Isoflurane anesthesia of wild-caught goliath birdeater spiders (Theraphosa blondi) and Chilean rose spiders (Grammostola rosea)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2009
Abstract
Anesthesia is used in theraphosid spiders to facilitate medical procedures (e.g., physical examination, sample collection, surgery); however, most information on this subject is anecdotal. This study was conducted to systematically determine the anesthetic parameters of wild-caught, subadult goliath birdeater spiders (Theraphosa blondi) (n = 11) and Chilean rose spiders (Grammostola rosea) (n = 12). Each spider was placed in a 3-L gas anesthetic chamber and subjected to an induction of 5% isoflurane at a rate of 1 L/min oxygen. Anesthetic depth was monitored by evaluating the righting reflex every 5 min. Animals were recovered in 100% oxygen. Induction, recovery, and overall anesthetic times were determined. After an 8-wk washout period, the procedure was repeated. For both species, median induction time was 10 min. Median recovery time was 30 min for T. blondi and 12.5 min for G. rosea.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
First Page
347
Last Page
9
Recommended Citation
Zachariah, T. T., Mitchell, M. A., Guichard, C. M., & Singh, R. S. (2009). Isoflurane anesthesia of wild-caught goliath birdeater spiders (Theraphosa blondi) and Chilean rose spiders (Grammostola rosea). Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 40 (2), 347-9. https://doi.org/10.1638/2007-0060.1