Need advice- jumping spider

Runeblaze

Arachnopeon
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
11
I am new here. I sort of rescued a little jumping spider, of all places at my cousin's funeral mass. It was crawling on the neck of the woman in the pew in front of me. I was really torn on how to handle the situation. I have always loved jumping spiders but I was unsure how the woman would act. I was the only one who saw it at the time. I just waited it out and it finally jumped onto the pew the cousin to my right does not like spiders. The one on the left was cool. I pointed to the spider and told both of them I got this. It fell on my purse and ran around there for a bit. I was afraid someone would crush it so I finally dropped it in my purse and zippered it with intentions of letting it go outside. Trouble was I could not find it. When we got to the luncheon, I opened my purse and took just about everything out. No spider. I thought it had escaped. I live in another state about an hour away and I was about 3/4 of the way home when guess who ran across the passenger seat? When I got home, I managed to catch it. I have several praying mantis and had feeder insects as well as 32 oz deli cups with artificial flowers. I put the spider in one and it seemed quite happy. It ate several times, it made it's little sleeping hammock in one of the flowers. I made sure it had sunlight for a period every day. Now I am worried. It has sealed it's hammock in the flower over and has completely sealed itself in and does not come out. I understand they do this when they molt? It has not eaten in days. I have left it alone except misting the side of the container lightly in case it needs humidity like some mantids do when molting. I am starting to worry though. How long can they go without eating or drinking? If it is molting how long does it usually take? thanks in advance.
 
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The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
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Aug 8, 2005
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11,048
Yes they seal themselves away as they are blind and helpless during a molt. Rough rule of thumb; with a few exceptions all spiders can go for a month or more without eating.

Thanks very much for the rescue.
 

Runeblaze

Arachnopeon
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
11
Yes they seal themselves away as they are blind and helpless during a molt. Rough rule of thumb; with a few exceptions all spiders can go for a month or more without eating.

Thanks very much for the rescue.
I was happy to rescue it. I have always loved spiders, jumping spiders in particular but you don't see them much around here any more. My entire family thought I was nuts of course. The lady who had it on her neck wound up sitting at our table. I know now I made the right decision. She said had I told her she would have started screaming and stripping. Not cool at all in church at a funeral. At which point cousin on the right would have smashed it. thank you for answering! I guess this was just like going to the dr. your symptoms magically disappear. A little while ago it came out. It was starting to get dark out so it was only briefly but I can see a little hole in the barricade now. I will try to catch a tiny moth for it and give it tomorrow. Perhaps it will eat.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,048
She said had I told her she would have started screaming and stripping. Not cool at all in church at a funeral.
Oh... I don't know about that. It would certainly make that particular send off very memorable for years to come. And hopefully someone would put up a video on Youtube. ;)
 

Ratmosphere

Arachnoking
Joined
Aug 23, 2015
Messages
2,294
The spider is about to molt and will be fine. Do you know the species you caught?
 

Little Grey Spider

Arachnoknight
Joined
May 14, 2017
Messages
262
Females sitting on a clutch can go quite a long time without eating. As for molting... Mine usually go through premolt/molt/postmolt heal up all within a few days. They don't take very long usually! Males tend to eat less than females as well. A pic would help. :happy:
 

Runeblaze

Arachnopeon
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
11
The spider is about to molt and will be fine. Do you know the species you caught?
The spider is about to molt and will be fine. Do you know the species you caught?
[/QUOTE]
The spider is about to molt and will be fine. Do you know the species you caught?
It seems so. I came home and it's cute little skin was hanging outside the flower on a thread. LOL almost like it was hanging out it's laundry. I wish I did know what kind. How does one post a picture here
The spider is about to molt and will be fine. Do you know the species you caught?
 

Ratmosphere

Arachnoking
Joined
Aug 23, 2015
Messages
2,294
You could use an iPhone to log in to your account and choose the file directly from your library.
 

InvertsandOi

Arachnoknight
Joined
Feb 12, 2016
Messages
233
I really like the story that came with this question. Thank you for that :) It's easy for someone who is used to mantids to get uncomfortable with how long arachnids will fast sometimes.
 

Runeblaze

Arachnopeon
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
11
It seems so. I came home and it's cute little skin was hanging outside the flower on a thread. LOL almost like it was hanging out it's laundry. I wish I did know what kind. How does one post a picture here[/QUOTE]
The spider emerged, bigger prettier and very active. Doing all of the normal things spiders do. It even dragged a blue bottle fly into it's hammock. now it is sealed off again. It could not possibly be molting again so soon could it?
 
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