jumping spider web; pre-molt, egg sac or home?

[FrankiePinchinatti]

I was lucky enough to have found a nice phiddipus audax in my kitchen after trying for quite some time to find one in the wild or order one online. Anyways, for the first couple of weeks it would just hang out on the walls of its enclosure with no webbing at all, but recently it built up quite a thick web (thick as in I cannot see through it without shining a flashlight on the other side). It is basically a flattened tunnel with a slit opening on each end. At first I assumed it was in pre-molt and would come out with some new clothes soon but the last day or two it has been poking itself out about halfway of either opening like it was looking for prey so this has confused me since it's not typical pre-molt behavior of any other arachnid that I'm familiar with. Any clues on what it could be up to?

 

[ReignofInvertebrates]

Is it plump and well fed? I’ve had a lot of jumpers that spend most of their time in their retreats unless they’re hungry. Could also be pre molt.

 

[DarkInvader]

Could also just made a new home. Try dropping a pre killed prey at the front of the burrow. If it takes it it's a good sign molt is a little away. If it refuses let it be and check back every few days.

 

[Smotzer]

They will build them selves a little web nest that they will pretty much live in. At least IME that’s how mine pretty much lived most of its life. Mine went thru phases where it would build a new nest and stay in there for a little while until it moved it’s home again. I’d still offer food and leave it in there for a day, it’ll either eat it or it won’t. If it doesn’t take it out and keep an eye on it, try again in a week unless it’s molted

 

[FrankiePinchinatti]

Thanks for the replies. I guess in all of the sites I've looked at for info they never mentioned that they live in webs, I always assumed they were nomadic. It's very plump and healthy looking, so it seems like it's just settling in and making itself cozy.

 

[FrankiePinchinatti]

Update, he molted last night. Very strange because he just ate a pretty big meal maybe 3-4 days ago. I am used to periods of weeks/months of pre-molt fasting with scorpions and tarantulas.

 

[Smotzer]

Update, he molted last night. Very strange because he just ate a pretty big meal maybe 3-4 days ago. I am used to periods of weeks/months of pre-molt fasting with scorpions and tarantulas.

happy to hear that!! yeah sometimes they do that!!