Moving Obligate burrowers

[conipto]

Hey folks, what in your opinion is the best way to transfer obligate burrowers? The spider in question is a 2 inch C. fimbriatus that is in a medium sized vial right now. It made a 3 burrow chamber in the vial it was in, which is almost packed to the top with substrate. I am putting into a small kritter keeper, with substrate to about 3/4ths or the way up (roughly 3.5 inches or so) My original plan was to turn the vial upside down, and let t crawl out into the new moist sphagnum peat moss that's in the new container. However, it seems to utterly refuse to leave the vial. Any suggestions, or should I go with my current plan and just be more patient?

Bill

 

[Wade]

I'd probably just leave the open vial in there and let the spider come out when it feels like it. Of course, it may decide to keep the vial as a retreat

Wade

 

[galeogirl]

I usually turn the vial on its side and leave it in the enclosure for a few days. The t will eventually wander out and probably start burrowing in the critter keeper's substrate. Then you just remove the vial.

Your other option is to take the vial, a catch container, and the enclosure and put them in the tub, then dig the t out gently with a chopstick or a small spoon. Eventually the t will run out of the vial and you can capture it and move it to its new enclosure.

I prefer the former method since it's less stressful for both of us.