B. Albopilosum lying on side

hilltowner

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 24, 2016
Messages
30
Hi, We've had our B. Albopilosum since the end of December. He is 1 1/2 years old. The owner of the store where we purchased him said that he thought he was going to molt soon. He ate the day we purchased him and we gave him a cricket a week later, but he's been burrowed ever since and we were afraid he may be molting and didn't want to put a cricket in if he was molting. In the last 2 days, he has burrowed a hole that cleared out two small areas of his glass enclosure, so we can finally observe him. We don't think he's molted yet (but it's hard to tell). We know they molt on their backs, but he spends a lot of his time on his side, pushed up against the glass of the enclosure. Should we be concerned? Thanks!
 

brokenxspirits

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
12
Any way you can post a pic? It might just be the way his burrow is shaped and that's a comfortable position for him, but the best way to tell is with a picture.
 

brokenxspirits

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
12
Could be molting! How long has he been in that position? At that size you should start seeing movement soon but don't bother him.
 

hilltowner

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 24, 2016
Messages
30
We actually have bought it a new terrestrial terrarium, but haven't moved him because we didn't want to disturb him when he was burrowing/molting. We wanted to wait until he was out and walking around before moving him.
 

Ungoliant

Malleus Aranearum
Staff member
Joined
Mar 7, 2012
Messages
4,096
We actually have bought it a new terrestrial terrarium, but haven't moved him because we didn't want to disturb him when he was burrowing/molting. We wanted to wait until he was out and walking around before moving him.
Any updates on your T?
 

hilltowner

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 24, 2016
Messages
30
Here are pics of the current enclosure. We are going to move him to one of Jamie's Tarantula terrariums, that we already have set up, as soon as he starts coming out of his burrow.
 

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Andrea82

Arachnoemperor
Joined
Jan 12, 2016
Messages
3,686
Here are pics of the current enclosure. We are going to move him to one of Jamie's Tarantula terrariums, that we already have set up, as soon as he starts coming out of his burrow.
That enclosure has wayyy too much space between the substrate and the lid. This is not a terrestrial enclosure, it looks the same as where it is in now. Space between substrate and top should be no more than max 2 times the diagonal legspan of the spider.
 

Anoplogaster

Arachnodemon
Joined
Jan 15, 2017
Messages
675
Probably isn't anything wrong with your T. The enclosure, on the other hand, is a different story. Anyways, terrestrial T's can spend a lot of time not doing much. He might be in that position because it's comfy that way. Being on its side is not necessarily molting because the rolling over process is not that gradual. When a tarantula begins to molt, they will actively roll over. I've seen them do it:)

Keep us posted
 

Crone Returns

Arachnoangel
Joined
Mar 22, 2016
Messages
990
Have you seen him climbing the sides? If so it's possible he fell. That's a long way down for the little guy. Add more substrate ASAP.
My Ts don't molt until their abdomen is a black-purple.
 
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