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.

 

[Magdalena]

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.

I moved him off the cork today and got almost zero response. I think he might be dying. I dont know what happened

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Try flipping him over and putting a drop of water on his mouthparts if he isn’t gone yet. Remember they drink very slowly.

 

[Magdalena]

Try flipping him over and putting a drop of water on his mouthparts if he isn’t gone yet. Remember they drink very slowly.

I tried that pretty much immediately hoping that he'd respond but he was gone. I'm assuming something internal must've gone wrong during his recent molt. He was fine for almost two weeks after, plump and not looking dehydrated, then he just settled into that cork bark and was gone. He was my first tarantula and I had him for three years, it's been a pretty devastating loss. I'll miss him and his silly personality.

 

[LucN]

I tried that pretty much immediately hoping that he'd respond but he was gone. I'm assuming something internal must've gone wrong during his recent molt. He was fine for almost two weeks after, plump and not looking dehydrated, then he just settled into that cork bark and was gone. He was my first tarantula and I had him for three years, it's been a pretty devastating loss. I'll miss him and his silly personality.

Sorry for your loss ! Sometimes, despite our best efforts and intentions, we still lose some. Possibly something went wrong internally, which there is little to nothing that you could have done to help Bummer.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I tried that pretty much immediately hoping that he'd respond but he was gone. I'm assuming something internal must've gone wrong during his recent molt. He was fine for almost two weeks after, plump and not looking dehydrated, then he just settled into that cork bark and was gone. He was my first tarantula and I had him for three years, it's been a pretty devastating loss. I'll miss him and his silly personality.

Sad to hear of his passing. Losing a beloved pet is always hard. Not knowing why is even harder. I’m sorry for your loss. :-(

 

[Wolfram1]

I tried that pretty much immediately hoping that he'd respond but he was gone. I'm assuming something internal must've gone wrong during his recent moult. He was fine for almost two weeks after, plump and not looking dehydrated, then he just settled into that cork bark and was gone. He was my first tarantula and I had him for three years, it's been a pretty devastating loss. I'll miss him and his silly personality.

very sad indeed, i somehow didn't really catch that it had been 3 days in exactly the same position, i somehow assumed you meant it was been goofy for that amount of time

its very rare for these post moult deaths to happen and in the absence of any indicators we can only speculate what may have been the cause

in any case, it is very unlikely you could have done anything to save it

sorry for your loss