Old Regal Jumping Spider feeding - HELP! Won't eat - blind?

[Qooirk]

So my regal jumping spider is reaching her 1 year with me point, and she was an adult when I brought her home last march. She used to be a great huntress, but a couple months ago she started slowing down, and it has now been several weeks since she has caught anything. I put her in a small tupperware to feed her (always have), and she used to eat medium crickets, then was doing okay with small crickets, and now doesn't catch anything. She doesn't seem to be training on them like she used to, so I am wondering if she may be losing/have lose her eyesight. Ive tried offering small waxworms as well, hoping softer prey would work. Does anyone have any recommendations for feeding her? I hate the thought of her literally starving to death because she can't see her prey (I know that's probably natural, but she's my responsibility and I am a capable human, so...). Has anyone tried pureeing bugs and offering droplets of bug goo? I think she is still drinking little water droplets, but that's hard to tell too. I handicapped-enabled her enclosure a while ago (added mesh to the walls for her).

 

[xXTristinaXx]

I don’t know if she’s blind but she is dying and her end is in the near future sadly

 

[Pmurinushmacla]

If she is indeed dying of age, then feeding her like that would only prolong the inevitable imo. I'm not a jumping spider guy tho so idk fs

 

[Nicole C G]

Putting the guts of prey on their mouths I’ve heard works if they need help eating. Also, she’s been an adult over a year? Wow!

 

[Qooirk]

Not only that, but she laid FOUR clutches of eggs last year. She was a very good mom. I've been in the veterinary field for 8 years now, and I just have no idea how to gage discomfort in a jumping spider. I suspect blindness because while still able to move okay, she would jump in surprise when a small cricket bumps into her face, like she didn't see it, and act defensive instead of hunting it. Ugh, this sucks. I admit it will be a relief when she passes unless she eats something - I just don't want her to be in pain or to be hungry but unable to feed.

I do know I hope to find a velvet spider once Hops has passed. They live much longer haha! Thanks to those who replied, I appreciate it.

Putting the guts of prey on their mouths I’ve heard works if they need help eating. Also, she’s been an adult over a year? Wow!

I may try, I will report back if there's any success!

 

[gorybmovie]

So my regal jumping spider is reaching her 1 year with me point, and she was an adult when I brought her home last march. She used to be a great huntress, but a couple months ago she started slowing down, and it has now been several weeks since she has caught anything. I put her in a small tupperware to feed her (always have), and she used to eat medium crickets, then was doing okay with small crickets, and now doesn't catch anything. She doesn't seem to be training on them like she used to, so I am wondering if she may be losing/have lose her eyesight. Ive tried offering small waxworms as well, hoping softer prey would work. Does anyone have any recommendations for feeding her? I hate the thought of her literally starving to death because she can't see her prey (I know that's probably natural, but she's my responsibility and I am a capable human, so...). Has anyone tried pureeing bugs and offering droplets of bug goo? I think she is still drinking little water droplets, but that's hard to tell too. I handicapped-enabled her enclosure a while ago (added mesh to the walls for her).

Like a few others have said, you can offer her guts. I have heard of people offering them on q-tips. I've also heard of people offering freshly killed prey to their aging spiders. When I offer guts, I just cut a mealworm in half and squeeze them out. Your spider sounds like she has had an amazing life. You've done a great job.

 

[PJ B]

So my regal jumping spider is reaching her 1 year with me point, and she was an adult when I brought her home last march. She used to be a great huntress, but a couple months ago she started slowing down, and it has now been several weeks since she has caught anything. I put her in a small tupperware to feed her (always have), and she used to eat medium crickets, then was doing okay with small crickets, and now doesn't catch anything. She doesn't seem to be training on them like she used to, so I am wondering if she may be losing/have lose her eyesight. Ive tried offering small waxworms as well, hoping softer prey would work. Does anyone have any recommendations for feeding her? I hate the thought of her literally starving to death because she can't see her prey (I know that's probably natural, but she's my responsibility and I am a capable human, so...). Has anyone tried pureeing bugs and offering droplets of bug goo? I think she is still drinking little water droplets, but that's hard to tell too. I handicapped-enabled her enclosure a while ago (added mesh to the walls for her).

If she's over a year old, she's behaving like any elderly spood does. They aren't interested in food. They do continue to drink water, though, and you might try mixing the water with raw honey on a Q-tip which might perk her up. As mentioned in a previous post, guts from live food that you could lightly spread on her mouth area with a Q-tip is a good option too. I happen to have two girls - my regius Tess-Anne and my texanus Traci - who are both 13-14 months old. Traci eats a cricket rarely, once a month if that. Tess-Anne doesn't eat her crickets, so I poured in some flightless fruit flies. Whether or not she ate them I'm not sure, but when I checked her enclosure, there was no sign of the fruit flies, so maybe she did eat them. You could try those, too.

 

[Qooirk]

Thank you all for your recommendations, no luck yet, but she showed signs of wanting to hunt today (she tried, but her aim is not good, even in a tiny feeding chamber I have for her), so I think she is still hungry. And as per PJ B from above, she did still want to drink yesterday. I may try the mealworm tip and mix it with water to make like a bug soup. Will report back any success!