Premolt question

[Ed Zeppelin]

Hi, I posted this the other day in the Avicularia section but no luck yet so I thought I would try here.

I have a couple of A. avics and for some reason they both decided to start their premolt (at least that's what I'm guessing) right about the same time. They've been holed up in their webs for maybe six weeks now. Is this length of time normal behavior for these spiders? All this is still kinda new to me so I'm not sure what to expect. Any thoughts on this? Thanx.

 

[MassExodus]

Hi, I posted this the other day in the Avicularia section but no luck yet so I thought I would try here.

I have a couple of A. avics and for some reason they both decided to start their premolt (at least that's what I'm guessing) right about the same time. They've been holed up in their webs for maybe six weeks now. Is this length of time normal behavior for these spiders? This is still new to me so I'm not sure what to expect. Any thoughts on this? Thanx.

Could be premolt, could be they just got comfortable. Avics are weird, in my opinion. Their behavior, I mean. Mine would range from no webbing at all and out all the time to doing what you described.

 

[Whitelightning777]

They do make web tubes which are essentially burrows above the ground.

When they're in premolt, they'll stop eating.

 

[Ed Zeppelin]

They do make web times which are essentially burrows above the ground.

When they're in premolt, they'll stop eating.

Yeah, I've come to learn about the stop eating part of premolt. I was just wondering about the six weeks being holed up in their webs. Is that a bit excessive?

 

[Arachnoclown]

Like @MassExodus said they are weird. My Avics will fast for months then start eating again. Could be premolt...may not. One of my mature females went 6 months without eating then started eating again and molted a week after that. Just make sure they have water. I try feeding them every two weeks or so when they do this.

 

[Ed Zeppelin]

Like @MassExodus said they are weird. My Avics will fast for months then start eating again. Could be premolt...may not. One of my mature females went 6 months without eating then started eating again and molted a week after that. Just make sure they have water. I try feeding them every two weeks or so when they do this.

No problemo re the water. These two gals are like really sealed up in their webs with little movement. I can't figger out a way to even try to feed them w/o messing up the webs. Any thoughts on how to feed them or should I just leave 'em alone for now?

Signed,

Overly Concerned Newbie

 

[Arachnoclown]

No problemo re the water. These two gals are like really sealed up in their webs with little movement. I can't figger out a way to even try to feed them w/o messing up the webs. Any thoughts on how to feed them or should I just leave 'em alone for now?

Signed,

Overly Concerned Newbie

If they are that sealed up I wouldn't worry about feeding them...they will come out when their hungry. Do check on them in the middle of the night though. I found that to be when I would find mine out and about and by morning it looked as if they never left their hammocks.

 

[Ed Zeppelin]

If they are that sealed up I wouldn't worry about feeding them...they will come out when their hungry. Do check on them in the middle of the night though. I found that to be when I would find mine out and about and by morning it looked as if they never left their hammocks.

Yeah they're sealed up. Like a mummy they're sealed up. But I hadn't thought about the possibility of them maybe sneaking out in the middle of the night. My brother and I pulled that stunt more than once in high school. I also have a buddy who has a game camera with night vision capability. And if I promise to stop threatening him with my LP maybe he'll let me borrow it.

 

[Ed Zeppelin]

Like @MassExodus said they are weird. My Avics will fast for months then start eating again. Could be premolt...may not. One of my mature females went 6 months without eating then started eating again and molted a week after that. Just make sure they have water. I try feeding them every two weeks or so when they do this.

Six months without eating?!? Geez, I find it hard to go six hours without eating!

 

[Whitelightning777]

Try releasing a small hisser into the enclosure to see if it disappears. After 6 months, I'm thinking it'll mysteriously vanish and the T will mysteriously start growing faster.