Liphistius not making trapdoor

[Mygalomorphic]

I've had my Liphistius for several months now and it refuses to make a trap door. It lives in one of the pre-made holes I make with a pencil and has done nothing else. The substrate is about 50% red clay and the half is peat moss/sand. It's eating well and seems to be fine otherwise but I'm not sure what else to do to encourage it to build a door. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Teresaisrad]

First I'd like to preface this by saying I do not own or keep any trapdoors.

I just thought that maybe loose moss and/or leaf litter might encourage it to use those to make a door.

Maybe you don't have his preferred building materials in there

 

[MBullock]

I've learned over the years that making premade burrows for trapdoors isnt the best idea.

It's really better to let them do it themselves, it can take several weeks for them to burrow. You could probably get one to start burrowing against a popsicle stick or flat stone, they seem to need something dense and sturdy to 'bump into' which tells them it's a suitable dig site.

also, adding a loose thin layer of sub does work for stimulating door construction.

Liphistius are kinda touchy because their natural habit is to seek a slope, alot of euctenizidae share that behavior, too, especially aptostichus

 

[Mygalomorphic]

Thank you for the information. I did make a slope but I think the pre-made hole is what messed everything up. I'll give it a little more time but may need to coax it out and fill that hole in so it makes it's own.

 

[MBullock]

Thank you for the information. I did make a slope but I think the pre-made hole is what messed everything up. I'll give it a little more time but may need to coax it out and fill that hole in so it makes it's own.

try to fill the hole with loose sub, it may help