A. divercipes... when should I be concerned?

[Ophidia]

I purchased a 3" or so A. divercipes the day before Memorial Day (5/24) and it ended up in it's current habitat a few days later, on Weds the 27th or so. It's in a home made plexiglass cage modeled after Jamie's cages-- it's 18" tall, 10x10 square, with a plexi door in the middle, and vent holes drilled on two sides. I have a number of silk plants in there, and the spider has created a web near the top between the side and a leaf. Looks snug.

My question is, should I be expect it to come out of the web occasionally and eat yet? So far it's refused food (I even put a cricket at the opening to it's web last night, and the cricket hung out with the spider for a while-- no eating, cricket's fine today). I've been in the critter room at all hours to check and it's never out. I know they're shy and more delicate than terrestrials, so I'm not too concerned yet. I just want to know when I should start worrying.

There's about 2" of slightly damp coconut bedding in the bottom (hasn't totally dried out yet), a 4" water bowl (Target creme brulee bowl ). The room it's in is between 75 and 80, controlled with an a/c and space heater to keep it there. The curlyhair I bought at the same time is an eating machine, but also not high strung at all.

Any advice? The spider looks fine from what I can see through the webbing on the side, but can't see details because of the webbing. In the pic I had just misted lightly near it's web to make sure it has access to moisture. This is the first time I've done so. I'm hoping she'll suck some up so she doesn't get dehydrated.

Thanks for reading!

-Chris

 

[Ghost]

I wouldn't be worried at this point,your T's not been in its new enclosure that long and will still be settling in at least it's started to web so that's a good sign,as long has it has access to water and has a plump abdomen then I would offer food once or twice a week untill it eats,there's also the chance that it could be in pre-moult and that's why it's refusing food.....

 

[Ophidia]

Here's a pic from 5/28, the day after I put it in the current enclosure. Does that look like a premolt butt to you? SInce they don't lose their butthairs it's hard for me to tell. I've only had T's that lose their butthairs so the big shiny opisthosoma is quite visible.

From what I can see through the web it hasn't shrunk any.

 

[Chubbs]

The abdomen will become darker and shiny. That's how you tell with species that lack urticating hairs, in addition to refusing food, webbing more, and becoming more reclusive.

 

[Ophidia]

Not dark and shiny. It's just still getting acclimated. Amazing how different the "personality" is between my 3 t's. LP is jumpy and hairflicky, curly is so laid back that you have to pick it up if you want it to move, and the avic is a chicken sh1t. Fun times.

 

[Ophidia]

Looks like it sealed off the entrance to it's web last night, so I guess we must be in premolt after all. I can't see well enough to tell if the opisthosoma is shiny, but I'm guessing it is. The mystery of the highly reclusive A. diversipes may be solved. Hopefully I can get the exuvium out before it's shredded, but I don't see how I'd be able to without giving the poor thing a heart attack.

 

[Enn49]

With luck it will kick the old exo out when it's done.

 

[Chubbs]

With luck it will kick the old exo out when it's done.

My Avics tend to keep theirs inside of their webs. Its annoying but I see no point in destroying the web just so I can retrieve it.

 

[BossRoss]

My diversipes always tends to enclose itself in it's web funnel when it nears molt and very seldom tends to come out when it nears a molt, which is generally long before I see any signs of a molt(except for the behaviour, obviously) . Compared to my other Avics the diversipes never tends to wonder too far and I must agree with Chubbs all my Avics tend to leave their molts in the webbing.

 

[Ophidia]

Still sealed up, still no molt. I've been misting up above the web to make sure water is available. It needs to get movin'! It doesn't look like it's in any distress from what I can see through the web. It's just opaque enough along the "glass" that I can't see details but it looks like it's opisthosoma is still plump.

 

[Chubbs]

Just leave it alone for a while. Btw a water dish will provide all of the water it needs as well as humidity. Despite what many beginners think, a sling will not drown in their dish.

 

[Ophidia]

It has a 4" water bowl on the bottom of the cage and a little condiment cup stuck to the side up near it's web. Should be OK on the humidity front.

 

[Ophidia]

Today, we graduated from "Suspected premolt" to "successful molt!" Now I just have to wait for it to harden up and come out! I can't wait... should be a gorgeous animal.

 

[spidey noob]

congrats on the moult (will be stunning)