Why has my spider not moved since I rehoused it?

[SouthWestModz]

I recently moved my Trantula into a new enclosure In another thread I created, I noticed that it has been sitting in the corner for 3 days now couldn't find anything online that can help. Ive been researching every day I got them unexpected and with no info about their ages or anything

 

[Gevo]

Hello, and welcome! In that other thread you posted, it looks like you identified this as a Phormictopus cancerides, correct? I don't know much about that species, but I see Tom's Big Spiders has some info on them (albeit the post is almost ten years old, so husbandry may have been updated, so check around for more current info too). The Tom's Big Spiders website, YouTube channel, and podcast are my primary go-to resources as a new tarantula keeper: https://tomsbigspiders.com/2014/04/14/phormictopus-cancerides/

With the big caveat that I'm not familiar with this species, I can offer a couple of more general thoughts/suggestions:

1. It's not uncommon for tarantulas to not move much, especially when they've just been rehoused. Sometimes they go exploring their new digs, and sometimes they hunker down, and it could be absolutely nothing to worry about.
2. It seems to have positioned itself on some leaf litter. Is the substrate in the enclosure damp at all? That TBS blog post mentions keeping this species in an enclosure with a humidity gradient, with damp substrate at the bottom and dry substrate on the top. Sometimes, if the substrate is too damp, certain species will not want to stand on it, so if you think that could be it, you could try sprinkling some very dry coco fibre or substrate around on the top and see if it helps.
3. Another factor could be whether the substrate was packed down enough. It looks like you used coco fibre or something with a lot of coco fibre in it, and while that does make a great substrate, it can be a bit too fluffy for tarantulas to feel comfortable walking on unless it's packed down really well. I saw on the other thread that you're a bit nervous around your new Ts, but if you take something like a jar and use that to pack down the substrate a bit more, you can do it without having to get too close.
4. I could absolutely be full of shit on this one, but usually for terrestrial species that are opportunistic burrowers, I think it's best to offer them a hide that has some structure to it rather than just a starter burrow hole in the substrate. For my two terrestrials, I used a piece of cork bark with a starter burrow dug underneath. That way, the tarantulas had somewhere secure to go into that they could dig out further if they wanted but that didn't need to be reinforced right away with webbing or anything.

 

[SouthWestModz]

Hello, and welcome! In that other thread you posted, it looks like you identified this as a Phormictopus cancerides, correct? I don't know much about that species, but I see Tom's Big Spiders has some info on them (albeit the post is almost ten years old, so husbandry may have been updated, so check around for more current info too). The Tom's Big Spiders website, YouTube channel, and podcast are my primary go-to resources as a new tarantula keeper: https://tomsbigspiders.com/2014/04/14/phormictopus-cancerides/

With the big caveat that I'm not familiar with this species, I can offer a couple of more general thoughts/suggestions:

1. It's not uncommon for tarantulas to not move much, especially when they've just been rehoused. Sometimes they go exploring their new digs, and sometimes they hunker down, and it could be absolutely nothing to worry about.
2. It seems to have positioned itself on some leaf litter. Is the substrate in the enclosure damp at all? That TBS blog post mentions keeping this species in an enclosure with a humidity gradient, with damp substrate at the bottom and dry substrate on the top. Sometimes, if the substrate is too damp, certain species will not want to stand on it, so if you think that could be it, you could try sprinkling some very dry coco fibre or substrate around on the top and see if it helps.
3. Another factor could be whether the substrate was packed down enough. It looks like you used coco fibre or something with a lot of coco fibre in it, and while that does make a great substrate, it can be a bit too fluffy for tarantulas to feel comfortable walking on unless it's packed down really well. I saw on the other thread that you're a bit nervous around your new Ts, but if you take something like a jar and use that to pack down the substrate a bit more, you can do it without having to get too close.
4. I could absolutely be full of shit on this one, but usually for terrestrial species that are opportunistic burrowers, I think it's best to offer them a hide that has some structure to it rather than just a starter burrow hole in the substrate. For my two terrestrials, I used a piece of cork bark with a starter burrow dug underneath. That way, the tarantulas had somewhere secure to go into that they could dig out further if they wanted but that didn't need to be reinforced right away with webbing or anything.

I think the substrate is just moist I will add a layer of dry and see if its interested I'll put in something for it to hide under aswell, Im not 100% if its the correct species but thats the only one I think it could be. Thanks a lot for responding helps a lot!

 

[moricollins]

It's not moving because it's a tarantula. It's doing what it does: conserving energy and not wasting energy with unnecessary movement.

 

[SouthWestModz]

I know that just strange usually is the one most active

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Most of mine pick a favorite spot and sit there during daytime. As for nighttime when I’m sleeping surely there more active being nocturnal.

 

[fcat]

I have two phormictopus sp Bayahibe (and still couldn't guess what kind of spider you had ). According to the boards, all phormictopus get kept the same and I keep mine like Tom does.

I set both of mine up the same, in much larger enclosures than they needed at the time, because I was told they grow fast. You are well past that stage, but I offer my useless experiences anyway. They are both incredible hunters like all phormictopus but beyond that the two couldn't be more different. One made a shelter out of a leaf, and the other dug a burrow and has molted underground each time. He's not giving up his burrow. Both ignored their cork bark.

Tom was who got me into wanting a phormictopus. He seems very passionate about this genus. They are awesome, but yeah they just kinda sit there. Unless there is movement, then it's food. If it doesn't eat, and then doesn't molt the next day, then maybe something is wrong

 

[Hardus nameous]

I'd guess the spider either has yet to acclimate to the new enclosure, doesn't like the substrate, feels exposed or just doesn't feel like moving. As suggested above you can try compacting the substrate or adding a hide. You may also try throwing a towel over the enclosure or putting it in total darkness.

 

[SpookySpooder]

I rehoused an Ornithoctoninae that didn't move off the lid for days afterwards. Then it found the starter burrow and dug straight to the bottom.

Sounds normal to me. I wouldn't be worried.

 

[SouthWestModz]

Thats what Im thinking too

I have two phormictopus sp Bayahibe (and still couldn't guess what kind of spider you had ). According to the boards, all phormictopus get kept the same and I keep mine like Tom does.

I set both of mine up the same, in much larger enclosures than they needed at the time, because I was told they grow fast. You are well past that stage, but I offer my useless experiences anyway. They are both incredible hunters like all phormictopus but beyond that the two couldn't be more different. One made a shelter out of a leaf, and the other dug a burrow and has molted underground each time. He's not giving up his burrow. Both ignored their cork bark.

Tom was who got me into wanting a phormictopus. He seems very passionate about this genus. They are awesome, but yeah they just kinda sit there. Unless there is movement, then it's food. If it doesn't eat, and then doesn't molt the next day, then maybe something is wrong

Haha that makes more sense know I noticed it starting to web a little I added a broken pot into his enclosure to see if he would take that instead of the burrow I attempted to make for him.

 

[SouthWestModz]

I rehoused an Ornithoctoninae that didn't move off the lid for days afterwards. Then it found the starter burrow and dug straight to the bottom.

Sounds normal to me. I wouldn't be worried.

Ive been watching him he moved a little today started a tiny web, think he's just chilling.

 

[kingshockey]

aside from it having no place to hide and feel safe its normal for them to be stressed out that way for days/weeks/ even months until they settle into a new cage but you need to give it a hide if you havent already

 

[SouthWestModz]

aside from it having no place to hide and feel safe its normal for them to be stressed out that way for days/weeks/ even months until they settle into a new cage but you need to give it a hide if you havent already

I added a half broken pot for him