Hi friends, maybe you can shed some light on this.
My juvie Brachypelma albopilosum was my calmest and hungriest T, up until about a week and a half ago. When I tried to feed it, I noticed it was extremely jumpy and agitated, and it didn't want to eat. I thought, ok.. maybe it's going to molt, even though from looking at the spider it just didn't seem likely that was the problem. So I left it alone and didn't disturb it. Throughout the week I would see it pacing around its deli cup, or standing in one spot moving its legs around.
This past Monday I took a good look at it and saw a pink bald spot on the left side of its abdomen. Hair flicking at nothing? It occurred to me that maybe something in the deli cup was bothering it, so I prepared a new enclosure and transferred it on Tuesday.
To describe its behavior when moving it... well, it was like a wild cat caught in a cage trap, it totally flipped out and was thrashing all over the place. I moved it very quickly; it wasn't an ordeal at all, but this behavior was distressing to me.
Today I noticed a couple of fruit flies in the new enclosure. I think they got in through the air holes, but I'm not sure if they are attracted to the T or the substrate, which is peat moss. My guess is they flew in from the kitchen and are trying to seek moisture from somewhere in my room. I don't think the peat moss is overly moist though.
When I got the fruit flies out, I saw the T is still acting the same way. So that leaves me with this post
Any ideas about what's going on are welcome, same with suggestions. And does anyone have any good anti-fruit fly tactics? :evil:
Do you think 2 out 5 T's having problems is too much? :wall: My blistery Chaco is due for a molt soon. I'll let you know how that goes
My juvie Brachypelma albopilosum was my calmest and hungriest T, up until about a week and a half ago. When I tried to feed it, I noticed it was extremely jumpy and agitated, and it didn't want to eat. I thought, ok.. maybe it's going to molt, even though from looking at the spider it just didn't seem likely that was the problem. So I left it alone and didn't disturb it. Throughout the week I would see it pacing around its deli cup, or standing in one spot moving its legs around.
This past Monday I took a good look at it and saw a pink bald spot on the left side of its abdomen. Hair flicking at nothing? It occurred to me that maybe something in the deli cup was bothering it, so I prepared a new enclosure and transferred it on Tuesday.
To describe its behavior when moving it... well, it was like a wild cat caught in a cage trap, it totally flipped out and was thrashing all over the place. I moved it very quickly; it wasn't an ordeal at all, but this behavior was distressing to me.
Today I noticed a couple of fruit flies in the new enclosure. I think they got in through the air holes, but I'm not sure if they are attracted to the T or the substrate, which is peat moss. My guess is they flew in from the kitchen and are trying to seek moisture from somewhere in my room. I don't think the peat moss is overly moist though.
When I got the fruit flies out, I saw the T is still acting the same way. So that leaves me with this post
Any ideas about what's going on are welcome, same with suggestions. And does anyone have any good anti-fruit fly tactics? :evil:
Do you think 2 out 5 T's having problems is too much? :wall: My blistery Chaco is due for a molt soon. I'll let you know how that goes