My Avicularia avicularia Regeneration Experience

This Pinktoe tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) specimen was a sympathy purchase. It was found in a local Pet Store sharing an enclosure with eight other juvenile Pinktoes. They all appeared under weight and stressed due to their inadequate keeping. They were kept in a 2.5 gallon enclosure without water and shared a single twig for a “hide”. The Pet Store used a heat lamp to maintain the temperature.

To my delight this specimen ate readily and acclimated to its new enclosure quickly. Within a few days it created a funnel web with the artificial silk plants I placed in the enclosure. I noticed it did not make use of its front left leg when it walked. Upon further inspection I found that all of its left legs and pedipalp appeared withered and darkened. It could make minimum use of its damaged legs excluding the one closest to the pedipalp. This leg always remained erected and appeared brittle. I believe this damage was caused by the Pet Stores improper use of a heat lamp.

I thought either the tarantula would become trapped within its molt and die or it would take multiple molts to recover the use of any damaged limbs. To my surprise it did not self amputate the lame leg. I have heard reports of tarantulas with severe appendage trauma eating the damaged limb. Perhaps this is done in attempt to regain mobility and not to waste a source of nutrition.

A little over a month after purchase it sealed itself within the funnel web preparing to molt. Days later it emerged. Eagerly I inspected the specimen, took photographs and measured its growth. I observed the four left legs and the left pedipalp miraculously regenerated. It appears it has gained all of its mobility. It measured 3.18” pre-molt and 3.54” post-molt.

I am unable to conclude if this phenomenal case of regeneration because my lack of experience with tarantula injuries. This truly does demonstrate the benefits phylum arthropoda have over anthropoids. Perhaps some day humans will evolve to better standards of care so arachnids don’t have to depend upon biological advantages for captive survival.

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