I believe I have a female dolomedes tenebrosus (darkfishing spider). She is wild caught not sure if she’s fully grown or not as it looks a little smaller then other ones I’ve seen howver she hasn’t eaten in about a month maybe longer. I’ve had her for about 2 months and she’s only eaten once or twice. I’ve been giving her crickets just wondering why she’s not hungry her abdomen doesn’t look very small or shriveled in fact it hasn’t changed in size very much at all. It’s winter right now and outside temps are between 30-40 degrees is she just instinctually not eating since it’s the winter? I can’t really think of any reasons why other then that nothings wrong and seems healthy.
Dark fishing spider not eating
- Thread starter jsteelo
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She doesnt look gravid, considering shes wc. Maybe the weather changes are affecting it.
is enclosure super big?
did you catch her or store bought?
is enclosure super big?
did you catch her or store bought?
I caught her outside my house. She may be full grown and just in the end stages so she’s not eating as much? She acts pretty healthy I mean she doesn’t have any problem moving around and seems to web a good amount for the species she has a bunch of very thin line strung around everywhere. She’s not super big but I assume she’s fully grown I’m just not sure I’ve seen plenty of bigger ones altho she isn’t small either. The enclosure isn’t super big it’s about 7in long and 5in tall width is about 4-5in I used it for one of my tarantulas she also doesn’t seem stressed so I’m really not sure
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If you just caught her, she could have already laid a sac. Or is a yearling.
With wild caught its not obvious. Especialy with these spiders because still not a lot of info. I don’t think they live as long as tarantulas either, so its hard to guess lifestages.
It could also have parasites.
So dont overthink it at this point. Give the best care, and whatever happens happens. Thats why i don’t keep wild spiders i catch very long. I keep them a week or two, to observe.
I catch them at work and release them on the my property.
Same with mantises.
This year was cool though. One of my oothecas, from a female i cared for, hatched in spring. I hibernated the egg sac all winter. When i noticed mantises hatching, i immediately released the ooteca in my yard.
Come autmun, we spotted a new ooteca on the property outdoors. I am sure its from my mantises. Its spending its winter outdoors like it normaly would. Im exited for next years hatchings. I dropped two more oothecas i found at work on sticks that were going to be thrown out.
Its important to keep expectations low with wild caught.
You sure it is female?
Minnesota Seasons - dark fishing spider
dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) profile, photos, videos, county distribution map, and sightings in Minnesota.
in order, id say its hibernating.
after that, pick your culprit. There are tons.
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That’s awesome man!! I don’t have much experience with mantis but I have giant ones where I live id love to have one they’re so cool I mostly have spiders I’d like to think I’m pretty experienced tho I’ve only had jumping spiders wolf spiders and tarantulas lol I don’t normally keep wild caught spiders either but it’s cold out right now freezing temps almost everyday so I figured to give it an easy life atleast for the winter. I’m p sure it’s female considering it’s pedipalps are long and straight I’d hard seeing the bottom of the abdomen so I can’t really accurately sex right now but I am p sure it’s female she actually just ate today!! But fluid is coming from 2 of its legs clear fluid from the tops of each leg joint. I think it’s blood but it only comes out when it eats. Very weird I’m not sure what’s going on with this guyView attachment 488585
If you just caught her, she could have already laid a sac. Or is a yearling.
With wild caught its not obvious. Especialy with these spiders because still not a lot of info. I don’t think they live as long as tarantulas either, so its hard to guess lifestages.
It could also have parasites.
So dont overthink it at this point. Give the best care, and whatever happens happens. Thats why i don’t keep wild spiders i catch very long. I keep them a week or two, to observe.
I catch them at work and release them on the my property.
Same with mantises.
This year was cool though. One of my oothecas, from a female i cared for, hatched in spring. I hibernated the egg sac all winter. When i noticed mantises hatching, i immediately released the ooteca in my yard.
Come autmun, we spotted a new ooteca on the property outdoors. I am sure its from my mantises. Its spending its winter outdoors like it normaly would. Im exited for next years hatchings. I dropped two more oothecas i found at work on sticks that were going to be thrown out.
Its important to keep expectations low with wild caught.
You sure it is female?
Minnesota Seasons - dark fishing spider
dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) profile, photos, videos, county distribution map, and sightings in Minnesota.www.minnesotaseasons.com
in order, id say its hibernating.
after that, pick your culprit. There are tons.
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Well, thats new information. I couldnt say. Perhaps spider has injury. Fluid coming out of all legs is pretty odd. They do run on fluids… maybe a molt thing? This is beyond my knowledge.
They are built to hibernate. It doesnt matter what its like outdoors.
But now you have it so you will have to keep it going. Putting it back would be to risky.
They are built to hibernate. It doesnt matter what its like outdoors.
But now you have it so you will have to keep it going. Putting it back would be to risky.
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Try to switch the enclosure to an arboreal type of setup. 16 oz. deli cup, cork bark piece and substrate.
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Nice
Interested to know how this Beautiful Dolomedes is doing, and if She's enjoying Her Winter Reprieve?
Any Updates would be appreciated.
Best Regards,
Interested to know how this Beautiful Dolomedes is doing, and if She's enjoying Her Winter Reprieve?
Any Updates would be appreciated.
Best Regards,
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She’s doing good far as I could tell. I havnt gotten a chance to change her set up it’s somewhat arboreal already normally she chills on these plastic plants I have set up I was surprised at first seeing as how they’re ground spiders didn’t know they liked being up high. She has eaten once since posting her abdomen isn’t changing size tho so I figure she’s okay maybe she wil molt once the temp goes up we’ll have to see!
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They love being high up. Great to hear that she’s doing good!
Hey abdomen is actually really big. Not sure why. I don’t think she’s gravid or due for a molt. Very strange. She’s only eaten once within like a month
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Gravid?
Gravid means pregnant essentially
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Yes, I know. I didn’t see they put “I don’t think she’s gravid” I was basically saying I think she may be gravid.