Jumping spider keeps falling

[kxitlynjeffery]

I’ve had my male Phidippus regius since December just gone and everything has been okay until now. I’m not sure exactly of his age but he did moult late January. In the last few weeks he has abandoned his web at the top of the zilla enclosure and sleeps on either one of the walls or a wooden log. Sometimes with the slightest touch he falls down and he keeps twitching (kind of like a small seizure). it’s been about 2 weeks since he last ate (mealworms). He does have drinks of water from a cotton bud that I put in front of him. I’m starting to get really worried about him as this is my first jumping spider so I’m not too experienced. Does anyone know what could be wrong ?

 

[magouilles]

sounds like he's at the end of his life
male p.regius live around 1 year

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

I

sounds like he's at the end of his life
male p.regius live around 1 year

I’ve been worried that this was the case. Don’t they get slow when they start dying? Because he can still walk and jump as normal.

 

[Nicole C G]

I

I’ve been worried that this was the case. Don’t they get slow when they start dying? Because he can still walk and jump as normal.

Not necessarily

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

sounds like he's at the end of his life
male p.regius live around 1 year

I got a video of him twitching just now but it doesn’t let me post it. if he didn’t want his food he would give it a warning bite then back off but he’s not even doing that. He doesn’t seem to want to leave the small pot he is in so I’ve put it at the bottom of his enclosure. Do you have any advice of what I can do ?

 

[magouilles]

I got a video of him twitching just now but it doesn’t let me post it. if he didn’t want his food he would give it a warning bite then back off but he’s not even doing that. He doesn’t seem to want to leave the small pot he is in so I’ve put it at the bottom of his enclosure. Do you have any advice of what I can do ?

there's not much you CAN do honestly...offer injured or straight up dead prey items once in a while so they're easy to catch, make sure he has access to water aswell but nothing can save him from death

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

there's not much you CAN do honestly...offer injured or straight up dead prey items once in a while so they're easy to catch, make sure he has access to water aswell but nothing can save him from death

he keeps falling on his back when he tries to climb and can’t flip back to normal so I have to help him with a paintbrush. He’s not moving much now so I don’t think he’s got long

I posted the other day about my male p.regius and how he isn’t in very good condition. He tries to climb but he has lost his grip so he just keeps falling onto his back and I have to help him flip back over with a paintbrush.
I am really worried about him climbing a bit too high, falling and hurting himself more. Is there anything I can do to help him?

 

[Spoodfood]

How long has he been mature?

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

I’m not sure exactly , I got him in December and he moulted in February.

 

[Spoodfood]

I’m not sure exactly , I got him in December and he moulted in February.

Some males do not live long, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s just aging and weakening. Males of this species live about a year total give or take.

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

Some males do not live long, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s just aging and weakening. Males of this species live about a year total give or take.

Yeah is there anything I can do to soften his landing or minimise his falls? I think he’s trying to get back to his web so I’m putting the enclosure on its side to see if that’s where he wants to go and if it is he wouldn’t fall as often. Do you think this is a good idea?

 

[Spoodfood]

Yeah is there anything I can do to soften his landing or minimise his falls? I think he’s trying to get back to his web so I’m putting the enclosure on its side to see if that’s where he wants to go and if it is he wouldn’t fall as often. Do you think this is a good idea?

Yes that seems fine. Making the fall distance less might help a bit, so he doesn’t harm himself.

 

[egyptiancrow]

hes elderly. put a bed of sphagnum moss on the bottom of his enclosure. and i would add mesh to all the walls and cieling. even though they decline they often dont stop trying to climb even if itll injure them. getting an adult male means having 8 months or less of time with them, and 8 months is very generous. you can keep him in a small enclosure too. make sure to give him water often they dehydrate fast when elderly.

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

hes elderly. put a bed of sphagnum moss on the bottom of his enclosure. and i would add mesh to all the walls and cieling. even though they decline they often dont stop trying to climb even if itll injure them. getting an adult male means having 8 months or less of time with them, and 8 months is very generous. you can keep him in a small enclosure too. make sure to give him water often they dehydrate fast when elderly.

how could i add mesh to it? i have 2 tarantula enclosures with a mesh lid that i wouldnt mind taking it from but i have no idea how i could put it on. would the mesh let him grip more? ive had him for just under 4 months i dont have a small enclosure so i put the one he is in on its side so he cant climb as high. I am also trying to give him water but he hasnt been drinking it so ive left droplets around. Is it normal for them to trip when theyre walking?

 

[egyptiancrow]

how could i add mesh to it? i have 2 tarantula enclosures with a mesh lid that i wouldnt mind taking it from but i have no idea how i could put it on. would the mesh let him grip more? ive had him for just under 4 months i dont have a small enclosure so i put the one he is in on its side so he cant climb as high. I am also trying to give him water but he hasnt been drinking it so ive left droplets around. Is it normal for them to trip when theyre walking?

hot glue. just get some cheap tulle from the store, fabric mesh

feed him water soaked into a qtip. put it to his mouth. he will learn its water and come to drink

no, its not normal. hes old for sure.

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

hot glue. just get some cheap tulle from the store, fabric mesh

feed him water soaked into a qtip. put it to his mouth. he will learn its water and come to drink

no, its not normal. hes old for sure.

Yeah, that’s how I’ve been giving him water but when he backs up from it a few times that’s when I leave some around him

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

hot glue. just get some cheap tulle from the store, fabric mesh

feed him water soaked into a qtip. put it to his mouth. he will learn its water and come to drink

no, its not normal. hes old for sure.

Does the sphagnum moss need to be dried or can it be fresh ?

 

[egyptiancrow]

Does the sphagnum moss need to be dried or can it be fresh ?

either way is fine, just make sure its not that craft dyed stuff, which can be unsafe for spiders. i use both dry and live moss in my enclosures and with my isopod colonies! i often mist it a bit to keep it soft and "fresh".

 

[kxitlynjeffery]

either way is fine, just make sure its not that craft dyed stuff, which can be unsafe for spiders. i use both dry and live moss in my enclosures and with my isopod colonies! i often mist it a bit to keep it soft and "fresh".

Thank you so much, I will try order some today . I woke up with him on his back from falling so I flipped him back over then it happened again twice in 10 minutes