Help - why is he sitting like this?

[Magdalena]

Hey everyone, this is my b.boehmei that molted two weeks ago. For about two or three days he's been sitting in this position with his abdomen almost touching his carapace. I've poked him gently and he is still responsive but does not leave this position. He was hanging out on this piece of corkbark for a few days before settlling into this position. I've had him for three years so I wouldn't be surprised if this is simply orange cat behaviour but its freaking me out still.

 

[Brewser]

Mission Accomplished
Spiders have been "Freaking People Out" for Millennia

 

[viper69]

Leave it alone- no one knows why

 

[Wolfram1]

looks like it molted recently, very pretty

they will strech and contort into many different shapes after a molt to maximize range of motion and make sure all the joints work as intended

might even be streching the internal muscles

 

[NMTs]

Post molt stretching. Nothing to be worried about. In fact, there's a whole thread dedicated to it:

Stretch!

A picture thread dedicated to the post molt stretch behavior. I personally love catching them in this position, something about it lol. Lets see your shots if you have any. Ill kick it off with these.

arachnoboards.com

 

[Magdalena]

Thanks everyone for responding, I really needed this confirmation that he's just being a menace like usual. Two weeks ago he decided to molt upright too and it took like a few years off my lifespan cause I heard they can get stuck that way - of course it went flawlessly and he was done within an hour. His antics know no bounds and somehow get sillier with age.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

He’s been in that exact same position for 2-3 days? Has not adjusted at all? Is he wedged in there?

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

A strange spider is a normal one.

 

[Mike41793]

Used to sleep on my stomach, now I'm a side or back sleeper. But not my left side lately cuz my shoulders been bothering me. Getting old sucks so I empathize with little brachy resting in whatever positions comfortable

 

[NMTs]

He’s been in that exact same position for 2-3 days? Has not adjusted at all? Is he wedged in there?

Admittedly, I didn't look at the photo very closely until I read this comment... @Magdalena said previously that the T is responsive when simulated, but yes - if it hasn't shifted/repositioned/turned around in 3 days, you might need to intervene. It looks like it should be able to extricate itself, but they're pretty weak immediately following a molt. If it's stuck in that crevice between the pieces of cork bark, you'll probably need to help it get out.