Burrowed tarantula

[Sammilouise]

Hi all
So I got my first T and it was very exciting for a couple of hours. He then dug a deeper hole and blocked the entrance and that was nearly three weeks ago. He is an Australian tarantula species and approx. three years old. All online forums say don't dig it up so I won't but.. Is it normal that I can see his leg and he literally hasn't budged in three weeks? He didn't move enclosures, just houses. He is apparently due for a moult soon. His enclosure wasn't really dry - and he now has a dish. He wasn't 'cooked' and he comes into a room with heating during the nights until morning. Haven't fed him but he ate during the week before I got him. Any feedback would be good because I'm about to buy two more to distract me but I don't want to kill more tarantulas if that's the case.

Thanks in advance

 

[Trenor]

I would not worry about it. As slings, most of my tarantulas dug down when it was time to molt. Even after the molt a lot of them stay in the burrows most of the time. As long as you have a water source to replenish its fluids after the molt it should be fine. Make sure it's not to close to any vents because I am starting to suspect that caused my G. rosea sling to stick during it's molt. I forgot that there was a vent behind the bookcase the Ts used to be on. After it didn't make it thru the molt I found the back of the bookcase was cool to the touch.

Good luck.

 

[Sarkhan42]

Chances are your T is as said above, in pre molt. However, You said you can see his leg? If the burrow isn't completely sealed, you could offer a pre killed cricket in front of it, as a pre killed won't disrupt the molt in the case that he doesn't take it. Just be sure to take it out before it gets moldy. This is just in case he is just being reclusive, offering pre killed prey couldn't hurt, it's super underrated. Oh and as Trenor said, don't forget to top off the water dish!

 

[Sammilouise]

Thanks for the quick replies. Do you know of anyone who have had tarantulas die in burrows? Other than being cooked and collapses? Most posts seem to describe Ts dying in the open..

 

[Sarkhan42]

Thanks for the quick replies. Do you know of anyone who have had tarantulas die in burrows? Other than being cooked and collapses? Most posts seem to describe Ts dying in the open..

Only for me from a bad molt, I lost my C marshali that way, not much I could do about it, not even ICU could get him finished . I believe people have had Ts death curl in burrow from dehydration, but with water in constant supply via water dish that should not be an issue. Oh, and deaths from incorrect ventilation in avics, some have died in web funnel.

In summation, Ts don't really pick a place to die, as long as you provide good conditions and supply of sustenance your T should be fine.

 

[Trenor]

If the burrow isn't completely sealed, you could offer a pre killed cricket in front of it, as a pre killed won't disrupt the molt in the case that he doesn't take it.

+1 if it isn't fully sealed in I offer prekilled as Sarkhan42 said. Sometimes they just cover part of the burrow for extra security and will still eat.

 

[Venom1080]

It's most likely in premolt, just leave it alone till it emerges by itself. You can try leaving a prekilled cricket in front of the burrow, just remove it within 6 hours or so, or leave it overnight and take it out in the morning. Normal that you can see it through the container.

 

[Sammilouise]

I may do that anyway but it is fully sealed. I can see the leg against the glass at the back of the burrow.

 

[Toxoderidae]

Dying within a burrow is super rare, I've only seen it once and it was my specimen. A 1 inch OBT that molted in some coco-fibre he didn't web up, collapsed around him, he died. Otherwise, doesn't happen.

 

[Red Eunice]

If its an Aussie species, hopefully @jigalojey can respond, these are his speciality.
Nearly 40% of my Ts are OB, yeah I know "pet holes", but my choice. From experience, when they lightly silk over the burrow opening, indicates "Leave me alone, for now!", is not indicative of premolt. Heavy silking to the point you can't see down the tube, or plugging with substrate, is a sure sign of a molt. In either case, I'll wait til they open it up before offering prey. Case in point, my C. marschalli will have multiple openings, as slings the enclosures look like Swiss cheese, and all openings are silked: molt in progress.

 

[darkness975]

Hi all
So I got my first T and it was very exciting for a couple of hours. He then dug a deeper hole and blocked the entrance and that was nearly three weeks ago. He is an Australian tarantula species and approx. three years old. All online forums say don't dig it up so I won't but.. Is it normal that I can see his leg and he literally hasn't budged in three weeks? He didn't move enclosures, just houses. He is apparently due for a moult soon. His enclosure wasn't really dry - and he now has a dish. He wasn't 'cooked' and he comes into a room with heating during the nights until morning. Haven't fed him but he ate during the week before I got him. Any feedback would be good because I'm about to buy two more to distract me but I don't want to kill more tarantulas if that's the case.

Thanks in advance

The leg you are seeing has not moved a single millimeter in three weeks? Are you certain that you are not looking at the molted leg on the old exuviae?

 

[Esherman81]

The leg you are seeing has not moved a single millimeter in three weeks? Are you certain that you are not looking at the molted leg on the old exuviae?

I was going too say the same thing ..

 

[Sammilouise]

Pretty sure. The burrow is really short approx. ten cm (it's horizontal) and narrow. Could he moult in there? His legspan would almost be that much

BTW thank you, I was sure I'd been harboring a dead T

 

[Trenor]

Pretty sure. The burrow is really short approx. ten cm (it's horizontal) and narrow. Could he moult in there?

It depends on the size of the T. They don't require a lot of room to molt when they are slings.

 

[Sammilouise]

Sorry I realised that question was ambiguous - just edited my last post. His leg span is about the same length as the tunnel

 

[Trenor]

I had a sling molt in transit in a tight space and it was fine so it could have.

 

[Esherman81]

Just please keep us updated ..I want too make sure he is ok ..

 

[cold blood]

Pretty sure. The burrow is really short approx. ten cm (it's horizontal) and narrow. Could he moult in there?

That's the main reason they go in a burrow and close it up...so yes, absolutely...I wouldn't expect to see it emerge un-molted.

 

[Sammilouise]

Thanks for your insights. I'll keep you posted

On another note, if anyone knows of any Aussie T breeders (I'm in Victoria) with current stock could you point me in the right direction. I know this probably isn't the right spot for this but it looks like the classified section doesn't get much attention

 

[cold blood]

If its an Aussie species, hopefully @jigalojey can respond, these are his speciality.
Nearly 40% of my Ts are OB, yeah I know "pet holes", but my choice. From experience, when they lightly silk over the burrow opening, indicates "Leave me alone, for now!", is not indicative of premolt. Heavy silking to the point you can't see down the tube, or plugging with substrate, is a sure sign of a molt. In either case, I'll wait til they open it up before offering prey. Case in point, my C. marschalli will have multiple openings, as slings the enclosures look like Swiss cheese, and all openings are silked: molt in progress.

Thanks for your insights. I'll keep you posted

On another note, if anyone knows of any Aussie T breeders (I'm in Victoria) with current stock could you point me in the right direction. I know this probably isn't the right spot for this but it looks like the classified section doesn't get much attention

The above quote has alerted one of our most prominent Australian keepers, in time, I'm sure he will come by...he's a good guy.

As for the classified section, while it may not be a hotbed of Aussie sellers, it is in fact a pretty hot section, being viewed on a regular basis. You can't post in that section, you may only buy/sell/trade.