Acanthogonatus Francki not eating and looking sluggish

[cinnaka]

Hi! As stated above, my A. francki is not eating the last 5 weeks or so and it’s looking rather sluggish in its posture and behavior, at first I thought it was a pre-molt thing, and it still might be! But it has only fed once in my possession while it was in a temporary enclosure while waiting for its big house. Now it has webbed up some nice tunnels and made itself a hammock (where I caught it face planted through its webbing the other day, with it’s feet hanging way back) but it kinda seems like it’s afraid of all the prey I introduced to it. Mealworms, zophobas, small dubia, crickets, idk anymore tbh.

I keep the bottom layer damp, and the top layer mostly dry, with 25-28 degrees Celsius depending on night/day.

note that it’s previous owner was scared of it and used to just throw a bunch of crickets in every 1-2 months and left it in mold and rot for about a year. So I’m thinking it might be re-adjusting to a clean environment? Maybe it needs more bark or forest litter to like the substrate more? Maybe I’m using the wrong substrate? I’ve been reading through the very little info available on this sp. plenty of times, but I want YOUR input.
please, and Thank You!

 

[RezonantVoid]

Any photos of the spider (particularly the ends of the 2 limbs closest to the fangs) and it's current enclosure?

 

[cinnaka]

Any photos of the spider (particularly the ends of the 2 limbs closest to the fangs) and it's current enclosure?

 

[cinnaka]

Any photos of the spider (particularly the ends of the 2 limbs closest to the fangs) and it's current enclosure?

Are you suspecting it’s a mature male? I haven’t thought that, because I haven’t found any molts, but on the pictures I posted it kiiinda look like tibial hooks? But how and when lmao

 

[cinnaka]

Maybe this shows better

 

[RezonantVoid]

Are you suspecting it’s a mature male? I haven’t thought that, because I haven’t found any molts, but on the pictures I posted it kiiinda look like tibial hooks? But how and when lmao

We can definitely rule out being a mature male. My attention would turn to the setup itself

Now I probably feel stronger than most about this issue but I am extremely opposed to using cocofibre for anything. IME not a single trapdoor or tarantula of mine has enjoyed the feeling of it even once, it has almost no structural integrity and overall barely mimics any kind of soil most hobby species are found on in a wild setting. While not a great deal better, I do generally have a greater success using a damp peat moss and sand mix. This holds its shape much better for burrowing and being finer grained usually suits spiders better. Admittedly I'm not familiar with the environment where this species comes from in Chile, but I imagine they'd probably want slightly damp soil all the way through and about 5 or inches of substrate

 

[cinnaka]

We can definitely rule out being a mature male. My attention would turn to the setup itself

Now I probably feel stronger than most about this issue but I am extremely opposed to using cocofibre for anything. IME not a single trapdoor or tarantula of mine has enjoyed the feeling of it even once, it has almost no structural integrity and overall barely mimics any kind of soil most hobby species are found on in a wild setting. While not a great deal better, I do generally have a greater success using a damp peat moss and sand mix. This holds its shape much better for burrowing and being finer grained usually suits spiders better. Admittedly I'm not familiar with the environment where this species comes from in Chile, but I imagine they'd probably want slightly damp soil all the way through and about 5 or inches of substrate

Thank you for your input. I went with coco fiber for this one because I was told it was a desert spider when I set up the enclosure, so I wanted to do a coco+sand mix, but then I was told by a T-keeper in a pet store that under no circumstances should I mix sand witch coco fiber(?) I learnt he was wrong.
So I’m thinking I’ll make a new enclosure, (poor guy has to suffer a rehouse again) with jungle mix, and some sphagnum moss with some sand and maybe some bark litter on top(?) maybe even go all out with the drainage balls in the bottom?
Lately I’ve been trying to find pictures of A. Francki in the wild so I could base the new structure of its wild grounds. What do you think?

 

[RezonantVoid]

Thank you for your input. I went with coco fiber for this one because I was told it was a desert spider when I set up the enclosure, so I wanted to do a coco+sand mix, but then I was told by a T-keeper in a pet store that under no circumstances should I mix sand witch coco fiber(?) I learnt he was wrong.
So I’m thinking I’ll make a new enclosure, (poor guy has to suffer a rehouse again) with jungle mix, and some sphagnum moss with some sand and maybe some bark litter on top(?) maybe even go all out with the drainage balls in the bottom?
Lately I’ve been trying to find pictures of A. Francki in the wild so I could base the new structure of its wild grounds. What do you think?

I'd agree with not mixing cocofibre and sand, but I'd just straight up not use coco for the above mentioned reasons, I think peat + sand would be the cheapest and easiest option.

Looking for pics of them in the wild is an excellent idea and commendable choice, I always base husbandry as close to wild conditions as possible. Unfortunately though there is very little information available about the exact wild habitat, so we have to be a bit speculative. Looking at Chile on google images it seems there is alot of fairly open tracts of land so I imagine you could use a roughly 50%-50% sand to peat mix and keep it slightly damp, and maybe add some dry wood on top as a shelter and anchor point. You shouldn't need a false bottom setup this way either.

If you have access to it, another even better method would be to use natural crumbly clay soil combined with sand. It mimics the natural consistency that many burrowing spiders prefer and holds shape and moisture like nothing else. I use it for nearly all my wishbone spiders

 

[cinnaka]

I'd agree with not mixing cocofibre and sand, but I'd just straight up not use coco for the above mentioned reasons, I think peat + sand would be the cheapest and easiest option.

Looking for pics of them in the wild is an excellent idea and commendable choice, I always base husbandry as close to wild conditions as possible. Unfortunately though there is very little information available about the exact wild habitat, so we have to be a bit speculative. Looking at Chile on google images it seems there is alot of fairly open tracts of land so I imagine you could use a roughly 50%-50% sand to peat mix and keep it slightly damp, and maybe add some dry wood on top as a shelter and anchor point. You shouldn't need a false bottom setup this way either.

If you have access to it, another even better method would be to use natural crumbly clay soil combined with sand. It mimics the natural consistency that many burrowing spiders prefer and holds shape and moisture like nothing else. I use it for nearly all my wishbone spiders

View attachment 400759 View attachment 400760 View attachment 400761

If I use peat moss from a plantation store, do I need to process it to clean it or do I just jam it in there? And also, I can use reptile sand right?
Oh and, I love your setups!

Edit: I realized I already have a pre made peat moss / sand mix for terrariums so I won’t necessarily need to buy extra, but for future reference I appreciate answers to this just so I can make my own blend next time!

 

[RezonantVoid]

If I use peat moss from a plantation store, do I need to process it to clean it or do I just jam it in there? And also, I can use reptile sand right?
Oh and, I love your setups!

Edit: I realized I already have a pre made peat moss / sand mix for terrariums so I won’t necessarily need to buy extra, but for future reference I appreciate answers to this just so I can make my own blend next time!

Normally I just use it straight from the bag without needing to prep it (unless it's dry, in which case I add a bit of filtered water), and yes reptile sand is fine. I personally like red desert sand, as the grains don't stand out as much as the white coloured stuff

 

[Arthroverts]

Looking at Chile on google images it seems there is alot of fairly open tracts of land so I imagine you could use a roughly 50%-50% sand to peat mix and keep it slightly damp, and maybe add some dry wood on top as a shelter and anchor point. You shouldn't need a false bottom setup this way either.

Chile has a ton of different environments, everything from deserts to jungles to mountains to pine forests, so really without locale information it is pretty difficult to know what habitat would be appropriate.
After a brief search I found this study, which states that A. franckii specimens were collected from Granizo, which is in central Chile and looks somewhat like a temperate forest area with steep mountains.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[cinnaka]

Chile has a ton of different environments, everything from deserts to jungles to mountains to pine forests, so really without locale information it is pretty difficult to know what habitat would be appropriate.
After a brief search I found this study, which states that A. franckii specimens were collected from Granizo, which is in central Chile and looks somewhat like a temperate forest area with steep mountains.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

Thank you. That helps ALOT. I think I’ll try to make a little more forest-ish uphill environment with maybe some sort of makeshift tunnel that it can web up to feel at home! Plus adding more sand I guess. I am a bit hesitant of rehousing it since it hasn’t been eating tho.

I learned that a possible reason for it not eating, could be the recent rehousing? Because some spiders can at times refuse food for over 2-3 weeks after a re-housing(?) I’m not 100% sure about this information, but maybe I should wait until it will eat before I rehouse? Or do I rehouse and then hope it eats after a week or so?

 

[RezonantVoid]

Chile has a ton of different environments, everything from deserts to jungles to mountains to pine forests, so really without locale information it is pretty difficult to know what habitat would be appropriate.
After a brief search I found this study, which states that A. franckii specimens were collected from Granizo, which is in central Chile and looks somewhat like a temperate forest area with steep mountains.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

I can't view the link for some reason, but searching for photos of Granizo as well as the rough areas around the other supposed sightings of them on GBIF show fairly similar habitats with rocky, sandy soils, not particularly far from water sources. Some arid zone species here pick similar areas to avoid drying out, so I figure these guys probably like at least partly damp soil especially considering they don't build a lid to hold the humidity in the burrow.

Thank you. That helps ALOT. I think I’ll try to make a little more forest-ish uphill environment with maybe some sort of makeshift tunnel that it can web up to feel at home! Plus adding more sand I guess. I am a bit hesitant of rehousing it since it hasn’t been eating tho.

I learned that a possible reason for it not eating, could be the recent rehousing? Because some spiders can at times refuse food for over 2-3 weeks after a re-housing(?) I’m not 100% sure about this information, but maybe I should wait until it will eat before I rehouse? Or do I rehouse and then hope it eats after a week or so?

Most primitive spiders of any type should eat almost immediately after unboxing when presented with food. The only times mine havnt eaten for 3 weeks after a rehouse is if they seal the starter burrow entry while they are digging underground, or if they are not happy with a setup and "stress pace" on the surface. I'd just keep trying to offer it crickets in the meantime and hope it will take one

 

[cinnaka]

I can't view the link for some reason, but searching for photos of Granizo as well as the rough areas around the other supposed sightings of them on GBIF show fairly similar habitats with rocky, sandy soils, not particularly far from water sources. Some arid zone species here pick similar areas to avoid drying out, so I figure these guys probably like at least partly damp soil especially considering they don't build a lid to hold the humidity in the burrow.


Most primitive spiders of any type should eat almost immediately after unboxing when presented with food. The only times mine havnt eaten for 3 weeks after a rehouse is if they seal the starter burrow entry while they are digging underground, or if they are not happy with a setup and "stress pace" on the surface. I'd just keep trying to offer it crickets in the meantime and hope it will take one

I can't view the link for some reason, but searching for photos of Granizo as well as the rough areas around the other supposed sightings of them on GBIF show fairly similar habitats with rocky, sandy soils, not particularly far from water sources. Some arid zone species here pick similar areas to avoid drying out, so I figure these guys probably like at least partly damp soil especially considering they don't build a lid to hold the humidity in the burrow.


Most primitive spiders of any type should eat almost immediately after unboxing when presented with food. The only times mine havnt eaten for 3 weeks after a rehouse is if they seal the starter burrow entry while they are digging underground, or if they are not happy with a setup and "stress pace" on the surface. I'd just keep trying to offer it crickets in the meantime and hope it will take one

You guys are helping me and my bud SO MUCH! Thank you! I just read about the francki being found just outside San Esteban, Chile and it looks like the same rocky environment to me. So with all the insecurities as to location, I think the sandy climate is the best shot I have to make it happy for now.

 

[cinnaka]

Here’s a screenshot
(Though the info seems to be from 1880.. lmao)

 

[Arthroverts]

I can't view the link for some reason, but searching for photos of Granizo as well as the rough areas around the other supposed sightings of them on GBIF show fairly similar habitats with rocky, sandy soils, not particularly far from water sources. Some arid zone species here pick similar areas to avoid drying out, so I figure these guys probably like at least partly damp soil especially considering they don't build a lid to hold the humidity in the burrow.

It should be the fourth result here on Google Scholar.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[cinnaka]

I hope this turns out better. Peat, sand and sphagnum moss plus a little bark litter because this species likes to cover the entire floor with webbing, so the bark can function as anchor points. I added vermiculite in the bottom layer, and a depth based cork-cave. Fingers crossed!