Tarantula "Nest" building

Achabot93

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 29, 2020
Messages
1
Good evening folks!
I am somewhat new to the forum, owned a few T's before now, but the critter I'm posting about is my Ornithoctoninae sp “Central Mindano”
They aren't super common as I've come to find surfing boards and posts on multiple platforms...But I wanted to reach out on a behavior I've never seen before. My little guy (or gal, never been any good at sexing) has started pulling stuff up off the ground and hauling it up to it's cork hide, effectively building a roof of sorts to cover the large opening, and then channeling tunnels along the side.
At first I thought it was accidental, maybe little pieces that got stuck here and there from it wandering about at night so I've taken them off and out to clear an opening for feeding.
but recently, it's began pulling huge (twice it's size) pieces of moss up, and then webbing around them to build up the entrance.
currently, it's abdomen is about the size of a penny, assuming it was a few weeks old when I got it from Fearnottarantula it would be 4 months old, it's molted at least 4 times since I've had it.
anyone else with experience witnessing this kind of behavior?
most species I've kept have been terrestrial or fossorial, first aeroborial species I've kept.
 

spideyspinneret78

Arachnoprince
Active Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2019
Messages
1,400
Yeah, it's actually a really common behavior with arboreal species, especially slings. They'll grab bits of substrate, moss, leaves, etc. and incorporate it into their webbing as a form of camouflage. Many species will plaster dirt into their webbing and make "dirt curtains" to conceal themselves from predators.
 

HeartBum

Arachnobaron
Joined
Nov 14, 2020
Messages
360
Can confirm, my O sp Blue Panay has done exactly this, built itself a little nest in the corner of its tub with substrate thrown over the webbing, and a little tunnel that it creeps out of when prey gets dropped in there. Pretty cool to be honest.
 

The Grym Reaper

Arachnoreaper
Joined
Jul 19, 2016
Messages
4,830
Yeah, it's pretty common behaviour for arboreals that aren't from the Aviculariinae subfamily.
 

Smotzer

ArachnoGod-Mod
Staff member
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
5,542
Very normal and awesome behavior to watch!! I always love watching them build dirt curtains and such!
 
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