B hamorii webbed up its food.

[TeddyBearTarantula]

My 1.5cm B hamorii sling webbed up a cricket. I placed the freshly killed cricket in the enclosure and checked back a day later to find that the T had kind of strapped the cricket to the ground by lots of web. It hasn’t done this before and it seemed a little odd.

Perhaps it’s perfectly normal as I haven’t been in the hobby for long at all, but I couldn’t find any info on why it would do this.

Any thoughts from you at experts out there?

 

[miss moxie]

Could be they're saving it for later, or they're not hungry. When is the last time they molted? It's plausible they're in pre-molt and killed it because it annoyed them or made them feel threatened.

 

[EulersK]

It's plausible they're in pre-molt and killed it because it annoyed them or made them feel threatened.

That's my guess. If you had an intruder in your home, what would you do? Hungry or not, crickets are annoying.

 

[miss moxie]

That's my guess. If you had an intruder in your home, what would you do? Hungry or not, crickets are annoying.

Exactly. You'd murder them, then saran wrap their corpse.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

Do they save food for later? I had already killed it, because she runs away from live food but it’s presence may have made her feel threatened.

 

[johnny quango]

Do they save food for later? I had already killed it, because she runs away from live food but it’s presence may have made her feel threatened.

It's entirely possible that it was saving it for later or it was just being a weird and wonderful tarantula doing one of many things we truly don't understand

 

[MKNoiL]

I agree with previous posts. Either she's keeping it for later or just want to have "controll" over it.

My GBB sling is doing it sometimes. She wrap cricket in web, put it near to her hide and wait some time untill it's "calm" around and Im not messing with other spiders on the shelf.

 

[FrDoc]

Exactly. You'd murder them, then saran wrap their corpse.

Saran wrap is purely Hollywood. In real life you use duct tape.

 

[viper69]

My 1.5cm B hamorii sling webbed up a cricket. I placed the freshly killed cricket in the enclosure and checked back a day later to find that the T had kind of strapped the cricket to the ground by lots of web. It hasn’t done this before and it seemed a little odd.

Perhaps it’s perfectly normal as I haven’t been in the hobby for long at all, but I couldn’t find any info on why it would do this.

Any thoughts from you at experts out there?

1. Why are you pre-killing food? They eat live food in the wild.
2. Why do you think this is odd, because you haven't observed this before?

There's nothing unusual going on.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

1. Why are you pre-killing food? They eat live food in the wild.
2. Why do you think this is odd, because you haven't observed this before?

There's nothing unusual going on.

Hi there,

I am prekilling food because the said T runs away from live food and I was advised by several people on here that’s what I should do, given the T’s size. I was told slings are scavengers so they’ll find it, if peckish! I’ve tried Pinhead crickets, wingless fruit flies etc. They seem to scare the sling.

Secondly, I did say that it seemed odd to me because I’m new to the hobby but also stated that it’s likely perfectly normal behaviour.
I appreciate that some of the stuff I ask and do may seem a little odd/stupid to experienced hobbyists but I’m going through a period of new experiences and learning my T’s. I’m trying to do right by them best I can, so if anybody can advise on anything they believe I’m doing wrong or suggestions of how to do something better, then I’m open to it.

Thank you for replying to me, I’m pleased you confirmed that it’s normal behaviour.

Nicola x

 

[MKNoiL]

Sometimes prekilling food is the only option for feeding spiders.

My Grammostola Rosea tiny sling was always running from any live food. I was trying several times with different type of food but she was always running away from her prey... After like 2 weeks of trying every second day I left her dead maggot for a night and guess what... She was feasting on him whole night till morning

Things changed when she molted... now shes chasing crickets like crazy.

 

[Dovey]

Yay, bizarre behavior that makes you go hmmmm!

Anytime your sling is engaging with the food, this is a good thing. Maybe saving for later, maybe disabling a threat, who knows? If the prey is still there tomorrow, pull it out.

I have a slightly smaller harmorii sling who is still in the lalala you're not here phase toward prey, so I'm rather jealous.

 

[Mjb30]

Hi there,

I am prekilling food because the said T runs away from live food and I was advised by several people on here that’s what I should do, given the T’s size. I was told slings are scavengers so they’ll find it, if peckish! I’ve tried Pinhead crickets, wingless fruit flies etc. They seem to scare the sling.

Secondly, I did say that it seemed odd to me because I’m new to the hobby but also stated that it’s likely perfectly normal behaviour.
I appreciate that some of the stuff I ask and do may seem a little odd/stupid to experienced hobbyists but I’m going through a period of new experiences and learning my T’s. I’m trying to do right by them best I can, so if anybody can advise on anything they believe I’m doing wrong or suggestions of how to do something better, then I’m open to it.

Thank you for replying to me, I’m pleased you confirmed that it’s normal behaviour.

Nicola x

My Cromatopelma cyaneopubescens (GBB) sling is a very fickle eater so far. Afraid of anything moving and even a tiny cricket with a crushed head freaks it out. She moulted just over a week ago and I was pleased to see it feasting on a dead cricket I'd left for it this morning.

I'm certain that it will turn into a feeding monster at some stage but it's not there yet. I'm sure your B.hamorii is just going through the same phase, nothing to worry about at all. It sounds like you're doing great!

Regarding the wrapping and leaving of prey, it does sound like pre-moult.. when did it moult last?

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

My Cromatopelma cyaneopubescens (GBB) sling is a very fickle eater so far. Afraid of anything moving and even a tiny cricket with a crushed head freaks it out. She moulted just over a week ago and I was pleased to see it feasting on a dead cricket I'd left for it this morning.

I'm certain that it will turn into a feeding monster at some stage but it's not there yet. I'm sure your B.hamorii is just going through the same phase, nothing to worry about at all. It sounds like you're doing great!

Regarding the wrapping and leaving of prey, it does sound like pre-moult.. when did it moult last?

Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate all the advice and encouragement you guys are giving me.

I don’t know when the last moult was, I’ve only had he/she four weeks and she hasn’t eaten once, maybe a few nibbles here and there but nothing really noticeable, not like my emilia sling.

I’m pretty sure shes in pre-moult, she’s very chunky and just not interested in food. I can’t see any kind of moulting mat as yet but she does tend to burrow deep into the substrate and cover herself up. I get excited thinking she’s going to do it, then a day later she’s out for a wander!
I’ve attached a pic for you to see what you think.

 

[Mjb30]

Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate all the advice and encouragement you guys are giving me.

I don’t know when the last moult was, I’ve only had he/she four weeks and she hasn’t eaten once, maybe a few nibbles here and there but nothing really noticeable, not like my emilia sling.

I’m pretty sure shes in pre-moult, she’s very chunky and just not interested in food. I can’t see any kind of moulting mat as yet but she does tend to burrow deep into the substrate and cover herself up. I get excited thinking she’s going to do it, then a day later she’s out for a wander!
I’ve attached a pic for you to see what you think.

Definately looks in pre-moult so be patient. It’s really hard to do as a new keeper as me and everyone else will testify but leave it be and it will to it’s thing!

Once moulted best to leave it a week before introducing food again to allow its fangs to harden fully.

It’s great to have you here and hope you stay around!

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

Definately looks in pre-moult so be patient. It’s really hard to do as a new keeper as me and everyone else will testify but leave it be and it will to it’s thing!

Once moulted best to leave it a week before introducing food again to allow its fangs to harden fully.

It’s great to have you here and hope you stay around!

Aww thank you very much. It is hard to leave them alone, i keep looking each day to see if she’s moulted yet and is okay! xx

 

[Ungoliant]

I’m pretty sure shes in pre-moult, she’s very chunky and just not interested in food. I can’t see any kind of moulting mat as yet but she does tend to burrow deep into the substrate and cover herself up. I get excited thinking she’s going to do it, then a day later she’s out for a wander!
I’ve attached a pic for you to see what you think.

The entire abdomen turning dark like that is a sure sign of pre-molt. (In slings and larger tarantulas with a bald spot, the skin is thin enough to see the developing exoskeleton beneath.)

Other signs of pre-molt (a single sign might not mean pre-molt, but if you are seeing multiple signs, it is likely pre-molt):

• refuses food
• seems more lethargic, skittish, or reclusive than normal
• coloring looks drabber than normal
• spontaneously shedding hair around its enclosure
• seals itself into its burrow (do not disturb sign)
• makes a molting mat: will likely molt within a day
• flips onto its back or side: it begins!

 

[viper69]

Hi there,

I am prekilling food because the said T runs away from live food and I was advised by several people on here that’s what I should do, given the T’s size. I was told slings are scavengers so they’ll find it, if peckish! I’ve tried Pinhead crickets, wingless fruit flies etc. They seem to scare the sling.

Secondly, I did say that it seemed odd to me because I’m new to the hobby but also stated that it’s likely perfectly normal behaviour.
I appreciate that some of the stuff I ask and do may seem a little odd/stupid to experienced hobbyists but I’m going through a period of new experiences and learning my T’s. I’m trying to do right by them best I can, so if anybody can advise on anything they believe I’m doing wrong or suggestions of how to do something better, then I’m open to it.

Thank you for replying to me, I’m pleased you confirmed that it’s normal behaviour.

Nicola x

I didn't think anything you wrote was stupid. I asked because you are new, and I like to know how/what/why new people come up with their ideas.

I see now, you've tried some of the smallest prey, don't get discouraged with picky T.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

The entire abdomen turning dark like that is a sure sign of pre-molt. (In slings and larger tarantulas with a bald spot, the skin is thin enough to see the developing exoskeleton beneath.)

Other signs of pre-molt (a single sign might not mean pre-molt, but if you are seeing multiple signs, it is likely pre-molt):

• refuses food
• seems more lethargic, skittish, or reclusive than normal
• coloring looks drabber than normal
• shedding enough hair to result in a large bald spot on the abdomen (harmless and may occur for reasons other than pre-molt)
• seals itself into its burrow (do not disturb sign)
• makes a molting mat: will likely molt within a day
• flips onto its back or side: it begins!

Hi there thank you for responding. She’s doing all of those, except for tha last too! She’s locking herself away for days and pulling substrate over her burrow opening, definitely refusing feeds, my other slings scoffed the crickets down! Thanks you xx

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

I didn't think anything you wrote was stupid. I asked because you are new, and I like to know how/what/why new people come up with their ideas.

I see now, you've tried some of the smallest prey, don't get discouraged with picky T.

Aw thank you. I’m like a new mother, I spent the first couple of weeks paranoid! The b hamorii was my first sling. I now have an emilia about 1cm and a b smithi 1” and they love their food. Happily wandering around, taking down prey and scoffing it, I’m totally relaxed with them because they are doing sling things. The hamorii I think, has been in premoult since before she arrived so she has been harder to read especially with her being my first ever t.

Thank you for your advise. I really do appreciate it. xx