Do I risk destroying my tarantula's burrow to find lost mealworm?

gorybmovie

Arachnosquire
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
122
I lost a mealworm in my T. albo's enclosure. I know I should have crushed the head. I don't know what I was thinking. I am aware that was a stupid mistake and I've learned my lesson. At any rate, my albo has been hard at work for weeks now perfecting her underground burrow. It's a thing of beauty and I would hate to ruin it for her. However, I have heard that mealworms can kill molting tarantulas. For context, my T. albo is a 3" juvenile and I think she is nearing premolt though she is still eating but she is due for a molt soon. The mealworm was about an inch long. I thought I saw the worm in a hole in the cork bark but I was either wrong or it has burrowed deeper. The bark holds all the webbing for the roof of my T's burrow.

Here's what I've done so far: started removing dirt that does not affect my T's burrow, flushed the hole in the bark with water. left mealworm food and carrots in the enclosure in an attempt to lure it out, delicately tried to cut into the bark to open the tiny hole up with snips. So far, no luck.

So now I ask you, should I try something else to potentially save the burrow my T has worked so hard on or do I remove the T, dig up the burrow and find the missing mealworm before it can cause any harm?
 

A guy

Arachnobaron
Active Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2020
Messages
520
A burrow can be made again. Better than the possibility of having your tarantula get eaten alive.
 

gorybmovie

Arachnosquire
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
122
You're right. Thanks for the advice. I am going to start by taking out the cork bark and hoping I find it there before removing everything.
 
Last edited:

GarField000

Arachnosquire
Joined
Nov 30, 2018
Messages
63
Are you sure she didn't eat it? How long is it in there?
I would fish it out indeed.

But that's why I don't feed worms and I hate crushing heads :D .. gros. .... and dubia only for the perfect eaters that are big
 

gorybmovie

Arachnosquire
Joined
Jan 11, 2022
Messages
122
I unpacked the entire enclosure. I did find a worm molt but no worm. I am guessing it reappeared on its own and she ate it. At any rate, I baked all of her cork and her log and then put everything back with new substrate. She has already made a new burrow and seems content. At least now I can rest assured that when she molts there is nothing in there that can eat her. Thanks for all the help!
 
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