L. violaceopes chewing on foam

[astraldisaster]

Well, I just discovered the origin of the mysterious scraping noise I kept hearing periodically... it seems my juvenile Lampropelma violaceopes is trying to extend her hide by digging into the foam backdrop of her tank. :wall:

First of all, should I be worried? I doubt there is anything in the foam that would be toxic to tarantulas, but I figured I should double-check.

Second, does anyone have any suggestions on how to discourage this behavior? I'd like to fill in the gap between the foam and the bottom of the tank, I'm just not sure what to use. I had a few inches of substrate in there, but she dug it all out and piled it at the entrance to her hide.

 

[xhexdx]

Heh.

Not sure how to discourage the behavior of a tarantula...maybe rehouse it in something without foam?

I don't think it would be harmful to the spider since (I assume) it's not actually consuming it.

 

[astraldisaster]

Yeah, I know tarantulas can't be taught or conditioned not to follow their instincts. I'd like to keep her in this tank, I was just wondering if anyone would have a good suggestion of something to use to fill in that gap so she won't keep trying to dig into it. Caulk, perhaps? Too bad I don't own a caulking gun.

I should probably just remove the foam. Glad to know it isn't dangerous to her, though.

 

[killy]

Several months ago, maybe a year, it's been too long to remember, I naively placed a styrofoam cup in my Chaco's enclosure as a hide. A couple of days passed and I discovered little white bits of styrofoam all over the substrate, a humongous chew-hole in the cup, and Cocoa, my Chaco, sitting smugly nearby as if to say, "Geez, how did THAT happen????." I practically laughed my arse off - I thought only Diablo, my vagans, was up to mischief like this.
The hilarity was tempered, however, with the nagging question: did I just poison my beloved G. pulchripes?

I needn't have worried, nor should you - as I say, it's been too long to remember, and to this day, no harm appears to have been done to the tarantula. The cup? Never stood a chance!

The question I'd like to have answered is: why does my Chaco (and your violaceopes) do this? For recreation? To express his distaste for foam (that can't be it, or he never would have chewed on it to begin with)? Because he thinks I'm a lousy interior decorator (in which case I'd have to grudgingly agree with him)? I would really love to know. Maybe the explanation is something as simple as "he does it because he can" ... I should add, it's comforting to consider that he does not treat the back of my hand like a chew-toy the way he does styrofoam!

I don't think behavior like this can be changed. For whatever reason, it just seems to be what Ts do. Your anecdote validates that. So, as the saying goes, the only way things are going to change is if you change.

Do what I did - ditch the foam!

 

[Chris_Skeleton]

My G. pulchripes does this all the time to it's foam burrow. Nothing to worry about.

Why does it do it you ask? Because it wants it that way. No reason to do anything really, let your spider do what it wants with its home.

 

[Anastasia]

Yeah, I know tarantulas can't be taught or conditioned not to follow their instincts. I'd like to keep her in this tank, I was just wondering if anyone would have a good suggestion of something to use to fill in that gap so she won't keep trying to dig into it. Caulk, perhaps? Too bad I don't own a caulking gun.

I should probably just remove the foam. Glad to know it isn't dangerous to her, though.

No caulking would help,
plain simple they making home is a safest zone, means any holes have to be plugged any substrate removed any soft material will be chewed to the safe and somewhat strong and secure surface and discarded, -safe zone- inside hide safe and private

 

[ZergFront]

Nothing will stop it short of taking all styrofoam out. I doubt it would be able to ingest anything as even all solids are filtered out of their food.

 

[killy]

... let your spider do what it wants with its home.

He can do anything he wants, but he ain't doin' it with styrofoam.

 

[astraldisaster]

Thanks for the input, everyone.

No caulking would help,
plain simple they making home is a safest zone, means any holes have to be plugged any substrate removed any soft material will be chewed to the safe and somewhat strong and secure surface and discarded, -safe zone- inside hide safe and private

Ana, I just want to make sure I understood correctly -- you're saying caulk wouldn't necessarily help? They can't chew through that, can they? :?

Either way, I think I'll leave the current setup for a while, and remove the foam if she chews through it enough to tunnel up behind it. I'm sort of interested to see how far she goes with this.

 

[Anastasia]

Thanks for the input, everyone.



Ana, I just want to make sure I understood correctly -- you're saying caulk wouldn't necessarily help? They can't chew through that, can they? :?

Either way, I think I'll leave the current setup for a while, and remove the foam if she chews through it enough to tunnel up behind it. I'm sort of interested to see how far she goes with this.

No, what Am saying they will destroy anything that is softer, foam is soft
I have couple troublemakers that shew of the screen vents, just couldn't stop them, had to rehouse them in secure enclosures with bigger bars
you have to figure out how to spider-proof/spider-safe the enclosures
they like kids, constantly getting in trouble
see here >> Eight legged can-openers

 

[Skordog]

I just rehoused my pulchripes into a multi-level tank I built using foam shelves with substrate glued on them. I walked in on him as he was chewing away at the second level. Very funny to watch!

Also kinda fun to see him use his fangs to dig in and then pull real hard until it rips a chunk loose. He is quite the busy bee. Always moving substrate, plants, etc. around.

 

[skar]

First off- L. violaceopes are figging awesome !!
Second I wouldn't worry bout it, it's behind the tank anyways so you won't see it. But looking at your pic you should add more substrate, they tend to be more semi arboreal and like to make a burrow in captivity. I believe yours is needing a chance to burrow against the shelter .

 

[astraldisaster]

Skordog -- It seems some Ts will ignore foam completely, and others go at it like there's no tomorrow! Quite funny, indeed.

Skar -- I ended up moving her to a new, foam-less tank. I gave her a bunch of substrate inside her cork bark tube, and she has thrown almost all of it out. She probably is trying to burrow down deeper. I think I might remove the tube entirely, add a little more substrate in the back to make a "hillside" of sorts, and give her a cork slab instead. I'm getting worried that she might try to molt inside the tube and not have enough room.

I used to see her little legs poking out, resting at the entrance of the tube, almost constantly, but I haven't at all for the past week or so...

 

[skar]

From what I know, the cork tube is a perfect choice for this sp. ( one of my favs) I'm not sure about size of your T. for room to molt, but you would know better than I. I personally think your hill idea is good.
Yet that's what they do. throw the substrate out and make a second entrance .
Awesome Ts period.

 

[astraldisaster]

Well, I just redid her setup, because I was getting too paranoid about potential molting issues with the tube. And she looks to me to be in serious premolt -- dull, FAT and having more issues than she should climbing.

I don't know how she got such a booty...I swear I've only fed her 6 crickets tops, and I've had her almost 2 months.

I feel sort of bad that I disturbed her in premolt, but it's better than having her molt funny (or die trying) due to lack of space.

Here's her new setup:

I think I'm going to add more substrate.

 

[skar]

Maybe start a lil burrow for her ? Ya they can run up water so probably premolt . Very cool

 

[astraldisaster]

Yeah, I'll leave her alone overnight, and if she hasn't burrowed then I'll start one for her. I think I'll make her a new, BIG tube hide when it's time to move her to a new enclosure. I can't wait to see how much she grows with this molt!