Help with tailless whip scorpion?

[Sweeblis]

I have had this fella for a little over a month. It molted the first week I had them and it's been about three weeks since then. I'm having issues feeding them. I have tried dubias, mealworms, and crickets to no avail. I also moved their enclosure into my closet so it can have the darkness it needs. I offered both dead and Alive prey and make sure their humidity is right. This is my first tailess whip scorpion so please no hate, I'm doing my best. Please ignore the droplets as i have just sprayed. This is an older picture before it molted, its booty is probably 1/2-3/4 that size

 

[knicole85]

I had one and experienced the same thing. Mine just refused to eat. At the time I thought it just wasn't eating in front of me, so I would leave insects in the enclosure overnight. It's possible that it could've eaten a few but I'm unsure-- I know for a fact I never saw it eat anything. Mine actually ended up passing away unfortunately. I was convinced it was my own doing because I was inexperienced, but after a little research, I don't know. I read (it may have been on here) that they are notoriously hard to feed, especially as juveniles.

 

[Sweeblis]

I had one and experienced the same thing. Mine just refused to eat. At the time I thought it just wasn't eating in front of me, so I would leave insects in the enclosure overnight. It's possible that it could've eaten a few but I'm unsure-- I know for a fact I never saw it eat anything. Mine actually ended up passing away unfortunately. I was convinced it was my own doing because I was inexperienced, but after a little research, I don't know. I read (it may have been on here) that they are notoriously hard to feed, especially as juveniles.

Hopefully this won't happen to me! I'm certainly doing my best. About to drive around and see if I can find even smaller prey. Maybe tiny hornworms??

 

[that1ocelot]

I had one and experienced the same thing. Mine just refused to eat. At the time I thought it just wasn't eating in front of me, so I would leave insects in the enclosure overnight. It's possible that it could've eaten a few but I'm unsure-- I know for a fact I never saw it eat anything. Mine actually ended up passing away unfortunately. I was convinced it was my own doing because I was inexperienced, but after a little research, I don't know. I read (it may have been on here) that they are notoriously hard to feed, especially as juveniles.

I disagree. Some species are worse eaters than others, but across life stages they are good eaters as long as conditions are correct and they're hungry.

Whether or not they'll accept food can be roughly gauged through the abdomen size.

@Sweeblis , not eating can be due to a number of reasons.

You've got a Phrynus Whitei Honduras or a Phrynus Maesi. They are Virtually indistinguishable at that size. They're my favorite species for a number of reasons -

Great eaters, hardy as heck, and grow to a great size. I've got a nice little group of them.

Why animals might not eat:

- humidity isn't where it needs to be.

- they're too exposed.

- the prey item is too large. I find anything except babies and juvenile like prey smaller, and sometimes i2, i3 or i4 can get themselves in trouble taking prey too strong or large.

- they don't like the prey item (I find the more active the better, unless you know it's a prey item the like, then they might accept pre-killed). Worth noting I've never had any kind of realistic success with worm prey. Silk worms, mealworms, phoenix worms etc.

- they're close to molting

- it's within 10 days after a molt

- it's not warm enough (aim for 20c at least for a decent feeding response)

- the animal was just acquired and hasn't settled in yet. Some species are worse than others for this (I'm looking at you, d. Medius) but Phrynus cf whitei isn't one of them.

-they just aren't hungry as long as the abdomen isn't paper thin you're fine.

Might help to get a full enclosure pic as well.
I'm willing to bet it's humidity. You mentioned you sprayed - it's useless. It stresses out the animal and holds humidity for like 5 minutes. Wet the substrate instead. I'm very surprised it's been 3 weeks with no food, generally they're ravenous after, this indicates either a bad molt or a husbandry issue.

 

[Sweeblis]

I disagree. Some species are worse eaters than others, but across life stages they are good eaters as long as conditions are correct and they're hungry.

Whether or not they'll accept food can be roughly gauged through the abdomen size.

@Sweeblis , not eating can be due to a number of reasons.

You've got a Phrynus Whitei Honduras or a Phrynus Maesi. They are Virtually indistinguishable at that size. They're my favorite species for a number of reasons -

Great eaters, hardy as heck, and grow to a great size. I've got a nice little group of them.

Why animals might not eat:

- humidity isn't where it needs to be.

- they're too exposed.

- the prey item is too large. I find anything except babies and juvenile like prey smaller, and sometimes i2, i3 or i4 can get themselves in trouble taking prey too strong or large.

- they don't like the prey item (I find the more active the better, unless you know it's a prey item the like, then they might accept pre-killed). Worth noting I've never had any kind of realistic success with worm prey. Silk worms, mealworms, phoenix worms etc.

- they're close to molting

- it's within 10 days after a molt

- it's not warm enough (aim for 20c at least for a decent feeding response)

- the animal was just acquired and hasn't settled in yet. Some species are worse than others for this (I'm looking at you, d. Medius) but Phrynus cf whitei isn't one of them.

-they just aren't hungry as long as the abdomen isn't paper thin you're fine.

Might help to get a full enclosure pic as well.
I'm willing to bet it's humidity. You mentioned you sprayed - it's useless. It stresses out the animal and holds humidity for like 5 minutes. Wet the substrate instead. I'm very surprised it's been 3 weeks with no food, generally they're ravenous after, this indicates either a bad molt or a husbandry issue.

This is the current set up! I'm getting a bigger enclosure soon, this was just suppose to last a molt. I'm going to try soaking the soil now as you said. Anything else I could add to make them feel more secure? I put 2 small crickets in there a little bit ago too maybe i could get some fake vines or something?

 

[that1ocelot]

Tha

This is the current set up! I'm getting a bigger enclosure soon, this was just suppose to last a molt. I'm going to try soaking the soil now as you said. Anything else I could add to make them feel more secure? I put 2 small crickets in there a little bit ago too maybe i could get some fake vines or something? View attachment 444780 View attachment 444782

Thats actually perfect! Try to lean the wood so it is a slope. Amblypygi don't need large enclosures (generally). No need to rehouse for another molt or two.

I'll tell ya that I'm almost certain your issue is humidity. Tbh it looks quite dry and those enclosures are evaporation machines.

Reeeeaallllly wet the substrate so it's completely saturated from the bottom up. Mist as well.

I'm willing to bet that if you feed it a half inch cricket 30 mins after doing those things, it'll eat

 

[Sweeblis]

Tha
Thats actually perfect! Try to lean the wood so it isn't a slope. Amblypygi don't need large enclosures (generally). No need to rehouse for another molt or two.

I'll tell ya that I'm almost certain your issue is humidity. Tbh it looks quite dry and those enclosures are evaporation machines.

Reeeeaallllly wet the substrate so it's completely saturated from the bottom up. Mist as well.

I'm willing to bet that if you feed it a half inch cricket 30 mins after doing those things, it'll eat

I soaked it after taking the pic. I made sure the water seeped right through. I'll also try to keep better watch on the soil to make sure it's nice and moist! Thanks so much!

 

[CRX]

Some plastic wrap over half of the enclosures holes might help too.

 

[Sweeblis]

Tha
Thats actually perfect! Try to lean the wood so it is a slope. Amblypygi don't need large enclosures (generally). No need to rehouse for another molt or two.

I'll tell ya that I'm almost certain your issue is humidity. Tbh it looks quite dry and those enclosures are evaporation machines.

Reeeeaallllly wet the substrate so it's completely saturated from the bottom up. Mist as well.

I'm willing to bet that if you feed it a half inch cricket 30 mins after doing those things, it'll eat

A little update, I have been really good with moisture and I moved them to a warmer dark place, but still no luck. At this size do you think they would still scavenge? Should I try leaving prekilled in there? I know they didn't eat prekilled before as I offered both killed and Alive, but maybe it would be different with the humidity?

 

[that1ocelot]

A little update, I have been really good with moisture and I moved them to a warmer dark place, but still no luck. At this size do you think they would still scavenge? Should I try leaving prekilled in there? I know they didn't eat prekilled before as I offered both killed and Alive, but maybe it would be different with the humidity?

I recently got a few new molted animals.
They weren't eating, here's what I did...

The species in particular is a bit different than most hobby animals, but...
When I first got them, I put them in cereal containers. This species in particular wants some more space. So...

- I rehoused them into bigger enclosures

- I saturated the substrate

- I gave them a cricket on the smaller side

- I left them dark and alone

3 out of 4 have eaten for me, at least.
here's what I'd do if I were you...

Take out any food that might be in there already. Wait 12 hours or so.

RIght before bed, reallllly saturate the substrate. Swampy. Put in a prey item, like a 1/2 inch cricket.

put a towel over the enclosure and don't check on the animal until the following night

ambly tax attached

 

[that1ocelot]

This is a picture of an enclosure with the same species as you. I've never had a problem with this one eating, unless I don't have it moist enough.

Those front holes are all the ventilation in the enclosure

 

[Purplepuffball]

This is a picture of an enclosure with the same species as you. I've never had a problem with this one eating, unless I don't have it moist enough.

Those front holes are all the ventilation in the enclosure

Where do you get those enclosures from?

 

[that1ocelot]

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