My Regal Jumping Spider can't be seen any where, but its impossible that it escaped. Help me find it!

[NMTs]

It was definitely alive in that pic. The pic is its first seconds in the viv. Couldn't be a build up of mold that fast haha

 

[Nicole C G]

Except the dead spider in that pic is covered in mold, so if it's not there any more it is because it is completely decomposed and has been consumed by the cleaning crew in the viv. So it's been dead since you took that pic or longer. Sorry your spider died!

I see no mold.

It was definitely alive in that pic. The pic is its first seconds in the viv. Couldn't be a build up of mold that fast haha

This would have been important information to know at the beginning.

 

[NMTs]

I see no mold.


This would have been important information to know at the beginning.

So you think the spider just disappeared into thin air? Come on...

 

[Nicole C G]

So you think the spider just disappeared into thin air? Come on...

No, I just think they can’t find it. Can a spider really decompose entirely within a week? What I said was that I see no mold on the spider.

 

[NMTs]

No, I just think they can’t find it. Can a spider really decompose entirely within a week? What I said was that I see no mold on the spider.

I may not be right about the mold, but it sure <edit> looks like a moldy spider corpse in that pic to me...

Also, yes - I believe that at warm temps in a very moist environment (which this appears to be), the spider could certainly decompose at least enough to be hard to distinguish from the rest of the substrate in there, if not entirely. Especially if there are any other microorganisms active in the enclosure (springtails, etc.). It would take longer for a big T to decompose that much, but for a little jumper a week is plenty of time. They probably can't find it because it doesn't look like a spider anymore.

 

[Nicole C G]

I may not be right about the mold, but it sure <edit> looks like a moldy spider corpse in that pic to me...

Also, yes - I believe that at warm temps in a very moist environment (which this appears to be), the spider could certainly decompose at least enough to be hard to distinguish from the rest of the substrate in there, if not entirely. Especially if there are any other microorganisms active in the enclosure (springtails, etc.). It would take longer for a big T to decompose that much, but for a little jumper a week is plenty of time. They probably can't find it because it doesn't look like a spider anymore.

Makes sense. Also, I recommend looking up photos of Phidippus regius. They can look fluffy like that all the time.

 

[NMTs]

Makes sense. Also, I recommend looking up photos of Phidippus regius. They can look fluffy like that all the time.

It looks like I see it dead in the corner there?

I've seen pics of them, and seen them in person, but the one in the photo doesn't look right. You were the first person to respond and say you thought it was dead in the photo. Just out of curiosity, what did you see that made you believe that?

 

[Nicole C G]

I've seen pics of them, and seen them in person, but the one in the photo doesn't look right. You were the first person to respond and say you thought it was dead in the photo. Just out of curiosity, what did you see that made you believe that?

The small-ish size of the abdomen, and the death-curl-like pose.

 

[NMTs]

Yep. Something about this is fishy... Have a good night!