Jumping spider molt

[evaam]

Hi, everyone.

I recently got a phidippus regius(going on two weeks). I’ve been waiting for him to have his first molt with us before upgrading enclosure. He’s showed some signs recently of pre-molt. He’s gone a few days without eating and has been spending lots of time on his back in his little hammock. Today be came out so I thought I would offer food. We bought pinhead crickets and meal worms for him post molt. Have been feeding flightless fruit flies. A cricket escaped the bin so I decided to offer it to our spider. He ate it happily. So I thought to add a few more(3). Unfortunately a couple ended choosing to hang out in his hammock. I got them out as soon as I noticed he wasnt eating them and was also avoiding his hammock. He still will not go near it and now Im noticing he seems to be making a new one. Prior to today he hasnt eaten in about 4 days. Im just kind of worried that he wont have enough time to build a hammock and will mismolt. To any experienced people, does this seem normal? Or what should I do if anything?

thank you and Im sorry for the wordiness. Im just worried.

 

[SilentWidowMaker]

Seems fine to me, they'll definitely eat when they're hungry. Please be sure your feeding appropriate sized prey although with adult jumping spiders they can eat prey a little bit bigger. They often make multiple hammocks not only to molt in but also for safety and sleep. They have their timing down as far as molting goes just be sure to provide water through misting the side of it's enclosure. I wouldn't worry at this point.

 

[Nicole C G]

They don’t need a large thick nest to molt. They can make suitable molting nests in a very short amount of time. Like, probably less than a few hours. Just trust his timing and be patient.

 

[evaam]

Update: he hung out in the new area through the night but is back in his original hammock. Thank you for your replies! I was just worried I stressed him out with the crickets invading. I tend to be a worry-wart anyway when Im new to something and mis-molt was drilled into me with my research. I appreciate you all taking the time to reply.

 

[SalticusScenicusStar]

Something similar happened to me too.

 

[CRX]

I think everything is fine OP. I have two juvenile Audax and they both have two different hammocks in their enclosures. But please keep us updated!

 

[CRX]

I was drunk, I dont know why I said regius lol. Mine are both audax.