G. pulchra sealed in burrow- when to worry?

belljar77

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 7, 2010
Messages
129
So, my little pulchra is sealed up tight, and has been for about three weeks. I assume it's molting, but this will be the first time in my care; when I last saw it, it was maybe 2+ inches (very maybe, never tried to measure). I know, I know, that's what they do, but I'm still new to this, and have Mom-anxiety. When do I start to be legitimately concerned?
 

curiousme

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Messages
1,661
Oh deja vu! I started a thread like this when our first sling did that. You worry when you smell a smelly smell that smells smelly. If you don't then assume it is okay. We have slings that burrow down for months at a time and even spend the entire late fall to early spring burrowed down. They have all emerged unscathed and beautifully molted.:D Don't dig it up either, let it have its alone time!
 

CAK

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
298
Hey B!

You worry once it stinks!

I have a rosea that was sealed up for 5 months, I have had her about 8 months now and she still hasn't eaten but one cricket for me since I got her. Grammostola's are put on this earth to stress us out!

Just make sure there is tons of water in the bowl at ALL times!

My Rose is plump, fat and happy as pie!!! She is in SERIOUS NEED of new clothes though. She is starting to look like a homeless man!

:)

Joe
 

curiousme

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Messages
1,661
....Just make sure there is tons of water in the bowl at ALL times!
Keep a water dish in there, but don't be alarmed if you don't see it drinking, or the water level going down. Ours never broke the surface, but some do to get a drink. :D
 

sja69

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
28
Oh deja vu! I started a thread like this when our first sling did that. You worry when you smell a smelly smell that smells smelly. If you don't then assume it is okay. We have slings that burrow down for months at a time and even spend the entire late fall to early spring burrowed down. They have all emerged unscathed and beautifully molted.:D Don't dig it up either, let it have its alone time!
If they molt under the substrate should you just leave the old exuvium buried?
 

curiousme

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Messages
1,661
If they molt under the substrate should you just leave the old exuvium buried?
We have and do. Some people worry that they will mold, but I haven't ever seen it. Some Ts will houseclean too and bring the molt up for you, often disposing of it in the water dish. Sometimes they will use bits and pieces of it in their web too, for very serial killer~esque decorating. We have a MF Haplopelma species that molted down in its burrow and she never bothered to bring up the molt. There was NO WAY we were going to disturb her burrow to get it either! So, my opinion would be not to worry about it.:D
 

scar is my t

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
334
If they molt under the substrate should you just leave the old exuvium buried?
The spider will most likely throw the old skin out ( they are tidy ) but dont worry if your cant find it spiders have been doing this for millions of years.
 

sja69

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
28
Most people say that their spiders seal themselves in their burrows with webbing, but what about when they do it with the substrate like mine just has?

I'm sure if it wanted a drink it would be more than capable of digging it's way back out, but if it stayed in there for a period of time where the hell does it get it's air from?

DSCN1185.jpg
 

Sr. Chencho

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
May 11, 2006
Messages
148
Hello;

Wow, that's a tight bunker.
Be patient, it'll be out when it's ready.

Like stated before, if it doesn't smell bad, no worries.

Fredster
 

belljar77

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 7, 2010
Messages
129
Yes, since I posted this, my pulchra is out, molted, and perfectly fine. I've learned a bit about patience...
 

sja69

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
28
Cheers guys, I'm not going to dig it out or anything.
It looks tight because I cleared away the mound it left outside the door so it would have less to dig through if it wanted to come back out.

Thing is, I'm going away for 8 days on tuesday and I was going to take it to my friends house to be looked after. Now this has transpired, I've decided that I don't want to move the enclosure so now it will only be able to be checked on twice while I'm away.

I've put in a very small and shallow water dish and will mist the enclosure before I leave so I reckon it will be ok.

The only thing I'm worried about, apart from how is it going to breathe in there, is that the borrow might not be big enough for a successful molt, but time will tell I suppose.

@belljar77, How long was it holed up for in the end?
 

joes2828

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 13, 2010
Messages
110
how is it going to breathe in there

T's don't respire the same way humans do (no inhaling or exhaling) and require very little oxygen to survive. Don't worry about it not getting enough air.
 

popcangenie

Arachnosquire
Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
135
a good idea is to cut the bottom of the cup or hide box thing and put it up against the wall and make a window :) most of the time they will cover it but some do not and you get a nice peek! :D
 

curiousme

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Messages
1,661
Don't worry about it having enough room to molt either. It is the tarantula after all and if it has chosen that place to hole up in to molt, trust its instincts. :D
 
Last edited:

sja69

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
28
Don't worry about it having enough room to molt either. It is the tarantula after all and if has chosen that place to hole up in to molt, trust its instincts. :D
I suppose it's irrational to worry when they've been doing this for millions of years but I suppose it's just a paternal thing.
I mean why would they bury themselves and get stuck and die?
I bet I'll return from holiday next week to see a bigger, fresher looking spid waiting for it's next cricket.
 

GPulchra

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
279
I suppose it's irrational to worry when they've been doing this for millions of years but I suppose it's just a paternal thing.
I mean why would they bury themselves and get stuck and die?
I bet I'll return from holiday next week to see a bigger, fresher looking spid waiting for it's next cricket.
Hopefully we'll be hearing some good news. Maybe it's the worry of a T being stuck and needing assistance. And possibly dying a long, painful death with no one around to help. Or getting a cyst. Or having a wet molt. Or leaking hemolymph which clots and causes not being able to molt...
 
Top