Unusual behaviour of H.albostriatum

[Marko Sajovic]

I got my female H.albostriatum 4 years ago as a sub adult. I kept her in a tank in which she lives in a 20cm deep hole. In 4 years I never saw her whole body. Only front legs on top of her hole.
But last week I found her siting on top of her entrance. She didn't move even when I opened the top of the enclosure. She had two legs slightly curled underneath, but not really as in death curl. The next day she moved back to her hole. But in the evening she came out again and during following days she was often outside siting still near her hole. Her legs were tight near her body, but not curled underneath. She also spun a lot of the web all over the ground of the enclosure. And when I offered her food, she didn't react even when cricket touched her.
I can't find the reason for her behavior. The conditions in her cage have not been changed in all those years.

[kelly murray]

Hi

Hi marko it is not uncommon for them to come outside their burrow to moult if there is not enough room and she has grown. they will lay a silk bed on the floor of the enclosure. also the not eating is a sign. one of mine last time she moulted was acting very out of character but was not that active and would not move at all sometimes even when nudged. was worried but just keep humidity up and a water bowl.

hope this helps

[Marko Sajovic]

Humidity and water are ok. What is strange is that in all those years she never moultes outside her burrow.
I'm keeping tarantulas for almost 10 years now and have never seen such change in behavior for moulting reasons

[kelly murray]

Hmmmmm, can you see any unwanted critters or uneaten food that might be making her uncomfortable. how often have you cleaned her out???

[kelly murray]

She is absolutely stunning tho

[Marko Sajovic]

I don't clean my tanks in a way that I would take everything out and make it new. I do that only if there is mould or fungi inside, or too much mites. But with this one I never had any problems, so I never cleaned it.

[kelly murray]

i would just shine a torch in to have a look just in case. other than that wait to see if she does moult or her behaviour has resumed.

[Marko Sajovic]

Nothing really new with my girl. She doesn't look too bad. But to reasons not known to me she decided to live just outside her burrow. Since she made quite some webbing and still refuses food she still my moult. But if that is the case it is really long and strange pre-moult periode...