The daring escape (and subsequent recapture) of Fred!

[Dasha]

I have a phiddipus audax, recently he acquired me . I made a super sweet habitat for him in a Zilla habitat last night, but he escaped! This morning I was so sad, I looked for him everywhere and looked inside the dirt and in the plants and everywhere else inside the habitat, couldn’t find him —then just a few minutes ago, he reappeared on the kitchen wall! Captured him again successfully, and went outside to find food for him. Found a pill bug and a centipede; Fred (the phid) jumped out onto the side of the jar but then I caught him with a smaller jar and, in the process accidentally pinched off part of one of his hind legs. I feel horrible about this! I hope it will regrow! Anyone know how long it takes to recover? Fred looks pretty juvenile and I don’t think he’s anywhere near moulting; I have heard that when moulting, they can regrow an injured leg. Any comments will help. Please enjoy this photo of Fred!

 

[ratluvr76]

Please don't feed wild caught feeders to your T's. The potential for pesticide contamination is too high.

 

[DaveM]

How much regrowth you see will depend on how much time there is between injury and the next molt, and on how many molts he has left in his life. These guys regenerate pretty fast. After 1 molt the regenerated leg will probably be thin and small, though complete with all its segments, just in miniature. In 2 molts (if he has that many left before maturity) you might not notice much difference between the new leg and his others.

 

[Dasha]

Please don't feed wild caught feeders to your T's. The potential for pesticide contamination is too high.

Hi I would agree with you on that, except I forgot to specify that I have an organic vegetable garden and I found the pill bug and the centipede under a pot. I have never ever used pesticides. I think those wild caught bugs will be fine. But thank you for your concern! I love my little spood.

 

[Dasha]

How much regrowth you see will depend on how much time there is between injury and the next molt, and on how many molts he has left in his life. These guys regenerate pretty fast. After 1 molt the regenerated leg will probably be thin and small, though complete with all it's segments, just in miniature. In 2 molts (if he has that many left before maturity) you might not notice much difference between the new leg and his others.

Thank you so much, that is very good news! Again I think this is a fairly young spider but I can’t tell since I’m new to keeping P. audax as a pet. I wanted one for such a long time, and this guy showed up in my bathroom last night so I feel chosen by him! I owe to him to give him a wonderful life.

 

[ratluvr76]

Thank you so much, that is very good news! Again I think this is a fairly young spider but I can’t tell since I’m new to keeping p.Audax as a pet. I wanted one for such a long time, and this guy showed up in my bathroom last night so I feel chosen by him! I owe to him to give him a wonderful life.

Hey Dasha ,
I love that you're so careful about your little dude. I just wanted to point out, hopefully without coming across judgey or mean as that's not what is meant but the proper capitalization for scientific names is P. audax (the genus is capitalized while the species is lower case). So in this case, you would write P. audax.

again, not to sound judgey or rude, this was a thing I had someone kindly explain it to me when I started years (to many to acknowledge) ago

 

[The Snark]

I love that you're so careful about your little dude. I just wanted to point out, hopefully without coming across judgey or mean as that's not what is meant but the proper capitalization for scientific names is P. audax (the genus is capitalized while the species is lower case). So in this case, you would write P. audax.

Pedant!
But correct. Recalling those college days and the profs and instructors that would lose it, even fire a broadside at your GPA for failing to use the scientific nomenclature properly. Sweat for weeks over a term paper only to get a mediocre grade because you did a phD.

 

[Dasha]

Hey Dasha ,
I love that you're so careful about your little dude. I just wanted to point out, hopefully without coming across judgey or mean as that's not what is meant but the proper capitalization for scientific names is P. audax (the genus is capitalized while the species is lower case). So in this case, you would write P. audax.

again, not to sound judgey or rude, this was a thing I had someone kindly explain it to me when I started years (to many to acknowledge) ago

Thanks for that excellent advice!

 

[Dasha]

I thought I had it correct and realize that I didn’t proof properly before I submitted the post. I definitely appreciate your pointing out my error.

 

[ratluvr76]

Pedant!
But correct. Recalling those college days and the profs and instructors that would lose it, even fire a broadside at your GPA for failing to use the scientific nomenclature properly. Sweat for weeks over a term paper only to get a mediocre grade because you did a phD.

Yeah, I had similar experiences at school in my field too. LOL! I believe it was actually you Snark that corrected me when I was a nooblet on these boards 15 years ago.

*omg, I just realized this is yet another reminder of how EFFING OLD I AM!!!! 15 YEARS ago. *Cries into my pinot"*

 

[Dasha]

Yeah, I had similar experiences at school in my field too. LOL! I believe it was actually you Snark that corrected me when I was a nooblet on these boards 15 years ago.

*omg, I just realized this is yet another reminder of how EFFING OLD I AM!!!! 15 YEARS ago. *Cries into my pinot"*

It is OK to be getting older! It is astonishing how quickly time passes Oh, well—the longer one lives, the more one sees and learns. I suspect I am significantly older than the both of you, having just celebrated the arrival of my 6th and 7th grandchildren- TWIN GIRLS!! And yes… I’m that Gran who still plays basketball with my grandsons and runs around the backyard catching spiders and bugs with them, and enjoying every moment! There’s a great deal of merit and dignity in being older

 

[The Snark]

15 years ago.

15 years. . . . ................................ AAAAAAGHH!!!

It is OK to be getting older!

"I look forwards to getting old. To sitting down at the dinner table at a family reunion and suddenly yell WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE AND WHERE'S MY HORSE?!!" -George Carlin

 

[Dasha]

Hey Dasha ,
I love that you're so careful about your little dude. I just wanted to point out, hopefully without coming across judgey or mean as that's not what is meant but the proper capitalization for scientific names is P. audax (the genus is capitalized while the species is lower case). So in this case, you would write P. audax.

again, not to sound judgey or rude, this was a thing I had someone kindly explain it to me when I started years (to many to acknowledge) ago

I changed the scientific name to its proper form: P. audax. I also did a little research, and discovered that the scientific name should also be italicized.

 

[The Snark]

discovered that the scientific name should also be italicized.

Or in the case of certain hominids, buried in the sludge under a hog pen.

 

[Dasha]

Your strange and cryptic comment is subject to a variety of interpretations—some unfavorable…

 

[The Snark]

Your strange and cryptic comment is subject to a variety of interpretations—some unfavorable…

The price of being mercurial. How's Fred doing?

 

[Dasha]

He is hunkered down (or rather, up) at the top of the mason jar he’s currently occupying. I’m researching best enclosures so he doesn’t escape again! And I want something that opens on the side so I don’t disrupt his little nest.

 

[The Snark]

I’m researching best enclosures so he doesn’t escape again! And I want something that opens on the side so I don’t disrupt his little nest.

I feel assured you'll find something. I'd offer you my computer monitor but I need it. Had a jumper patrol it for several weeks a while back. Very amiable tyke, comfortable in getting on my hand, that had decided the monitor was it's ideal hunting ground.

 

[darkness975]

Don't use centipedes as feeders. They are venomous and they prey on spiders regularly.