The Deadliest Disease For Tarantulas – Dyskinetic Syndrome
When it comes to pet care, exotic pets like tarantulas can be pretty low maintenance, and that’s what gravitates many of us to them. They’re clean, easy to care for, and it’s not likely that they’re ever going to get sick or cost you thousands in vet bills over their lifetime like other pets (like my jealous cat lol). Unfortunately, this has a downside – when your tarantula gets sick or injured, it’s likely going to be serious. While there aren’t many illnesses tarantulas can get, there is one deadly disease for tarantulas that cannot be cured – and that’s Dyskinetic Syndrome (DKS).
Unfortunately, tarantula vets are pretty rare – but even if you were extremely versed in tarantula first aid or had access to an exotic pets vet, you wouldn’t stand a chance against Dyskinetic Syndrome. Sadly, this disease is pretty much a death sentence for tarantulas who are unlucky enough to get it.
What is DKS, the deadliest disease for tarantulas?
DKS is a fatal disease that affects the central nervous system of tarantulas, displaying itself first as a series of symptoms characterized by jerky motions, loss of coordination, and an inability to eat.
Here’s a video from Tom’s Big Spiders of one of his tarantulas that developed DKS (warning, this may be disturbing):
We still don’t know the exact cause of DKS, but some believe a tarantula’s deadliest disease may be caused by contamination by chemicals or pesticides. More studies need to be done before we can determine this completely, but that’s the most popular theory about how tarantulas develop this disease.
Tom wrote under his video:
“My juvenile A. insubtilis is exhibiting signs of Dyskinetic Syndrome. This series of symptoms seems to indicate some type of neurological issue that causes the tarantula to lose coordination, leading to the spastic and jerky movements. It is thought to have many possible causes, including pesticide exposure, extreme temperatures, and possibly mold. Unfortunately, in most reported cases of DKS, this malady proves fatal.”
Here’s another video of a tarantula who was affected by DKS, by Josser’s Jungle:
Unfortunately there is no cure for DKS, and many tarantula owners choose to put their tarantulas out of their misery if they feel their spider is suffering from this deadly disease. Hopefully one day we will have the cure so less tarantulas have to suffer through this.
I don’t know the validity of this but I have read on forums that some tarantulas have molted out of it before. I don’t know if this was just a short term fix and it would return again or if these tarantulas had a “mild” DKS but it makes me even more confused about euthanasia because you don’t want them to suffer and you just desperately want them to survive its like what do you do? I love our hobby i just wish we had more information available to us 🙁 I love your blog though! You always bring up interesting topics haha
Thanks, I’m so glad you like the blog!!! I haven’t heard of Ts molting out of DKS but that’s something I’d definitely be interested in looking into. I wish there was more info available as well 🙁 T owners aren’t very supported.
Tarantula Dyskenesia can also be caused by stress. A tarantula that overworks itself and not in pursuit of prey can incur the same kinds of injuries a person can under the same conditions.
Anorexic humans for instance, eventually get heart muscle damage because the heart is overworked and underfed.
I have also seen tarantulas become dyskenetic if they eat something that has a parasite or a mite infection, or the worst of the most awful of causes- hypothermia.
Patricia has also mentioned the importance of sterile professionally sourced T-Chow. Do not catch your own Tarantula food as it is not sterile or organic and is very high risk.
Do not feed your tarantula food harmful substances. No fruit loops or cookies! Sugar is lethal to tarantulas.
I give my roaches dry cat food that I lightly wet down with a few drops of water. Uneaten cat food or dead roach parts rapidly attract fungi, however and must be cleaned from the habitat ASAP as fungi also cause tarantula dyskinesia.
I have a four year old male Poecilotheria Metallica named Dhuma that is very busy at night especially during warm spells like we are having now. He runs himself ragged all over the place, doesn’t eat very much then gets clumsy and kind of floppy.
I think this is his way of saying he wants a girlfriend, but breeding size female metallicas are > $1,000-$3,000 so he is SOL.
I have seen severe dyskinetic symptoms in males before their last instar (molting season). Male tarantulas live half as long or less than females, sometimes as few as 3 years. Male metallicas like Dhuma live as long as 7 years but when dyskinetic symptoms appear it is very unsettling because I worry it might mean his life is coming to an end.
Finally, keep your tarantula habitat away from scented candles, lysol, windex, furniture polish, cologne, HAIRSPRAY is especially bad, (I often tell my partner to try getting spray gel on his hair for a change), any kind of aersolized chemical as this will cause profound nerve damage dyskinetic symptoms. This also applies to substrate and decorations- some garden center peat moss mixtures come with fertilizers and fungicides in them and many aquarium stores treat driftwood, rocks, and plastic plants with chemicals that are toxic to tarantulas.
GREAT advice, Michael! 🙂