I am very curious about my tarantula's behavior?! maybe you can help?

[katec]

Hi guys i am hoping you all could shed some light on this for me...
I came home after work today to my salmon pink T upside down in a hammock type webbing and i got excited as this i have read means molting. A little while later i noticed he was on his feet again and rubbing his fangs up and down constantly for a good half hour, now he is going around his enclosure and gradually taking his webbing apart just destroying the bed he had made, he has not molted and i am just wandering if this is normal from what you guys know?

 

[david11]

maybe something disturbed it or the temperature or humidity is too high or too low? ask the guy who you bought it from if she/he did this before
i remember my A.Geniculata did this and i misted the enclosure a bit and an hour later she started molting again and she did it sucsessfully.

 

[katec]

Thank you that is very helpful i hope he tries again soon it was very interesting to watch.

 

[Payden King]

Is he mature? Does he have bulbous palps and tibial hooks? My mature male did this. It is a sperm web and it's how they get the sperm in their palps to prepare for the ladies

 

[MassExodus]

Is he mature? Does he have bulbous palps and tibial hooks? My mature male did this. It is a sperm web and it's how they get the sperm in their palps to prepare for the ladies

Good question. How large is your Lp katec? Is it a mature male?

 

[katec]

oh wow that's really interesting i have only had him 5 days but i was told he is 2 years old and i think his around 7 inch

 

[RedCapTrio]

But but but the original poster stated that the T was upside down on the web mat... just pointing it out.

 

[katec]

But but but the original poster stated that the T was upside down on the web mat... just pointing it out.

Yes that is right Redcap i am adding a picture

 

[katec]

Is he mature? Does he have bulbous palps and tibial hooks? My mature male did this. It is a sperm web and it's how they get the sperm in their palps to prepare for the ladies

I believe he has both of these Payden

 

[Chubbs]

Yes that is right Redcap i am adding a picture View attachment 11573

That's a mature male making a sperm web.

 

[Christell Erasmus]

My G. Pulchripes reached maturity a couple of weeks ago and since he is the first tarantula to reach full adulthood I kind of freaked out when mine did the same. I thought my tarantula is on drugs and laying his molting mat upside down. Then i started to panic and thought what if he is spinning himself a little web coffin. So I took a picture and sent is to my tarantula breeder and asked him what is going on. He calmed me down and explained the wole sperm web thing. I felt kind of silly but even after years of owning tarantulas and raising them from slings you learn something new every day. Now you just need to decide what you are going to do with that little guy.

 

[RedCapTrio]

Send him out into the world to multiply! His count down begins...

 

[MassExodus]

Yup, 100 % sure he's making a sperm

My G. Pulchripes reached maturity a couple of weeks ago and since he is the first tarantula to reach full adulthood I kind of freaked out when mine did the same. I thought my tarantula is on drugs and laying his molting mat upside down. Then i started to panic and thought what if he is spinning himself a little web coffin. So I took a picture and sent is to my tarantula breeder and asked him what is going on. He calmed me down and explained the wole sperm web thing. I felt kind of silly but even after years of owning tarantulas and raising them from slings you learn something new every day. Now you just need to decide what you are going to do with that little guy.

lmao, web coffin...that's too cute

 

[Christell Erasmus]

What I did with my pulchripes is, I swapped him for a tiny sling at my tarantula breeder. Now he can live his remainder of his life happy and serving his purpose. And I get a new chance of getting a female.

 

[MassExodus]

That's pretty much a good deal for all involved, nice. I would have asked for four of the babies they make, as well

 

[Christell Erasmus]

That's pretty much a good deal for all involved, nice. I would have asked for four of the babies they make, as well

I would have love to but to be honest I don't really have the space for four more pulchripes. I would rather use the space I have to extend my collection with some new species.

 

[MassExodus]

I would have love to but to be honest I don't really have the space for four more pulchripes. I would rather use the space I have to extend my collection with some new species.

Makes perfect sense. I'm just greedy

 

[katec]

Well i feel very privileged to have witnessed this within 5 days of owing him...... Do they stop molting once mature?

 

[katec]

oh and do they loose interest in food while looking for some lovin lol ?

 

[Chubbs]

oh and do they loose interest in food while looking for some lovin lol ?

Often times yes. They're main focus is finding a mate before their time runs out. They don't really have time for food.