Happy Dance?

[MVDaniel]

I've heard of T's doing something called the happy dance while consuming prey. Today my Blondi snapped up a couple roaches, then walked to a different area of the cage and started walking in circles and laying down webbing like a little carpet. It looks like a molt mat, sort of, from what I've seen in other photos. But while eating? She then spit out a mass of partially masticated roachy delight, made a couple passes over it with some webbing and took it back up into her mouth. This is the first time I've seen this, so I don't know what to make of it. Is this the happy dance?

 

[Aschamne]

Yes, several of my Ts do this.

Art

 

[Sabatta]

It's to make sure the ball of roaches stays intact while being eaten. This way nothing gets lost.

 

[MVDaniel]

So, in terms of a feeding mat, is there any specific behavior associated? Will she return to the mat when hungry, or bring prey to the mat to consume it? Does making a mat indicate that she likes the food better than something that she doesn't make a mat for?

 

[Sabatta]

Well if she only has one small item she may not make a mat. It's a matter of keeping things tidy. I've noticed slings of certain species will wrap a large prey item several times for fear of a piece falling off and being lost. Things can get messy when you digest your food before swallowing it.

It is possible that a mat could act as an indicator to the T of a good hunting location. Since there is a mat, there must have been food at one point. But that's just me thinking. I have no idea if that is true.

 

[von_z]

My C. huahini does that every time it eats. It's the only T I have that does it.