula's can take the cold a lot better then the heat. As long as your car didn't drop below 60 for a long time that would not be an issue imo. How long is your car ride? I will get you a pic of how they are usually transported.

[Boanerges]

They are packed like this. The paper towel or tolit paper is dampened and their is a piece of paper towel or tolit paper to cover the opening then the cap goes on the vial. Sorry for the crappy pic...

[shootingstar26]

It was just a 15 min drive. My T wasn't packed like that, but I guess I know now how to transport them.

Thanks for the pic! It helps. =]