To feed or not to feed? (hidden T)

[RFlagg]

I realise this might be a question that gets asked a lot (I searched other threads too), but it's always more comforting to get a personal answer I think. Thanks for any replies anyway. So my new and first T, a G. Pulchripes (just over 1 inch so far) hasn't shown up for about a week and a half now. Its burrow is pretty big for its size (half of a flower pot) and not only that but she has dug down and under the flower pot edge so I can't see it when it's down there. Furthermore she walled up the entrance a bit with substrate (but no webbing). Now I realise it's normal for a T to stay away that long, I was just wondering if I should try and offer it a cricket. Last time she ate was about a day before she disappeared. Problem is 1) I don't know if she's in molt 2) she doesn't have a habit of cleaning up so I don't like to leave any food remains inside the burrow and 3) because the hideout goes down I'm not sure if the cricket can get back out again in case the T doesn't want it, it's pretty steep.

Like I said I know it's not uncommon for spiders to hide that long, I'm just a bit worried because its still tiny and I don't know if it'll actively come out for food or simply wait and possibly starve. Does the whole "months without food" go for all sizes or just grownups? Also the water dish remains untouched (it's on top of the flower pot). Oh and there's no strange smells coming from the hide so I don't think it's dead. Anyway, that's my question, would be great to know what you guys would do in this situation. The main reason I'm worried is because even though it's not the first time it goes into hiding, it's the first time I see no signs of activity (earth moved the next morning, substrate in water dish etc.)

 

[Storm76]

At that size, I often experience my T's to take 2-3 weeks before reappearing (since they went into premolt, molted, rested...then came out again) - I wouldn't worry just yet and leave it be for another week. 1" size I'd keep the susbtrate slightly moist, though.

 

[meghanbe]

I've had T's seal themselves off in burrows or hides for weeks at a time. Almost always, for me, this has preceded a molt (especially if it's a T who is usually out and about). I personally wouldn't offer the T a cricket. If it's hungry, it'll probably come out hunting for food. Then you should see some change in the environment. If not, it's likely about to molt, and the last thing you want to do is introduce a cricket that could get back there and disturb her in that vulnerable state. Tarantulas--even very small ones--can easily go a couple of weeks without eating. I recently had a 1.25" P. cambridgei sling not eat and hide away in her burrow for almost an entire month, immediately after I got her (she may have eaten once shortly after I received her, but definitely went 3-4 weeks without taking the mealworms I offered on a regular basis). Then one day she emerged from her burrow, bigger and better than ever, and she's been much more visible since (especially a few days after a feeding).

Don't worry about it. Just hang tight for a couple weeks at least.

 

[Aviara]

I wanted to add - because your sling is only 1", it's best to remove the water bowl as soon as possible. Until they are around 2", slings have fragile, non-waterproofed exoskeletons and can more easily drown in water sources. Most keepers will only supply a water bowl once the sling reaches 2", some will wait until 2.5" or 3" depending on species.
I feed my tarantulas when they are "barricaded" in a burrow. A healthy, non-molting tarantula is fully capable of pushing away a feeder insect it is not interested in eating. However, if you are concerned that the sling is in premolt or currently molting, then wait a few weeks and see if it emerges. Unlike adult tarantulas, slings molt and recover very quickly. Also, while they can't go as long as adults, slings can still fast a remarkably long time without harmful effects.

 

[RFlagg]

Thanks for the replies guys. And I will remove the bottle cap like you said Aviara. I always read a water cup is fine as long as the spider's legspan is larger than the cup, which in this case it is.


Anyway, small update. Still a no-show so far. However when I picked up the bottle cap I saw a very small (less than a millimeter) white thing crawling through the substrate. I picked it out with some pliers. I assume this is a mite? Should I be on alert phase 2 now? Everything else seems fine, no sign of any other mites but of course I don't know what the situation is in the hideout itself.

 

[poisoned]

I wanted to add - because your sling is only 1", it's best to remove the water bowl as soon as possible. Until they are around 2", slings have fragile, non-waterproofed exoskeletons and can more easily drown in water sources. Most keepers will only supply a water bowl once the sling reaches 2", some will wait until 2.5" or 3" depending on species.

I highly doubt that sling will drown in cup smaller than it's DLS. It is usually omitted, but it doesn't mean it's doing any damage.

 

[Aviara]

Is there any way you could get a decent photograph of the possible mite you found? If you're using a "tropical mix" type of substrate, then it's possible that it was a harmless springtail. These are tiny and whiteish and I believe they will jump when disturbed. If you've brought anything into your cage from outside (dirt, decorations, even a feeder insect possibly!) then you could have introduced springtails that way too, or it could be a juvenile isopod or something else harmless. However, there is a chance it's a mite.
It's difficult to completely eradicate a mite population, and if you only see this one, then there could be only a harmless few. If I were you, I would check up on your tarantula's cage in the middle of the night, after the lights have been off a few hours, and see if you can find more of these things "out and about". Late-night checkups should give you an idea of the population, if they are mites, and whether or not to be concerned. If you determine that it was in fact a mite, and you observe more though, try to be careful about not leaving any uneaten food or fecal matter in there. If there are a LOT of mites, then drying out the cage completely for a few days should cause many of the adult mites to dehydrate and die. It would be best to move the tarantula while you deal with the mite infestation.
However, because you've only seen one and are not even sure it's a mite yet - no need to panic! Grammostola pulchripes don't need especially humid cages even as slings, so the cage should not be a good environment for mites anyway.

 

[RFlagg]

No chance for a photograph, I took it out by grabbing a little clump of substrate where it was at, it was so tiny I couldn't even find it after taking it out. The type of substrate is eco earth from the store. The first inch or so is completely dry, under that it's not really damp anymore, more a bit colder. You can see the color difference with the top layer so I guess the drying process is still going. And yeah I'll check on it during the night.

My T has had about 5 crickets under my keep so far. I try my best, but apart from one cricket leg I simply could not find any remains. I think she eats them whole, or at least doesn't clean up. Also she's eaten one or two crickets in her burrow so there was really no way for me to check on any remains without disturbing the hideout.