HELP!

I went to check on my emp. and found him flat on his back. I thought he was dead but when I flipped him he moved, although sluggish and stiff. I have but him on heat and sprayed the tank to the nines trying to jack up the humidity. I thought maybe he was stuck in a molt, but I have had him for over a year and thought that unlikely. He is only my second one, my first never molting while in my care and dying of old age. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Do you have any idea how old he is? Is he an adult? Is it even possible for him to be in a molt?

I don't want to make a hasty judgment, but your description sounds pretty grim.

Any pictures?

I've had him for about a year and he has never molted in that time. I got him from a pet store so age is up in the air.

Well... it sounds as if he is already an adult. I've never heard of an emp taking over a year to molt before. Is his telson a creamy beige/tan color or is it a reddish brown?

When he is moving about, does he tend to drag his tail outstretched behind him?

It's reddish brown. And if I bug him he lifts it slowly, but it was stuck out right behind him and he was dragging it.

I'm sorry to say...... it seems that he is winding down to the end of his life. Obviously I can't guarantee that, not having seen him or knowing his history, but the reddish brown telson and lack of molting are sure signs of adulthood and sluggishness and tail dragging are fairly reliable signs of old age. It's definitely not a good sign that you found him lying on his back.

I'm sorry.

That's what I feared. Thanks though. I guess all I can do now if wait it out.

Sounds like classic symptoms of old age. Sorry.

The reddish-brown telson is indicative of an adult, and most are WC as adults and shipped stateside, so there's no way to tell how long they've got left.