Ravine Trapdoor - Cyclocosmia truncata ?

Phases

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jun 1, 2017
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205
So, this little fella wandered up to our garage last week after a heavy rain. He actually lead to our getting a tarantula. I, btw, only assume this is a 'he', because they are the most likely to venture out.

Comes in at about 1.5" DLS according to my tape measure and the picture of him by my knife. I put him in a container with about 6 inches of substrate. Mostly nice compost, potting soil, and regular soil and moss on top. I created him a tunnel to go down molding some 2 inch insulation, hoping he would go all the way to the burrow I made. But, looks like he's only a couple inches down.

He did take to the hole I started off with my finger, and has covered it. I have no idea if he's eating, I've not seen him since! Wish I'd got better pictures of the rump.

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:) What do ya think? Here some info on it.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/174732
 
Last edited:

pannaking22

Arachnoemperor
Old Timer
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Nov 25, 2011
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4,226
I'd say it looks good for C. truncata since you're out of range for C. torreya. Actually, I think you have a female there since I'm not seeing any swelling or emboli on the ends of the pedipalps. She might have gotten flooded out and abandoned her old hole and was searching for a spot for a new one.
 

Phases

Arachnoknight
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Jun 1, 2017
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205
Yeah and the article I linked, he says it's an adult female, and this looks very near it.
 

Phases

Arachnoknight
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Jun 1, 2017
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205
Lil fella is about to be re-housed! I will try to wash her off and get pics of that rump.
 

Phases

Arachnoknight
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Jun 1, 2017
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205
Alright, done. Unsure how happy she is but she's moved. Took to the hole briefly but is now wandering around. All fake plants, with the re-hydrated substrate mixed with the compost I had put her in earlier. About 8 inches deep. Another 6 or so head space with a lid my wife put together, to keep her and crickets out. Though, as far as I've ever been able to tell, she can't climb smooth surfaces.

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basin79

ArachnoGod
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Sep 14, 2013
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5,893
The great thing with trap doors is that you can take their "sock" out of their old enclosures and put it in their new one. I did just that not so long ago.

 

Phases

Arachnoknight
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Jun 1, 2017
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I dropped a superworm in and it walked up under her and she bit it and held it. She just walked off, and turns out she ate about 60% of it. Didn't just suck it dry. Interesting.. This, btw, is pre-burrow. In fact she filled the hole I made for her. Unlike last time, where she immediately took to it.

Edit: Now she's cleaning her fangs! Wow.
 

keks

Arachnobaron
Joined
May 7, 2017
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517
This spider looks soooo strange .. :wideyed: . I really can't say if it scares me or not. It is confusioning and fascinating at the same time :wacky: .
 

Phases

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jun 1, 2017
Messages
205
Quick update, she took to the next hole I made. Tried to aim it toward the glass but looks like she might have other plans. Might be the last time I see that tribal lookin' design again for a good while!

(Actually this will probably take her a couple days if like last time)

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schmiggle

Arachnoking
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Nov 3, 2013
Messages
2,220
Good luck! Out of curiosity, why didn't you put the hole next to the edge?
 

Phases

Arachnoknight
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Jun 1, 2017
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Feeling like I'd wish I had ;) but I figured I wanted clear all the way around so she can aim it whatever way.. and hope she decides to take it to the glass. But, if she doesn't, the air of mystery will be cool too. :)

But I hope she heads for the glass
 

mconnachan

Arachnoprince
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Aug 5, 2012
Messages
1,240
Love these spiders, the way they hunt is awesome, never mind the amazing abdominal striations, they look pre-historic which they most likely are, why change when your already the best at what you do, have loved these from a very long time, they fascinate me, the fact they've never changed for millennia, great find. [EDIT] I'm in the U.K. so we don't get spiders like you guys in the Tennessee wilderness.
 

aaarg

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
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Feb 26, 2013
Messages
176
I'm jealous! Nice enclosure, too, I dig the faux-succulents!
 

RTTB

Arachnoprince
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Dec 4, 2016
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1,771
Great enclosure for a great spider. I must get one.
 

mconnachan

Arachnoprince
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Aug 5, 2012
Messages
1,240
I didn't realize that:
(1) @Phases lives in TN! (I live in Jackson, TN myself. Neat!
(2) We have trapdoor spiders in TN. Super neat!!! :)
@Leila I'm not sure pal I just hovered over @Phases avatar and that's what it said Tennessee, so yeah I think you must get them in your state, happy hunting, pick one up for me. :banghead: AAahhh I'm in the U.K. damn.
 

Phases

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jun 1, 2017
Messages
205
So quick update if you can see from these pictures. She rejected both attempts at a hole I made for her. I suspected the substrate was just too lose, despite my packing it down. She's not captive bred so shes used to what is in our yard. Just as I was going to dig up a plot to put in there instead as a last attempt before letting her lose, she found success digging her own hole.

She started down the side of the water dish, where it was constantly overflowing or leaking. So, web substrate == helps. She dug down 2 or 3 inches so far, and worked nice and hard right in front of me last night for a while. Pulling dirt out and going back. Interesting.

This morning I poked my head in, and she was working on the top/trapdoor. I snapped a pic best I could. Didn't want to disturb her. Anyway, I'm happy. You can see, if you look close, her in these pictures.

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schmiggle

Arachnoking
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Nov 3, 2013
Messages
2,220
Glad to see things are going well. If I remember right, Liphistius likes a heavily clay soil, so if you continue to have trouble you might try something like that. Smaller particles of soil are easier to build with.
 
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