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G Pulchripes hasn't eaten since I've gotten it

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Chacoboy

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17
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US
Hello everyone.
New owner here. I have just received my Chaco Golden Knee last week Friday. I believe since I've gotten it, it's been in premolt, but I'm not too sure. It hasn't eaten once since I've gotten it, and spends some time trying to climb out of the enclosure and sometimes just hanging around by the edges. It doesn't do that as often as when I first got it, but I still catch it doing so every now and then. It moves away any time I try to feed it, whenever the food touches it(I've tried pinheads and small mealworms), and sometimes curls into itself a little bit as if hiding. It rarely moves as far as I see.

The temperature is fine, and I do mist one side a bit(should I leave a little water dish? I thought it was too small for one so I chose not to). It isn't near any natural light, and although I don't have pictures of it (I forgot to take before I left the house today) , there are a few holes in the sides of the setup as well as plenty on the top.

I just want to know, do you guys think my T is in premolt? I know they don't eat and I've read plenty about the signs, and I do see the behavioral signs, but not so much the physical ones, like the abdomen. I know it should plump when it's about to premolt, but it's looked like that since I've gotten it, which is why I'm wondering if that IS plumped, or just regular.

If there are any more pictures you guys may need just let me know and I'll gladly take some more.
Thank you guys in advance for your responses.
 

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Arachnoclown

Arachnoclown

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I would try to put a prekilled worm or roach in there at night before you go to sleep. If it's still there in the morning I would say it's in premolt possibly. A water dish is always a good idea to have. Somewhere to hide wouldn't hurt either...it probably feels exposed.
 
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Chacoboy

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Arachnoclown said:
I would try to put a prekilled worm or roach in there at night before you go to sleep. If it's still there in the morning I would say it's in premolt possibly. A water dish is always a good idea to have. Somewhere to hide wouldn't hurt either...it probably feels exposed.
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What do you think I can put in there for a hide? I have thought about it, but I didn't know what to do about it.I tried to make a small burrow for it as well, and it has gone in it once, but hasn't really burrowed at all.
 
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Chacoboy

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Arachnoclown said:
A small piece of bark or cork bark. Even moss will work...someplace to hide and feel secure. Even a small vile/pill bottle or pipe buried will work.
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I did buy some moss, waiting for it to get big enough to just decorate, but if that should help for a hide, then I'll gladly use it, thank you!
Side note, would you happen to know how soon before molting that it'll make its little web?
 
RonC

RonC

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As for a hide anything they can get in or under will work. Cork bark seems to be the go to. Don't worry about making it a burrow. Believe me they know how to do that if they want. Mine stayed above ground for about a week and then burrowed. Has only came up once since mid October. Bottle cap for a water dish. It wont drown in it.
 
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Chacoboy

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US
RonC said:
As for a hide anything they can get in or under will work. Cork bark seems to be the go to. Don't worry about making it a burrow. Believe me they know how to do that if they want. Mine stayed above ground for about a week and then burrowed. Has only came up once since mid October. Bottle cap for a water dish. It wont drown in it.
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I used the cap for the bottle that it came in originally, since it was pretty flat, so I'll try that again, thanks. I'll definitely grab a small cork bark today and see how it goes!
 
Rs50matt

Rs50matt

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Small plastic plant pots work well for hides. Can cut them in half and I really like them. Also if possible always try and have a waterdish available. They can't drown and it requires very little effort but does allow you t to control its own hydration
 
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Chacoboy

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Thanks for the advice, everyone! A small update:
I've added some moss, a small hide, and a water bottle cap for water. I also threw in a dead mealworm to see if it'll eat it overnight.
 

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Chacoboy

New Member
Messages
17
Location
US
Arachnoclown said:
I would try to put a prekilled worm or roach in there at night before you go to sleep. If it's still there in the morning I would say it's in premolt possibly. A water dish is always a good idea to have. Somewhere to hide wouldn't hurt either...it probably feels exposed.
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I put a little hide in it, underneath some of the substrate, and some moss. It still always stays out in the open :/ It also didn't eat the mealworm, but I'm leaving a dead pinhead cricket tonight. Do you think I should be worried at all, or is this also just normal premolt behavior?
 
RonC

RonC

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Your T may not eat for months. Try again tonight. If it doesn't eat wait a week and try again. You can look at the abdomen and tell if they need to eat. Sometimes if mine are looking too plump I'll skip a feeding. I normally feed Wednesday and Sunday. If I get half of mine to eat on a feeding day I'm happy. Often its one of six. You will get over them not wanting to eat. I over flow the water dish a tiny bit once ever week or so depending on how dry the sub looks to raise the humidity a little for my slings.
 
ilovebrachys

ilovebrachys

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Don't stress too much-it takes all the enjoyment out of keeping Ts-you seem to be following the good advice given which is great-so you are doing your best-by all means try feeding your T again but like @RonC explains it may not eat for months-one of those things you have to expect from a T at some point in its life,we worry as we never see it as normal for anything to refuse a meal,but as @Arachnoclown says,The spider knows best...:)
 
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Chacoboy

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17
Location
US
ilovebrachys said:
Don't stress too much-it takes all the enjoyment out of keeping Ts-you seem to be following the good advice given which is great-so you are doing your best-by all means try feeding your T again but like @RonC explains it may not eat for months-one of those things you have to expect from a T at some point in its life,we worry as we never see it as normal for anything to refuse a meal,but as @Arachnoclown says,The spider knows best...:)
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Yeah lol, I've had plenty of other animals, all of which ate much more often, so although I keep reading that this is normal, and that I should be okay, I couldn't help but worry a bit, especially since it still seems to keep hanging around the edge of the enclosure. I did leave a cricket last night, but it still didn't eat it, so I'm just not going to try anymore for a while. Thank you again, everyone, for the help!
 
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Greg

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Still learning about Chacos (had my sling about 9 months), but mine ate immediately after arrival, stayed above ground for a couple of months, went below ground for a few months, then surfaced and hung out on the top of the new enclosure when re-housed. Now has been underground for about two months, and doesn't appear to be coming up overnight for food that is left. So, they seem to go through their cycles, though it is natural to worry about slings more (dehydration risk, etc.). I would like to hear from others as to whether they experience any seasonality to these cycles. This is my sling's first winter with me, its room more than 10 degrees cooler than in the summer, and in the wild arachnids (as with their insect prey) naturally slow their metabolism down as temperatures drop.
 

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