My Thelma delivered about 15 babies on 6/28 and 6/29. Most of them molted to 2nd instar fine, but 1 died, and 1 got stuck. The stuck guy I was able to help somewhat by pulling off obviously old skin, but his legs and pedipalps suffered from being stuck. I've got him in an ICU. I've offered 4 FFFs, and 2 are dead and 2 are MIA. Not sure if he ate them or if they crawled out through the tiny air holes. (The ICU is a mealworm container.)

So here are my questions:
1. Assuming this guy eats (and I stuck one of the dead FFFs right up in his chelicerae a few minutes ago), how soon will he molt?
2. Assuming he molts, what are the chances of him a) surviving, and b) coming out looking like he should?
3. How often should I offer food?
4. Should I bring him to conference, or will he be okay for a few days if Jerry feeds him?

And now, here are pictures:




As always, thanks!

Jamie,

I do not even know where to start. Sadly, not every offspring makes it. The questions you ask, are good ones, but I doubt anyone knows the answers. My only suggestion is to offer a very wide variety of crushed/killed foods. Fruit flies for some species of inverts will starve them. Meal worms, wax worms, cockroaches, anything you can mash up should be offered.

Good luck!

Christian

I've bred emperors a couple times, and there always seem to be a few "runts" that have molting problems and don't grow as well as the others. Sometimes these do make it to adulthood, but usually at about half the size of a normal adult.

I agree with Christian's suggestion of smashed up insecsts, you can even try applying some bug puree right to the chelicerae.

Growth rate can vary tremendously. Those reared in groups seem to grow faster than those raised alone, but that's not much help here. Hard to say what it's chances are, the hobby as a whole has not assembled as much info on scorpion rearing as it has on tarantulas. I'd like to see how it develpos!

Good luck,

Wade

Thanks, Wade! I did make a batch of cricket soup (egads, was that unpleasant) and I did set him right on top of a nice big dollop of it. He stayed there for a while, and I think he actually ate some. His mouth certainly looks like he did. I also offered him a FFF maggot this evening, but I don't know if he ate it or if it hid really well or crawled out through the air holes. I'm going to leave him with two big piles of gel water and cricket soup and hope to see him still squirming around when I get back from conference. Keep your fingers crossed!

I don't know the answers to your questions either. My advice is to treat them as you would any other though making it less likely their food can get away would be helpful.

Over the years we had many scorpions and tarantulas with deformities due to molting issues and most of them were resolved upon the next or subsequent molts. I still fondly remember a particular A. paloma which, after a bad molt, had only three of eight legs remaining, all on the same side, and three molts later had all of them back again.

Some days I wish I could molt so I could get my hair back.

My guy is still doing okay. He's getting nice and dark like his siblings. Someone at conference (Troll, maybe?) told me I could give him liver baby food. I have no idea where to procure liver baby food, so I went with beef baby food instead. Still offering cricket soup and FFF pupae as well. I'm still hopeful for this guy, especially after what you guys have said. Thanks for the input and advice!

My butt's not big, I'm just in premolt.

i remember how the vet in her talk this year (im bad cant remember names) mentioned using glycerin to help with molting problems on Ts n bet it would help here too if your little guy has problems when its time to molt

A 50% glycerin mixture is an old standby, which I believe started in Stan's book. You'll just have to be very careful to avoid those darn book lungs.

Thanks for the input, guys. He didn't make it. I stole a partially eaten superworm from his siblings last night and put it in the ICU right up against his chelicerae. When I checked on him just now, he didn't move. I picked him up and flipped him over, and he was damn near perfectly concave. I put him in the freezer just in case. I feel terrible for letting him suffer for so long. Poor little guy.

Jamie,

I'm sorry it didn't make it.

Christian

Thanks, Christian.

Hi Jamie,

these are the stories that are so vital for our little group here. You tried everything possible, got great advice and your little trouble case had a 50/50 chance to make it - much more than it would have had in nature. Sometimes we succeed to keep them alive and help them through the next molt, sometimes we don't. I sure know that I am proud as hell that you tried and didn't give up on him right away.
Thanks for sharing this experience even though it had a sad ending.

Hugs!

Anette

Thanks, Auntie Anette! Hugs!

Hey, Jamie. I just saw this thread... So sorry to hear about the little one. You gave it every effort.