anyone know what this is (T in suspended animation?)

[RugbyDave]

hey all-

i'm getting ready to leave town for a bit and i'm doing a final T-check, and i noticed one of my P.murinus was in an odd position:

basically, its built a little 'shelf-web' in its burrow and its got its front legs all scrunched up, resting on this little shelf, and the back 2 legs are on the back of the burrow.

its hard to explain, and i know these pics are horrible, but once you initially find the T, you'll be able to see what i mean.

there's no movement really (i brushed the back of its abdomen and it SLIGHTLY scrunched up).. but otherwise, nothing.

its not a death-curl...

i'm thinking either an odd pre-molt,
or possibly some odd pre-egg-laying behaviour =D (i highly doubt it, but it would be cool).

by the way, in this pic, you can see the 2 legs hanging down (legs III), and the other legs (legs IV) holding up the T in the burrow...

I'm not worried, im just wondering if anyone else has noticed this type of behaviour.

thanks,
peace
dave

 

[RugbyDave]

another shot... you're looking at mostly the underneath (the
ventral side) of the T.

i wear old spice, by the way

 

[RugbyDave]

taken face on --

the T is angled upwards, facing the corner of the tank...

later
dave

 

[RugbyDave]

last shot.

i know the pics aren't too good, but i didn't really want to disturb it so much, and i think once you can see where the T is, its pretty clear...

not worried, again...

just wondering if anyone else has seen this type of behaviour.

thanks!
dave

 

[mebebraz]

its hard to say, but mine sometimes do that when they get hungry, might be some sort of hunting trap or something, waiting for something to stumble by.

 

[SpiderTwin]

Has she been bred? The abdomen looks to be a fairly good size.

 

[Action Jackson]

My H. Lividum does that all the time, but it doesn't often eat while in the position. I dunno, sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[RugbyDave]

well the T's hasn't eaten anything in 2 days. normally food barely hits the substrate before she snaps it up -- but nothing since 2 days ago, so i don't think its food.....

and i don't know if she's been bred, otherwise i'd know if it was normal odd-T-pre-egg-laying behaviour

i *MAY* have recieved a gravid female when i got her 2 weeks ago, which would be pretty cool.. but i don't think so..

it's nothing to worry about, and now i know some other Ts prop themselves up

peace
dave

 

[sunnymarcie]

A gravid T would be too cool

My tiny Usambara do something like that, near the top
of their funnel webs, usually they are waiting for a meal
to fall out of the sky

 

[MizM]

I have noticed that with my aphonopelmas. Maybe the front 6 legs are tired?:? They seem to like to assume that position, and of course I don't know why... that's precisely why they do it!!!=D Maybe it's a tarantula lounge pose!?!?

P.S. Dave... ALL my men wear Old Spice... or they wear nothing at all!!!!