My T barricaded himself in hide

[Neisseria]

Since a week or two my T.albopilosus has barricaded himself by diging out the substrate in his hide completely blocking off the entrance. It molted 2 weeks before that.
I'm new to the hobby and I'm wondering if they can show some sort of hibernal behaviour or is it just random.

 

[Mustafa67]

Since a week or two my T.albopilosus has barricaded himself by diging out the substrate in his hide completely blocking off the entrance. It molted 2 weeks before that.
I'm new to the hobby and I'm wondering if they can show some sort of hibernal behaviour or is it just random.

NORMAL, WAIT

 

[Neisseria]

Thanks. Good to know it's normal. I didn't plan to dig him out, but couldn't find much about this behaviour.

 

[Mustafa67]

Thanks. Good to know it's normal. I didn't plan to dig him out, but couldn't find much about this behaviour.

Search the forum, there are TONS of threads on here on T Albo (formerly known as B Albo) care. It used to be a species in the Brachypelma genus (plenty of info will be available as it is one of the most popular tarantulas).

 

[viper69]

Since a week or two my T.albopilosus has barricaded himself by diging out the substrate in his hide completely blocking off the entrance. It molted 2 weeks before that.
I'm new to the hobby and I'm wondering if they can show some sort of hibernal behaviour or is it just random.

what is random????????????????

 

[Gevo]

This is normal, and there isn't always any rhyme or reason that we can pin down about tarantulas' burrowing behaviours. It's more common for tarantulas to barricade themselves off before a molt, and you'll see some anecdotal reports from people who notice that generally, their tarantulas molt more frequently in warmer seasons, but really, you see updates in the "Who Molted Today?" thread and reports of burrowing and barricading on here year round.

Be patient. This species can seal itself away for long periods of time, which is tough on beginners. Keep the water dish full. Since your tarantula recently molted and thus is probably not fattened up, you may want to leave a pre-killed insect outside the burrow every 1-2 weeks to see if it comes out to eat. Don't put anything live in there until you can see your tarantula, and remove any uneaten prey after 24 hours so it doesn't mold.

 

[Brewser]

Curly will be out when He's good n ready and not before.
Leave em be n keep the bowl filled

 

[Spinnenfritzi]

Tarantula god burries your expectations alive...your mind will be wrangled in unpatience until the grave reopens....
and its curly ambassador reemerges and as it's body strengthened reforged by the Spoodfather your mind will have molted aswell.

Book of Spoods

 

[TheraMygale]

After it molted, did you offer food? If so, size of feeder, and did tarantula take it?

some tarantulas can get unconfident after a molt. A too big prey can send them in hiding. Its one possibility within millions.

it might have done that just to get time to harden and feel safe.

it might also have burrowed itself in without that intention but didnt get to removing the dirt in the entrance.

give it some time and see.

 

[Glorfindel]

situation normal, tarantula acting reclusive.

 

[kingshockey]

premeditated to stress you out

 

[Kada]

Learn how the equipment works and the relation when in contact with different mediums (hundreds of different soil types, water, air etc).

Same reason so many itresponsible, albiet wrll intentioned, people kill innocent animals with heat tape. Learn what that truly means and apply


People in biology really normally need to have a foundational understanding on chemistry, physics, geography and climatic principles before pressing forward into the realm of responsible "ownership"

 

[Matt Man]

and?

it's what they do, been discussed repeatedly

 

[Matt Man]

premeditated to stress you out

Crafty lil buggers, ain't they?

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Since a week or two my T.albopilosus has barricaded himself by diging out the substrate in his hide completely blocking off the entrance. It molted 2 weeks before that.
I'm new to the hobby and I'm wondering if they can show some sort of hibernal behaviour or is it just random.

Welcome to AB and gratz on your new tarantula.

There is a at the top on AB. This icon is how you search for information. AB has the largest data of past posts on a plethora of topics. Your question, (which has already been answered) has literally been asked thousands of times. I encourage all new keepers to use the search first before posting.

Also make sure to read the ToS, ( Terms of Service) and Forum Rules before posting. I still go back and read them every now and then to try and keep myself in line.

 

[TheraMygale]

I don’t reccomend this to people who just got their tarantula and didnt spend time searching and reading. But i, when i observe this, consider many things.

months ago, a b hamorii digged deep. Instead of moving the substrate, it just locked itself up. As i could see in the burrow, it was not looking premolt at all.

i had two, same sac mates. The other one looked the same and did not lock itself up.

i gave it a few weeks. Since its sack mate was feeding, i went and decided on my own that this spider might not have purposely locked itself up.

since i could see in the burrow, with a toothpick, i removed micro bits of substrate. Until, through the back of burrow, i could see light.

i placed a dead cricket, where i made hole.

cricket was eaten the next day. Hole had been made bigger.

that was my experience. Its unique to my settings and context. I was ready to accept consequences of my experiment.

note that i never stabbed the hole with the toothpick. I just removed tiny layers for their to be a small opening.

it kept moving more dirt after that. Blocking it. But it didnt last a day.

 

[Matt Man]

I don’t reccomend this to people who just got their tarantula and didnt spend time searching and reading. But i, when i observe this, consider many things.

months ago, a b hamorii digged deep. Instead of moving the substrate, it just locked itself up. As i could see in the burrow, it was not looking premolt at all.

i had two, same sac mates. The other one looked the same and did not lock itself up.

i gave it a few weeks. Since its sack mate was feeding, i went and decided on my own that this spider might not have purposely locked itself up.

since i could see in the burrow, with a toothpick, i removed micro bits of substrate. Until, through the back of burrow, i could see light.

i placed a dead cricket, where i made hole.

cricket was eaten the next day. Hole had been made bigger.

that was my experience. Its unique to my settings and context. I was ready to accept consequences of my experiment.

note that i never stabbed the hole with the toothpick. I just removed tiny layers for their to be a small opening.

it kept moving more dirt after that. Blocking it. But it didnt last a day.

I have something like that going on with my A. moderatum, unsure whether she wants to dig herself out or not. I am slowly making an opening towards her burrow

 

[TheraMygale]

I have something like that going on with my A. moderatum, unsure whether she wants to dig herself out or not. I am slowly making an opening towards her burrow

im onboard with that. Its all circumstancial and the responsability lies with keeper. The choice is ours.

ive done this more then once in different circumstances and so far its only been positive.

afterall, every situation is different. I dont think theres a straight, you must do this rule. To each their own.

as long as someone isnt interrupting a molt and hurting tarantula of course. Then again, if you can clearly see through a burrow that tarantula is in a bad way, then yeah, go investigate. But that comes with experience and judgement.

 

[Matt Man]

im onboard with that. Its all circumstancial and the responsability lies with keeper. The choice is ours.

ive done this more then once in different circumstances and so far its only been positive.

afterall, every situation is different. I dont think theres a straight, you must do this rule. To each their own.

as long as someone isnt interrupting a molt and hurting tarantula of course. Then again, if you can clearly see through a burrow that tarantula is in a bad way, then yeah, go investigate. But that comes with experience and judgement.

I go very small, very slow and away from the T. I also drop water there hoping it will figure out there is a way out and just finish the job themselves. It's not her first time doing it. She usually digs herself out

 

[kingshockey]

p muticus will give good you good lessons in stressing over blocked burrows