Male Phidippus Regius not interested in food, molting?

[DarkCloud]

Hi, I've had my Male Phidippus Regius for almost 4 months now. I want to say in the last month he has become really uninterested in food. He used to get the wax worms I'd put in his bowl weekly.

I have another jumper who is a little larger, she's a mature female of the same species. She eats really regularly, like she'll accept food a couple times a week.

How likely is it that he might just be molting? He's webbing up his enclosure a lot. I just want to make sure I'm not neglecting his care. If he is molting, what can I expect? Should I remove the worm from his bowl? We're relatively new to the hobby.

Thanks!

 

[pandaking]

Usually a hammock like web structure (I think yours looks like he’s making something of the sort) means he’s molting. However, he could also be dying of old age because older male spiders often refuse food

 

[DarkCloud]

Usually a hammock like web structure (I think yours looks like he’s making something of the sort) means he’s molting. However, he could also be dying of old age because older male spiders often refuse food

I'm pretty sure I got him as a juvenile, if that helps. He's always had his hammock and liked building it, but lately it has become way larger and more complex. He even added onto it in the last night. Thanks for the response!

 

[DarkCloud]

Seems like he could be molting, I was able to get a closer look and the green near his fangs is starting to be a lot less vibrant. He's also significantly smaller than my mature female and is still really active, so I dont think he's just old. I'm gonna keep his enclosure more moist, got a hygrometer to monitor it closer.

 

[DarkCloud]

He took a meal worm and is currently consuming it, so he's good now

 

[Zoopy]

I know I'm coming in this thread a bit late, but it's not abnormal for adult P Regius to be uninterested in food. My male had his adult molt in September and ever since he only eats every 7 - 14 days. Just keep misting for him so that he always has water available and try and ensure that food is available in case he decides that he's hungry.

Adult males P Regius care only about one thing and that's finding a female to mate with. Everything else is a secondary concern.

 

[hjalfi]

I actually have almost the same question, so it's probably better to post here than make a new thread --- I have a Regius female (my first ever pet bought from a breeder!). I fed her a cricket Saturday before last, she ate half of it and then retired with a abdomen so bulging that it looked really uncomfortable, and has stayed in her hide ever since.

Can I assume that if she's not patrolling her enclosure then she's not hungry, and that I shouldn't put food in? She's a 0.1 juvenile, so I would be expecting a moult, but don't know when. Or how to recognise it. I used to have a Marpissa muscosa who used to spend weeks at a time in her hide but they're native where I live and regals aren't, so I want to be careful.

 

[Zoopy]

If she ate until she was bulging, it could mean that she's getting ready to molt. I've noticed that mine sometimes stuff themselves until they look like balloons before a molt. They can go weeks or even months without food, so don't worry too much if she's not eating right now. I would just make sure that she always has water available. You can offer food every few days and if it looks like she's not interested, just take it out again.

 

[hjalfi]

She moulted!

I'll make sure she's got some water but other than that just wait until she comes out on her own, I think. Then try a cricket and see what happens. (Unfortunately crickets grow, and the small crickets I bought weeks ago are now bigger than she is.) Apart from anything else, she has, cat-like, built her hide in the most awkward place possible and I can't open the enclosure without disturbing her.

Anyway, thanks for the advice!