Tarantula isn't digging

[Jibran Adeel]

Got this lasiodora difficilis about a week ago. I am a little concerned because I'm pretty sure its supposed to burrow, but it's not. It dug a hole a bit but then it stopped and didn't get back to it. It usually hangs around close to its water dish. Maybe the substrate is too dry. It has eaten and it isn't sluggish, but i only moistened one side of the enclosure. Can someone tell me what i should do?

 

[RonnyT]

Got this lasiodora difficilis about a week ago. I am a little concerned because I'm pretty sure its supposed to burrow, but it's not. It dug a hole a bit but then it stopped and didn't get back to it. It usually hangs around close to its water dish. Maybe the substrate is too dry. It has eaten and it isn't sluggish, but i only moistened one side of the enclosure. Can someone tell me what i should do?

Sometimes tarantulas just don't dig. My N. chromatus never burrowed. I would just moisten the sub a little bit more.

 

[Jibran Adeel]

Sometimes tarantulas just don't dig. My N. chromatus never burrowed. I would just moisten the sub a little bit more.

Well even though im concerned, at least i get to see it. Thanks for the answer

 

[Theneil]

sometimes (no experience with that species) a starter burrow helps...

 

[Jibran Adeel]

sometimes (no experience with that species) a starter burrow helps...

I did make a starter burrow, it filled 3/4 of it with substrate, and only sticks half its body in there sometimes

 

[Theneil]

Well i guess that only helps sometimes... LOL

 

[cold blood]

1. You do not need to remove a t to moisten the sub...just pour water in.

2. Lasiodora rarely burrow past the sling stage...even then they don't always burrow.

Just be happy you can see it, its not really a concern in the least.

 

[volcanopele]

That's literally the #1 benefit of Lassies, they don't burrow and they are out (almost) all the time. I would give it some way to hide though, like a little half-buried piece of cork bark or one of those half-logs. The substrate looks fine. As far as soil moisture, I usually doing something similar, moisten one side and leave the other dry, but that won't affect where it hides. A small water dish wouldn't hurt (yes they drink water).

 

[Jibran Adeel]

That's literally the #1 benefit of Lassies, they don't burrow and they are out (almost) all the time. I would give it some way to hide though, like a little half-buried piece of cork bark or one of those half-logs. The substrate looks fine. As far as soil moisture, I usually doing something similar, moisten one side and leave the other dry, but that won't affect where it hides. A small water dish wouldn't hurt (yes they drink water).

It's always close to the water bowl so assume it is drinking the water, also i don't have any pieces of cork bark or half logs. Will something from outside work? I know wood or rocks from outside have to be boiled or baked.

 

[volcanopele]

Sigh, okay, you do have a water dish. don't know why I didn't see it. I'm sorry about that. But yes, that's good.

As long as you sterilize the some bark, that should work. It just needs something to hide under if it's startled. So you put in some bark, carve out some space underneath it so it can fit in it, and it should be a lot more comfortable.